Thanks to Stu Johnson, Kentucky Public Radio/WEKU, RichmondThe coal mining process commonly known as mountaintop removal was again the focus of a rally Thursday outside the Kentucky state Capitol building.The annual "I Love Mountains Rally" is sponsored by the advocacy group Kentuckians for the Commonwealth. It says the practice is destroying the environment and needs to be more strictly regulated.People who work in the coal industry say more regulation would put thousands of mining jobs at risk, and assert that steps have taken to limit the damage.State Rep. Keith Hall of Pikeville says he has many constituents who rely on mining jobs, but acknowledged the state needs to move forward in developing alternative energy sources."We have a pelletizing plan for Pike County to make sawdust into wood pellets and to make energy,” he said.Several so called "stream saver" bills that would place further restrictions on the dumping of mining waste are pending in the Kentucky General Assembly, but industry officials say adequate controls are already in place.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.
