Beshear Visits Mountaintop Removal Sites

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear spent part of Thursday visiting mountaintop removal coal mining sites in Eastern Kentucky. Beshear’s trip was the fulfillment of a promise he made to a group of activists who staged a protest in his office in February. The protesters had asked Beshear to end his support for the practice of mountaintop removal. Beshear would not change his position, but said he would tour sites at the group’s request.The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that in Harlan and Floyd counties, members of the group Kentuckians for the Commonwealth showed Beshear streams and homes damaged by surface mining. The Governor also listened to residents opposed to mountaintop removal and to specific surface mining permits that have been filed with the state.Beshear said he would consider the comments of residents regarding approval of the permits but made no commitments.