Mining Company Hits House with Giant Boulder

Frankfurt, KY - Frasure Mining Company, while engaging in a coal-extraction process known as mountaintop-removal mining last week, dislodged a giant boulder from a ridge top in Floyd county, which rolled right into the bedroom of a house below. Fortunately, the house was unoccupied at the time, but two nearby homes were evacuated in case of additional falling debris. Associated Press reports that the mining company was fined $10,000 in damages.

Local environmentalists have pointed to this incident as underlining the dangers surrounding mountaintop removal mining - a process that involves literally blasting the tops of mountains in the eastern United States to expose underground coal seems. Mountaintop removal is one of the most environmentally destructive practices going forward anywhere in the US, and endangers hundreds of human lives every day.

Yet the US Environmental Protection Agency is considering granting 86 new permits for mountaintop removal mines in the eastern US, thereby allowing this dangerous practice to continue. Environmental groups have challenged EPA Administrator Lisa JacksonLisa Jackson to visit the mountains of Appalachia and view the destruction caused by mountaintop removal for herself, but so far Jackson has refused. You can sign a petition to Jackson here.

Fortunately, the owners of the house damaged in last week's accident were away when the massive boulder hit. As mountaintop removal continues, we can only hope the victims next time will be so lucky.