Environmentalist gathered Sunday on the Kayford Mountain mine site to plant trees as a protest of mountain top removal. Members of Mountain Justice and of Climate Ground Zero carried trees across the Patriot Coal owned site. They were joined on Kayford Mountain by 96 year old Ken Hechler and senate Mountain State candidate Jesse Johnson.
The environmentalists brought to Kayford Mountain walnut, red oak, hemlock and tulip poplar trees. The trees were planted on a hill top. As the trees were planted a crowd watched cheering from the property of environmentalist Larry Gibson also known as ‘The Mountain Man.’
It is the groups goal to re-forest the mine site. They worked through the afternoon until security guards arrived and threatened to call the police and have them arrested for trespassing.
Federal regulations require that the coal industry to reclaim mining sites by planting vegetation and restoring them close to original contour the industry has failed to follow that regulation
Comments
Thanx for the story! Another great day for the Mountains! Go Ken! Go Jesse! Thank you John Johnson.
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