Poor, Abused Big Coal Just Can't Follow the Rules

Yeah, this is what happens when you kow-tow to a criminal industry: they commit more crimes.

From the Courier:

The Kentucky coal industry's compliance with U.S. surface mining regulations dropped sharply from 2008 to 2010, while the environmental impact of the violations has worsened, federal records show.

A U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement report analyzing state enforcement of the federal surface mining and reclamation law shows the industry's compliance rate in Kentucky dropped from 87 percent of surveyed mining sites in 2007 and 2008 to 65 percent in 2010.

The most common violations involved water quality, permit administration, and backfilling and grading, the report said — often harming water, land, structures and people beyond the mining site.

The agency found that as the compliance levels dropped, the frequency of such problems as water pollution violations, landslides or flying rock have risen — from 3 percent of mine sites in 2000 to 21 percent last year.

“These are not minor violations,” said Joseph L. Blackburn, the top OSM official in Kentucky. “I think there is a degree of seriousness we cannot ignore, and we aren't.”

Media Czech has been documenting the endless examples of Kentucky officials - including both U.S. Senators, U.S. House members and the governor - competing in true bipartisan fashion to demonstrate their finest Big Coal cocksucking skills.

This morning, David Shankula brings it:

Meanwhile, Roger Alford @ the AP highlights the hot trend sweeping Kentucky:

The Democratic chairman of the Kentucky House Natural Resources and Environment Committee became the latest state politician on Thursday to criticize the federal government for tougher environmental standards on coal-fired power generating plants.

State Rep. Jim Gooch Jr., who represents mining communities in western Kentucky, complained in a legislative hearing that tougher standards have utilities asking to impose environmental surcharges on customers to recoup billions of dollars that will have to be spent on improving pollution control at coal-fired plants.

"Everybody talks about the war on coal," Gooch said. "This is a war on Kentucky."

A war on Kentucky!

That's right folks. Where's Paul Revere when you need him? Barry Hussein's statist shock troops and Black Panther Child Army are coming to clean your water and keep your kids from being poisoned.

The horror.

And what a good job their doing... so damned good, our besieged Coal Companies are evading safety regulations.

Alford's AP article also gives some love to David Williams, Mitch McConnell and Steve "GET OFF OUR BACKS" Beshear for standing with Gooch on the front lines of this battlefield with the Feds.

Sadly, no mention of Ben Chandler or, say, his battle to ensure toxic coal ash isn't actually considered toxic.

There's a war on folks. You're either with Kentucky or you're with the terrorists.

I'm sure I don't have to tell you that the terrorists aren't the ones struggling to cope with poisoned drinking water.