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strip mines

The Decline of Kentucky’s Coal Industry Has Produced Hundreds of Safety and Environmental Violations at Strip Mines

Internal records and emails show that state regulators struggle to keep up with the violations as coal bankruptcies and “zombie” mines proliferate.

By James Bruggers

The company that blasted the sides of this Floyd County, Kentucky, mountain went bankrupt and left behind mining violations including steep cliffs. The property’s owner, Tracy Neece, is waiting on state regulators to find a way to get it reclaimed. In the background, other former surface mines, largely barren of trees, are visible. Credit: Alton Strupp/The Courier Journal

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