The Sidney herald., 1957-02-14
Our Native Land
NV loan DAckArd
National Parks Association. Washington I. DC

the application, which was APP
pealed by the Stearns Company
Because of the Importance of this
question, the company and the
forester agreed to have a group
of disinterested people to recon-
mend what should be done.
This group estimated that strip
mining of the 1000 acres consid-
cred feasible would involve APP
proximately 100 miles of contour
mining, and disturb an additional
$500 acres of land in the dispo-
sition of spoil, sloughing of head
walls, etc.
In the absence of extensive
and costly preventive measures
by the company, this group noted
that the spoil banks created by
the rim cutting would be subject
10 considerable erosion, a great
deal more sediment in and pos
sible pollution of the nearby
streams. In addition the spoil
banks themselves and the erosion
from them would adversely affect
timber growth and, together with
the high wall created above the
mining operations, would increase
the difficulty of logging opera
tons in this mountainous area.
Also Of great Importance, the
evidence of strip mining would
be visible for an undetermined
length of time.
In Kentucky a state law re-
quires all strip miners to file a
bond with the state of between
$500 and $3.50 per acre to insure
proper reclamation of the area
when mining is finished. This
is to prevent careless or thought
less mining corporations from
ugly raw scars on the
countryside, running streams and
forests by their activities and do
.ng nothing top rotect the land it
,elf.
Because of the rugged terrain
If the Cumberland Forest, it was
by the examining group
hat the lawful bond was far too
ow; the estimated cost of rec
amation would run from $3.50
2,400 an acre, a cost that would
obviously place the Stearns Com
,any at a competitive disadvan-
age with other local coal-pro-
ulcers.
At a hearing held on the sub
ect in the locality, a majority
f the public appearing felt
trongly that strip mining with
he resulting erosion, sedimenta-
ion and possible pollution of
treams, interference with water
ned production and destruction
t recreational values, would de-
eat the purposes of the Cumber-
and Forest.
Strip mining as a general rule
less expensive than deep min
lg, but ruthless strip mining
an completely ruin an area of
md, removing the top soil, OBJ
terating all growing things and
hideous Stag heaps, de-
lolished streams and contorted
.opes. Many, many years are re-
ulred before the natural healing
overs of the earth can begin to
over these scars, and the area
item can never again regain its
primer fertility. The reclamation
by law in some states
Ich as Kentucky, while an adj p,
lirable ruling, is only of a re-
nature, and will not re-
lace the surface in even COM
arabic condition to which it had /;
-iginally been. {
In the Stearns case, the inves-
group advised that the |
for strip mining be de-
and this decision was up i,
ED by the Secretary of Agricul- :,
ire. :
With the constant pressures of :
vilization, the rapid growth and 5
evelopment of mechaniZation 6
Id its accompanying demands c
| the land, it is more important y
an ever that small portions OF
IT country be preserved in their t
ltural state for coming genera r
1ns. The USDA and the Forest
are to be congratulated O
r their firm decision in this s
a