Coal Company finally replanted destroyed land! | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Coal Company finally replanted destroyed land!

McKinley checking out the trees planted


Since McKinley Sumner's family land in Perry County was trespassed on 3 1/2 years ago and literally stolen (part of it was gone) by International Coal Group, McKinley has spoken out about the problems with mountaintop removal and how coal companies harm people when they don't follow the law. 


With a lot of persistence, his family had gotten an agreement with the company to address the problems.  Part of that agreement required the company to plant trees and replace the soil.  They told McKinley that they were going to do it both last fall and earlier this year. 


After McKinley brought it to the attention of the Kentucky Department of Natural Resources and multiple elected officials that the reclamation had still not been completed, the coal company finally planted 60 white oak trees on the section of land destroyed.  If the trees don't take root over the course of the next year, the company committed to replant the trees. 


"I'm glad I didn't give up because you can get something done!" McKinley reflected.

DSC_0085 (by Kentuckians For The Commonwealth)
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