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NC5 Investigates Coal Company's Environmental Record

It's a controversial and destructive way to mine coal.

On Wednesday night, NewsChannel 5 Investigates showed where mountaintop mining is taking place in Tennessee.

Investigative reporter Ben Hall also examined the environmental record of the largest coal mining company in the state. 

National Coal has been fined by the state and ordered to suspend mining.

But it's fighting to dramatically increase mountaintop mining in Tennessee. 

The controversial way to mine uses high powered explosives. Crews blast into a mountain and get out the coal. 

From Sky 5, the NewsChannel 5 Investigates team recorded footage from the state's largest mountaintop mine at Zeb Mountain in Campbell County.

"You disturb the ground. There's no question about that, but then we take it back to what we believe is at least an equal or better state than it was before," said Charles Kite, vice president of National Coal Corp.

National Coal, the state's largest coal company, mines Zeb Mountain. The company plans to mine in a state wildlife area.

"Our company from the start has always been environmentally friendly," Kite said.

NewsChannel 5 Investigates took a look at its record. 

In January 2005, state inspectors took pictures at Zeb Mountain showing a usually clear creak turn a turbid color caused by overflow from mountain top mining basins. 

Other pictures show a 3-acre landslide on a haul road which inspectors said polluted a nearby stream. 

In September 2006, the state issued a stop work order on the mountain after inspectors determined the company had mined through two creeks, which violated their permit.

"If you want to define a creek as two drops of water falling on a leaf on the top of a mountain -- yes we've mined through creeks," Kite said.

National Coal said the creeks were not marked on the map.  They deny causing any of the problems. 

The state has issued 18 violation notices in four years and ordered the company to spend more than $100,000 to correct problems. The company has complied.

"Any industry that exists is going to have violations of the rules and regulations.  It's impossible not to have," Kite said.

But those opposed to mountain top mining claim there's no way to do it in a way that preserves the mountains.

"There's a long term cost and consequence," said state Sen. Doug Jackson. "These mountains will forever be transformed into something different.

National Coal sold many of its holdings in Kentucky and is planning to focus on Tennessee. 

It bought the mineral rights to the 74,000-acre Sundquist wildlife management area.

National Coal said it is now in compliance with all state regulations. 

The company says it has spent millions of dollars improving old mining sites.

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