Surface coal mining worsened deadly Eastern Kentucky floods in July 2022, study shows

Mining could have added over 6 billion gallons of water at mouth of Troublesome Creek. Over a week in July 2022, more than a foot of rainfall came down on Eastern Kentucky bringing a deluge of flood waters that displaced thousands of people and killed more than 40. A recent study published by Kentucky’s former top geologist suggests environmental damage from surface coal mining worsened the deadly disaster, perhaps significantly. Excerpt from Article by Liam Niemeyer for the Kentucky Lantern. Read more