[Coach_Owens87]

First off I didn't completely ignore everything you said.... Just tired of hearing the same song and dance.... LOL...

Secondly, if the above mentioned 4 locations make up 5% of "good usage"of striped mine land then what about the rest of the areas? Like I mentioned (as you evidently didn't READ they are local) there are more than I listed in just this vacinity!

Next, if elk aren't a "natural" species why all the humdrum a few years ago that they were endangered? I have seen squirrel, rabbits, deer, a bear, turkey, snakes, groundhogs, and skunks on a strip mine. Do they qualify to your specification of wildlife?

Finally, WHY may I ask would you gripe about a few "coal friendly" groups doing anything to help beautify an area used by children for activities? Sounds to me your priorities are out of line if you think that is all that was done to that area. Good lord, look outside of the box and see the real picture of what good is going on around you. I would rather the children have a nice facility such as Knott County OR Grants Branch to spend their time at than to have them out doing drugs, drinking, or ending up in jail or dead due to nothing being available for them to do. I'm not saying everything thats done with reclaimed mine sites is something that children can enjoy but enough of it is being done so that communities are investing their time and making money back to ensure a more stable economy for their area. WHAT may I ask type of work do you do? I'm just curious!!

Again, you are either ignoring my post, or cant comprehend them.

Those 4 sites dont make up the entire 5%, they fall within it. For every mine site you can show that has some usage, I can show you 5 that are sitting vacant.

The gripe about elk numbers being low was because some groups had a lot of money invested in this project, anytime big money is involved, it becomes important.

And im not griping about creating areas for kids, I use the sportsplex, I actually coached a youth basketball team there for the past 3 years, so dont give me that crap. My point is that far more land remains unused, than is being put to good use. Why do we have to destroy land, pollute our streams and air? I want my kids to have things to do, I want kids in this area to have things, but I also want them to have safe drinking water, safe streams to fish and swim in. Not too much to ask.