A group of eastern Kentucky residents have sued two coal companies, saying improper surface mining and reclamation caused or worsened flooding that destroyed dozens of homes in Pike County last month.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that the lawsuit accuses Cambrian Coal Corporation and AEP Kentucky Coal Inc., of violations by the company that played a substantial role in “massive amounts of water” running off the mine sites.
That water turned Harless Creek into a “raging river” that washed away homes and vehicles, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Pike County, which lists 126 people as plaintiffs.
Attempts to reach representatives of the companies Wednesday were not successful.
The flooding occurred July 17. Two people were killed in the flooding, which knocked out running water to thousands of homes in Pike County.
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