On Feb. 14, hundreds of people from around Appalachia will convene in Kentucky's capital to rally against mountaintop removal coal mining or MTR. I Love Mountains Day, an annual event hosted by the  nonprofit Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, is largely in support of the the Stream Saver bill, or Senate Bill 139, which proposes stronger regulations on waste dumping associated with mountaintop removal. Currently, more than 1,400 miles of streams and rivers have been buried or damaged by waste dumping from mining events, and proponents of the bill hope that new regulations will make it more difficult for mining companies to defile waterways.

 

This year's event will feature prominent speakers from the anti-MTR movement along with Appalachian song and dance. After the rally concludes, there will be an opportunity to bring a "Valentine for the Mountains" to the governor's office to celebrate our love for "clean water, our mountains, and our heritage." Stick around after a short lunch break for a mock hearing by students on the Stream Saver bill to learn more about the issue from public health experts and student leaders. For a schedule of the day's events, visit KFTC's website.