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Mongiardo touts mountaintop removal mining

July 31, 2008 @ 08:00 PM

The Associated Press

The Associated Press

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (AP) _ Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo is touting the controversial form of coal mining known as mountaintop removal as a means to create level land for economic development.

The Hazard Democrat made the comments during a speech in Pikeville.

The Appalachian News-Express reported on Thursday that Mongiardo told a group at a local hotel that mountaintop removal creates flat land that could be used for building businesses, hospitals and airports.

"A lot of people look at mountaintop removal as a negative, but I see it as a positive," Mongiardo said.

The lieutenant governor went on to say that he wants to promote mountaintop removal.