Beards Fork, West Virginia threatened to be taken off the map by the very industry that originally built it

Beards Fork is small community nestled in a West Virginia holler. There is only one way in and one way out. The houses there are lined up in a row small, but quaint.The houses at one time were owned by the coal industry and rented out to employees. Now the same industry that built this small country town are threatening to destroy it.


The area is beautiful and filled with good people proud to call it home. Those people are now speaking out with concern about their communities future. Advantage Timberlake owns the timber rights on much of the area

A spokesperson for the logging company says that they are now logging in areas that will not be reachable once surface mining begins in the area. It has began the clearing progress in winter when the leaves are down for safety reasons. They are using helicopters to avoid erosion,

They state that logging could continue for another three weeks maybe longer depending on the weather and Beards Fork residents fear the logging is a sure sign that surface mining will begin soon.

So far six out of nine planned surface mines in Fayette County surround Beards Fork. These mines are owned and operated by Frasure Creek Mining. Four permits in the area are currently pending and two are all ready approved.

Residents fear it will only be a matter of time before coal industry employees knock on their doors and make offers to buy them out. Many of them have called Beards Fork home their whole lives and are hoping that this new surface mine does not wipe Beards Fork off the map.

However, the Public Service District of Fayette County has stepped up with concerns that the surface mine will have a devastating effect on the underground water source.

The Page-Kincaid Public Service District has all ready posted notices across the area instructing customers to immediately dial 911 if they see signs of water contamination.

According to the PSD the 653 acre surface mine surrounds two of thei wellheads that have been designated by the state as a Source Water Protection area. The PSD states that it believes the surface mine will have a impact on their aquifer and sewage treatment facilities.