Residents of Myra and surrounding communities in Pike County are speaking out against a proposed 450-acre, privately owned landfill planned for the abandoned Premier Elkhorn mine site.

According to reporting, the Pike County Fiscal Court has entered into a host agreement with USA Waste and Recycling to explore converting the former surface mine into a facility that could store up to 170 million cubic yards of trash, transported by rail and truck from counties in at least three states. The site sits roughly 1,000 feet up the mountain above communities including Virgie, Robinson Creek, Shelbiana, and downstream from Pikeville.

Families who have lived on Shelby Creek for generations are deeply concerned about what this project could mean for their health, water, and way of life. Abandoned surface mines are already fragile landscapes. Residents fear that placing millions of cubic yards of out-of-state waste on a former mine could increase risks to groundwater and surface water in a region that has endured devastating floods in recent years. Many are also worried about odors, heavy truck and rail traffic, and long-term impacts on property values and community identity.

At the same time, county officials have said the existing Ford Mountain landfill is nearing capacity and that expanding it could cost up to $18 million—far beyond what a county with a declining population and many residents on fixed incomes can afford. This is a real financial challenge, and it deserves thoughtful, transparent solutions.

But turning Pike County into a regional dumping ground is not the only path forward.

We call on Pike County Judge-Executive Ray Jones and every member of the Pike County Fiscal Court to pause any further action on this landfill proposal until a full, independent environmental impact study is completed and meaningful public input is guaranteed at every stage.

Our community deserves transparency, accountability, and solutions that protect both our economy and our environment.