Demanding a New Environmental Review for the Proposed Letcher County Federal Prison

By Kandia Milton, Dream.Org Government Affairs Director

Dream.Org strongly opposes the proposed $505 million federal prison planned for a former coal mine site in Letcher County, Kentucky. At a time when there are growing questions about the size, cost, and future of our prison system, spending more than half a billion taxpayer dollars on a new prison is deeply misguided public policy. But the astronomical cost is just the beginning, there are serious environmental justice and public safety concerns that can also not be ignored.

That’s why Dream.Org and a coalition of partners are preparing to send a formal demand letter to the Bureau of Prisons calling for a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) before this project moves forward.

Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), federal agencies are required to fully examine the environmental and community impacts of major projects before construction begins. While the Bureau of Prisons completed its original environmental review in 2024, significant new information has emerged since then that raises serious questions about whether that review is still accurate or complete.

One major development involves land ownership within the proposed prison footprint. Part of the site has since been acquired by the Appalachian Rekindling Project, which plans to use the land for ecological restoration efforts, including the reintroduction of wild bison. That planned use introduces entirely new environmental and economic considerations that were never fully analyzed.

There are also serious concerns about the federal government’s failure to properly consult with the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, a federally recognized Tribal Nation with ancestral ties to the region. Federal law requires Tribal consultation during environmental review processes, and the lack of meaningful engagement raises important legal and ethical concerns.

In addition, updated wildlife surveys indicate the presence of endangered and threatened bat species near the site, contradicting earlier findings. Experts have also warned about the risks of building on former coal mining land, including flooding, land subsidence, and methane migration — concerns made even more urgent by the severe flooding Letcher County has experienced in recent years.

A supplemental EIS alone will not stop the prison’s construction. But it is a critical step toward ensuring that the federal government fully examines the environmental, public health, and community impacts of this project before making irreversible decisions.

At its core, this fight is about accountability. Communities deserve transparency and a meaningful opportunity to understand the risks associated with a project of this scale before taxpayer dollars are spent and construction begins.

We will continue fighting this proposed mega-prison from every angle. If you’re with us, join us in signing onto our demand letter calling for a new environmental review and further research before any final decisions are made