HARLAN — Some Harlan County residents are blaming an underground coal mine for causing cracks in a stream bed that lead the stream to dry up.

        The U.S. Office of Surface Mining is investigating to determine whether the residents are correct, or whether drought is to blame.

        Federal inspectors first looked into the problem in 1989, concluding at the time that the loss of water was the result of mining done by Shamrock Coal Co., now known as Bledsoe Coal.

        The agency later reversed its position, concluding that evidence tended to support the company's defense that the problems were the result of drought.

        “This is no drought,” said Don Harris, who was able to drive his van along the dusty bed of Greasy Creek last week. “If you've got a big stream of water coming into a place and none going out, that's hardly a drought.”

        Residents claim the water is draining into underground mine works near what is locally known as Mill Hole.

        The water resurfaces about a mile downstream.

        Bill Kovacic, director of OSM's Lexington office, said the agency has begun a study to see what is happening to the water.

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