Letcher County, Kentucky—A coalition of advocacy organizations, Building Community Not Prisons (BCNP), has submitted a formal letter to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) demanding that the agency rescind its approval of a proposed federal prison in Letcher County and undertake additional environmental review that is required by federal law.
The letter marks the latest development in a decades-long effort to block the controversial prison project, which has been led by senior Congressman Hal Rogers. Despite repeated attempts over more than twenty years, the project has faced consistent opposition and setbacks due to environmental, economic, and community concerns.
Under federal administrative and environmental laws, including requirements for comprehensive environmental review, the BOP is obligated to conduct extensive studies and public engagement before moving forward. In October 2024, the agency concluded its environmental review process and issued a Record of Decision (ROD) approving construction of the prison…
