Though the summit itself was not directly threatened, many people protested this action due to the peak's status as the state's highest point.

In 1999, Kentucky purchased mineral and timber rights to the summit and prevented future large scale mining.

A coal company named Penn Virginia Resources of Radnor, Pennsylvania formerly owned the summit, but allowed public access with the completion of a waiver.

[3] Black Mountain is one of the few sites in Kentucky supporting a Northern Hardwood Forest at higher elevations.

Like many areas of Northern Hardwood Forest in Southern Appalachia, fires swept across the mountain after intense logging.