A public hearing on mountaintop removal coal mining is drawing intense interest and will be held in an exposition center that seats 5,000 people.

Organizers aren't sure how how many people will show up for the hearing Tuesday in the East Kentucky Expo Center. But the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opted for one of the largest venues in the eastern Kentucky coalfields.

The Corps of Engineers is holding the public hearing to receive input regarding a federal proposal that would make it more difficult for mining companies to get necessary permits to remove coal through the mountaintop removal process.

Pro-mining groups and environmentalists have been calling for a huge turnout in hopes of swaying the debate in their favor.

The public hearing starts at 7 p.m. EDT.