May 9, 2015 2 min read

I live in Nottingham Township across from the proposed Ramaco deep coal mine project. Since we first heard about it, residents of our neighborhood have been up in arms. The proposed mine is bad for business, bad for our safety, and bad for the environment. Ramaco is proposing to disrupt a suburban area, which has been mined under twice before. Both times, the results were the same – environmental degradation and bankruptcy.

My family owns and operates a rescue and retirement farm for horses, and we have already felt the effects of this project. Boarders who have been here for many years have decided to move on due to the possible impact of the mine. Our family is concerned that all of our clients will leave if the mine goes in, taking away a vital part of our income.

Ramaco has not addressed many of our key concerns. For example, Little Mingo Road is flood prone, and is a school bus route for young children, who will be threatened by up to 280 coal trucks per day running up and down the road.

The Mathies Mine, a predecessor to the proposed mine, actually caught fire in 1990 and burned for years. You could smell the underground coal fire throughout the entire area. Another mine fire is something no one wants. There is no place in our community for another coal mine.

Richard Ryaby

Finleyville