Sep 30, 2013 3 min read

After more than four hours of testimony about proposed mining at the former Mayview State Hospital property, the South Fayette Township zoning hearing board continued last week’s proceeding to Wednesday.

Aloe Brothers LLC, owners of the property on Mayview Road, requested a special exception to allow mining at the site of the former state hospital and is also challenging the validity of a section of the township’s zoning ordinance for business districts.

Aloe Brothers wants to mine coal on about 37 acres of the property and plans to build a business park at the site. Based upon sampling conducted at the site, it is estimated that there are about 330,000 tons of coal that could be mined on the property.

On Feb. 27, the three-member zoning hearing board denied Aloe Brothers’ special request for mining.

At the Sept. 25 meeting, Aloe Brothers’ attorney, William Sittig, argued coal mining is a “comparable use” to oil and gas exploration, which is permitted in the B-1 business district. Sittig called South Fayette’s ordinance “irrational and discriminatory” and said the B-1 district is the only district in the township that does not permit incidental mineral removal.

Sean Isgan, an engineer with coal mining experience, testified that coal mining operations would take place daily with workers working two, 10-hour shifts either from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. or 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. The site would be lit at night, with the lights directed at the coal pit. He said blasting would occur twice a week to “fracture the overburden” or the rock and soil over the coal.

Mining operations would take nearly three years and coal would be hauled from the site either by truck or by train. Isgan pointed out that it could take about 18 months to complete the mining application process.

If the coal was hauled out by truck, it would take about 15,000 loads over the three-year period.

Township attorney Jonathan Kamin asked landscape architect Steven Victor if the Mayview area could be developed without extracting the coal.

Victor replied that it could.

“The applicant can build an office park there. There are a variety of uses in the B-1 zoning district,” Victor said.

South Fayette resident Ed McClure, who lives along Boyce Road said, “If this is approved, it should be stated that it be shipped on the railroads and not ruin the roads.” He added, “We’ve got a lot of homes on Boyce Road and none of them want to see 50 trucks a day.”

Annette Shimer of Upper St. Clair’s Citizens for Land Stewardship said, “CLS urges no variance, no special exception and vote no on mineral removal.”

Kamin will present the township’s case at the continued hearing at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the township building.