Meeting on mining beneath streams by Ryerson planned
An informal public conference will be held Friday by the state Department of Environmental Protection on a modification to the mining permit for Bailey Mine to conduct longwall mining beneath two streams in Richhill Township.
Consol Pennsylvania Coal Co. is seeking the modification to conduct longwall mining beneath Polen Run and Kent Run, a plan that environmental groups have opposed, claiming it would adversely impact the streams.
“This is a modification of the existing Bailey Mine permit to extend full-extraction mining into the two panels,” DEP spokesman John Poister said.
The company plans to run two longwall mining panels beneath the streams.
The informal public conference will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday in the Ryerson Station State Park visitor center on Bristoria Road. Information provided at the conference will include the company’s plans for stream restoration, Poister said.
A similar informal public conference was held two years ago on the company’s plans to mine beneath Polen Run only. The company at that time proposed installing a geosynthetic clay liner in the stream bed, which DEP officials said had been used successfully on other stream restoration projects.
The two streams are among those cited in an appeal of the Bailey Mine permit filed by the Center for Coalfield Justice. The center claims the streams would be adversely impacted by the mining, while the company argues any impacts would be temporary and could be addressed through mitigation efforts. The case is now being heard by the state Environmental Hearing Board.
DEP staff will attend the meeting Friday to answer questions regarding the proposal. DEP staff also will be available to receive testimony regarding the application.