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PUBLIC HEARING SATURDAY ON W. Va. VALLEY FILLS

Release Date: 10/20/1998
Contact Information: William Toffel (215) 814-5706 or Bonnie Smith (215) 814-5543

PHILADELPHIA - EPA will hold a public hearing Saturday in Logan, W.Va. to hear citizen’s views on the agency’s specific objections to water discharge permits for surface mining operations by Independence Coal (Boone County) and Hobet Mining (Logan County).

The hearing, scheduled at the request of  environmental groups and private citizens, will be from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998 at the Savas Kostas Theater at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College in Logan, Logan County.

EPA has formally objected to both draft permits.  The hearing will give EPA additional information before it makes the final determination on the permits.

The proposed mines involve extensive mountaintop removal and valley fill operations.  The parties who requested the hearings raised concern that if the permits are issued, federal and state water quality standards would be violated.

In mountaintop removal, huge shovels and dozers shave off entire tops of mountains to reach the valuable coal seams underneath.  Excess rock and earth are placed in the valleys below, burying existing streams.  

"The practices of mountaintop removal and valley fills have raised many questions and concerns from the public in West Virginia.  The hearing will provide an impartial forum for them to be heard," said EPA Regional Administrator W. Michael McCabe.

EPA ran paid public notices in area newspapers to ensure public opportunity to comment.  A copy of the public notice is included.  The agency plans to hear comments on both permit applications, and the public will be invited to offer testimony.  Comments will also be accepted in writing.

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EPA to Hear Public Comments on Mountaintop Removal Projects Public Hearing - Saturday, October 24 in Logan

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public hearing October 24, 1998, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Savas Kostas Theater, Logan Campus of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College.  The purpose of the hearing is to obtain views from citizens on EPA’s objections to two valley fill permits drafted by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP).  The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits drafted by the state are for the following proposed surface mines which will include excavation of mountain tops to extract coal, and placement of excess overburden material in adjacent streams and valleys:

Company:  Independence Coal Company, Inc., HC 78, Box 1800, Madison, WV 25130
Proposed Mine:  Constitution MTR Surface Mine
Location: Center of project is 2.0 miles South of Uneeda, Boone County, WV

Draft NPDES Permit WV1017128 states that it will authorize the Independence Coal Company, Inc. to discharge from 25 outfalls and to: “open & operate the Constitution MTR Surface Mine in the Winifrede, Coalburg, Stockton, Clarion, 5-Block seams of coal and all splits thereof and to discharge treated water into an unnamed tributary of Jack’s Branch, Trace Branch, Mack Gore Branch & Griffith Branch of the Pond Fork and Hunters Branch & an unnamed tributary of the Pond Fork and Hunters Branch & an unnamed tributary of the Spruce Fork, all of the Little Coal River of the Coal River of the Kanawha River.”  Five valley fills and associated discharges are proposed, the longest fill being about two-thirds of a mile in Hunters Branch.

Company:  Hobet Mining, Inc., P.O. Box 305, Madison, WV 25130
Proposed Mine:  Spruce No. 1 Surface Mine
Location: Center of project is 2.0 miles Northeast of Blair, Logan County, WV

Draft NPDES Permit WV1017021 states that it will authorize Hobet Mining, Inc. to discharge from 27 outfalls and to: “open & operate the Spruce No. 1 Surface Mine in the No. 6 Block,
No. 5 Block, Upper, Middle & Lower Stockton, Upper, Middle & Lower Coalburg, Buffalo A, Buffalo B, Winifrede, Chilton and all splits of these seams of coals; to discharge treated water into Pigeonroost Branch, White Oak Branch, Old House Branch of and into Spruce Fork; and to discharge untreated water into Pond No. 1 & Pond No. 2 of S-5070-91, discharging through Outlet 007 of NPDES Permit WV1013289 into the Right Fork of Seng Camp of Spruce Fork; all of the Little Coal River of the Coal River of the Kanawha River.”  Four significant valley fills are proposed, the longest being approximately one and two-thirds of a mile in Pigeonroost Branch.

EPA is concerned about impacts of the proposed mining operations on water quality and the overall environment.

The draft permits, EPA’s objections and other related documents are available for public review at the WV Department of Environmental Protection offices located at: 525 Tiller Street, Logan,  (304) 792-7075; and 10 McJunkin Rd., Nitro, (304) 759-0510.


EPA encourages citizens to comment.  The input  will aid in EPA’s decision to reaffirm, modify, or withdraw its objections.  Anyone interested in making oral comments during the hearing need to contact EPA by mail or fax at:  EPA Region 3 (3WP12), 1650 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19103,  fax: (215) 814-2301 -- Attn: Dan Sweeney.  For General questions concerning the permits, contact Dan Sweeney at (215) 814-5731.  Written comments will also be accepted up until October 24, 1998.   During the hearing, each commentor will be limited to five minutes to speak.  
 
The Logan Campus of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is located off Route 73 between U.S. 119 (Corridor G) and Logan, West Virginia.  A sign marks the exit to the college from Route 73.