Mine permit conference next week

Writer: Frank Boyett

Henderson Gleaner

Members of the public who may be impacted as the proposed surface mine operations of Patriot Coal Co. creep closer to Zion will get a chance to voice their opinions next week.

They'll also get a chance to learn more about the company's proposed mining operation. The state Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement will conduct a mine permit conference at 7 p.m. July 10 in the Stagg Room at the Henderson Fine Arts Center at Henderson Community College.

The hour prior to the permit conference -- from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. -- state officials will provide opportunities for citizens to ask questions and speak their minds informally.

"This gives the public a chance to express their concerns to us face to face," explained Perry Johnson, supervisor of the Operations Support Section in the Division of Mine Permits. "For us, it's one more method of gathering information.

"On this occasion, considering the complicated issues involved with this particular application, we would like to also make it an educational opportunity. Thus, the pre-conference interaction session. This is not usual, but has been done before."

Johnson noted that a permit conference is more informal than a public hearing.

"No legal representation is necessary. No decisions will be made at this conference. Coal company representatives may or may not attend."

The session was scheduled at the instigation of Eileen and Roger Timberlake, who sent the state agency a protest in April requesting the permit conference. The Timberlakes have been fighting the mine proposal since it surfaced late last year before the Henderson City-County Planning Commission.

"We feel the people of Henderson County need to be aware we have a serious mining problem," Eileen Timberlake said. "We want to encourage the people of Henderson County to attend this meeting and voice ... their concerns and their opinions."

The mine rezoning covered 514 acres owned by Penn Virginia Operating Co. and 113 acres owned by Gary and Debra Murphy and Barbara A. Murphy, but the mine permit request covers only 537 acres, which are about 3 miles northeast of Zion. Dozens of people attended the planning commission's public hearing on Dec. 4, and 16 of them testified.

The most common objection heard was that surface mine blasting so close to their residences would physically damage their houses, although there were also concerns expressed about public health issues, loss of property values, dust, noise, traffic and possible environmental damage.