Friends of Perry State Forest Fight Mine Permit
Opponents of the proposed mine spoke at an October 2018 public hearing. Photo courtesy of Friends of Perry State Forest
A proposed 545-acre strip mine in Ohio’s Perry State Forest is garnering local opposition. If approved, the mine would encompass 12 percent of the public forest, which is a popular spot for hiking, hunting, fishing and horseback riding.
Members of Friends of Perry State Forest, a grassroots group that formed to fight the mine, were among the more than 150 people who attended a Ohio Department of Natural Resources meeting about the mine permit this February. At the meeting, regulators acknowledged hearing from more than 1,000 concerned people, the Perry County Tribune reported.
Opponents of the permit are concerned about air pollution, noise, harm to nearby drinking water wells and property damage from blasting. They also cite the forest’s recreational and economic value.
“This area, this forest, creates a lot of revenue for this town,” Jeff Ivers, whose property is surrounded by the public forest, told WOSU Public Radio. “They just don’t see that. And they think mining is going to create more revenue? I don’t see how.”
Friends of Perry State Forest is also concerned about the financial stability and ethics of the company applying for the permit. Oxford Mining Company, a subsidiary of Westmoreland Coal, originally applied for the permit in 2017. Following Westmoreland’s October 2018 declaration of bankruptcy, Oxford sold the permit to a newly formed company, CCU Coal and Construction, which is owned by former Oxford owner Charles Ungurean. Under Ungurean’s tenure in 2014, Oxford was found to have intentionally modified water discharge reports to hide violations from state regulators.
In January, Friends of Perry State Forest filed an appeal of a Clean Water Act permit issued to the mine by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The post Friends of Perry State Forest Fight Mine Permit appeared first on Appalachian Voices.
Protecting the Central and Southern Appalachian Mountain Region
Source: http://appvoices.org/2019/04/08/friends-of-perry-state-forest-fight-mine-permit/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!
Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!
HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.
Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.
MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)
Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser! Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!
Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.
Smart Meter Cover - Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).