Coal officials seek permission to mine from Greene commissioners
WAYNESBURG – RAG American Coal officials Wednesday asked the Greene County commissioners for permission to mine near the former Curry Home property, though the actual mining would not occur for at least five years. RAG land representative John Cole and engineering manager Ed Zeglen showed the commissioners maps of the area in question. They said plans call for mainline development mining around the Curry Home sometime in late 2007, but the company would like to lay the groundwork for that mining as early as this fall.
Zeglen stressed that longwall mining will not be used and a conveyer-type operation will be in place at that site to make it as safe and efficient as possible. He said the reason for approaching the commissioners so far in advance is to begin design work now.
The property is being mined to even out a system of three panels located around the county-owned area, making mining in that area safer for RAG miners, Zeglen said. Without county approval, RAG will have to make bends in the panel, which will cause ventilation problems.
In total, about 21 percent of the available coal in that area – roughly 86,000 tons – will be mined, and a price will be determined by RAG land agents, who will present a figure to the county before any work would begin, Zeglen said.
Because of the way the coal will be mined, Zeglen assured the commissioners that “zero subsidence” will occur on that property.
Commissioner Farley Toothman said that because the county owns those assets, it is important that the commissioners review the proposal and refer it to the solicitor and an appraiser, to give the county an idea as to the value of the coal RAG wants to extract.
“We also should decide whether the benefits of such work outweighs the burden,” he said.
Zeglen said the plans call for mining to skirt around the Curry Home, but crews will travel underneath the Greene County Historical Society and Museum as well as nearby residences.
Cole said a Pittsburgh company will conduct pre- and post-mining surveys on properties within a certain radius of the proposed mining area, and he said the pre-mining work will begin well in advance of the work.
The commissioners voted to begin meeting with the solicitor and an appraiser on the issue and to remain in contact with RAG.
In other matters, the commissioners placed on the agenda for today’s meeting a motion authorizing the county to process the acquisition of several parcels of real estate. When asked what the parcels were, Toothman declined to elaborate, saying the details would be discussed at this morning’s meeting at 10 a.m.