Citizens protest process on possible mining operation
DUNBAR TWP. – Environmentalists, residents, river enthusiasts, bikers and others were outraged Wednesday when the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) failed to allow public participation during an advertised public meeting to discuss a possible mining operation adjacent to Ohiopyle State Park. The meeting drew dozens from the local area and outside the community with many standing in the Dunbar Township Municipal Building hallway and near a rear doorway of the small room awaiting a chance to voice their opposition or support for the project submitted by Amerikohl Mining Inc. of Butler and currently being reviewed by the DEP.
However, when DEP technical services permit chief Tom Kovalchuk said that those with comments would be required to enter a separate room and record their statement after he and the mining company made their respective presentations, the crowd protested, stating that their concerns should be heard by all in a public forum.
“This format is unacceptable,” said Beverly Braverman, Mountain Watershed Association executive director. “We want an open format.”
An open format, continued Braverman would allow the DEP officials and mining company representatives to be questioned by those in attendance.
Kovalchuk, however, said that the session would allow for the public to make recorded statements or that all were welcome to submit written comments to the DEP. Also, he said, those reviewing the Amerikohl mining permit application, including a geologist, forester, blaster and inspector were also available to discuss various aspects of the application and the permitting process.
“There will be no documentation or no record of my comments to the (DEP) experts,” argued Braverman.
The Curry Mine project, said Amerikohl Company president John Stilley is located within a 588-acre tract with approximately 140-acres of property to be affected with the recovery of both the Upper Freeport and Upper Kittanning coal seams. The mining firm anticipates removing a total of 250,000 tons of low-sulfur coal that will be sold to area utility companies.
The mining operation, said Stilley, will not be visible from the Allegheny Highlands Trail that weaves through Ohiopyle State Park.
“The only thing that will be heard is the back up alert signals,” he said.
The alarm, speculated Stilley, would be less than the sounds emanating from the CSX trains that travel through the area and are less than 500 feet from the bike trail.
Seven sedimentation ponds and associated ditches will restrict water flow to several waterways in the area, including Morgan Run, Indian Creek River, Johnson Run and the Youghiogheny River.
The site is to be returned to its present status as a forest after the expected 20 month project is completed.
Pennsylvania Sierra Club Mining Issues spokesman Michael V. Nixon, meanwhile, said that the format hindered the sharing of information.
“In the course of discussion of presenting information, there is a dialogue,” he said following the meeting. “There was someone that wanted to talk about the plant and animal species that they apparently were familiar with; probably more so than the DEP.
“They may have vital information.”
Carl William Schneider, said like many in the room, he was concerned about how the mining operation would impact the neighboring state park and the Youghiogheny River where he and his friends come to paddle throughout the summer.
David Farhinger, his maternal grandfather, he said, was commissioned in the 1960s to determine the location of state parks, including Ohiopyle State Park and makes the location more special to him.
“I come up here and camp on a regular basis,” said Schneider.
Andrea Funyak drove nearly two hours to attend the meeting to publicly voice her concerns about the project and believed the refusal by the DEP officials to allow her to do so, was “wrong.”
“I volunteer at the state park,” she said of her attendance. “Anytime I have been at a public or board meeting you sign your name and speak your peace.
“For these (DEP) people to come in here and be rude to us; avoid our questions is wrong.
“If I lived in this community I would be livid that they are not going to listen to the residents or the users of the park.”
Braverman said that her organization would likely file a petition with the Office of Surface Mining – a federal oversight committee to alert them that the state agency did not comply with public participation requirements.
“(DEP) is holding meetings that are not public; meetings that do not support Congress’ assertion that the public should be able to participate in these matters,” she said.