Alpha Seeks Clean Water Act Permit for Mine Proposed in Holbrook
Area
Washington PA Observer
Reporter
4 February 2012
By Bob Niedbala, Staff writer
niedbala@observer-reporter.com
Alpha Natural Resources has filed an application with the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers seeking a Clean Water Act permit for its
proposed Foundation Mine in Holbrook.
Alpha announced plans for the mine about three years ago. A public
hearing on the project was held by the state Department of
Environmental Protection last February at the Center Township fire
hall.
The company plans to construct the mine in Holbrook, Center
Township.
Company officials could not be reached Friday but previously said
the earliest the mine could open would be 2015. The mine will mine
the Pittsburgh seam of coal and employ a longwall mining machine.
The corps issued a public notice Friday on Alpha's application for
a permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act regarding
impacts the project will have on water resources.
"Any time an applicant plans to place fill in a stream or a
wetlands, they need a permit from us," said Donald Bole of the
corps' regulatory branch.
The proposed mine's surface operations will cover about 1,867
acres of land and include a shaft, slope and preparation plant,
rail spur and coal-loading facility, water supply facility and
refuse disposal area.
The project will impact 1.3 aces of wetland and 59,306 linear feet
of perennial, intermittent and ephemeral stream, according to the
notice.
Plans to mitigate impacts are proposed and include creating a new
wetland as a replacement and relocating, restoring and preserving
impacted streams. Part of the mitigation will involve preserving
streams designated as high quality on site and restoring existing
degraded streams nearby, Bole said.
A section of one perennial stream, Hoge Run, also will be
relocated and mitigated by applying natural stream design, he
said.
Maps included with the notice indicate the new mine's main surface
operations, including the slope, shaft, preparation plant and coal
refuse area, will be on property northwest of the intersection of
Route 18 and Bristoria Road.
The rail and coal-loading facility will be in the same general
area but south of Route 18.
As part of its review, the corps also will consider "public
interest" factors, Bole said. These could include general
environmental concerns, impacts on historical properties, fish and
wildlife, land use and water quality, energy needs and safety.
The corps will receive comments on the plan through March 8 and,
if requested, may hold a public meeting on the plan.
The public notice can be viewed on the corps' website. Further
information also can be obtained by contacting Bole at
412-395-7576 or Donald.R.Bole@usace.army.mil.
Comments on the plan also can be addressed to Bole by writing him
at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, 1000 Liberty
Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4186.
Alpha Natural Resources operates two existing Greene County mines,
Emerald and Cumberland. The company also is planning to construct
a new mine in Morgan and Jefferson townships to produce coal from
the Freeport coal seam.