Homeowner petitions mining commission

To: Alabama Surface Mining Commission

P.O. Box 2390

Jasper, AL 35502-2390

Tuesday, 28 July 09

I understand that the Alabama Surface Mining Commission is considering the permit application submitted by MCoal Corp Permit number ASMC P-3931, to mine coal in the Rosa, Cleveland, and Royal areas of the old Rosa strip mine. I live one mile north of the Locust Fork River and enjoy the beauty and peace of the river on my walks and enjoy floating and canoeing in the river. As a Public Health nurse, I have additional concerns.

I am concerned about and want to know how the following will be protected by your agency.

•the overall effect of the mining on water quality and aquatic habitat in the Locust Fork River and its tributaries, and the larger Black Warrior River watershed (i.e., beaver, otter, fish, turtles, water birds, how will they be protected?).

•coal washing facilities, toxic chemicals and associated discharges into the surface water.

•sediment ponds (or slurry impoundments) (I understand there will be at least 62 of these) leaching into ground water and surface water both ...

My neighbors across the road lost their well from the last mining activities. How will my well be protected from the current operations?

There has been a gradual return of fish and other animals to the area since the last coal mining, but it has taken over 30 years to recover. This does not seem to be in the best interest of people living in and around the area to be mined, or the environment, because it could take many more years for the repair of what has taken so long to return here since the last mining in the area. How quickly will repair of the hillsides take place? When can we expect the repair of the sites will be completed? And then how long will it take for the environment to actually be “healed”?

The damage to the roads in the area, during the mining process, is another concern. I have heard that the MCoal Corp. will be required to bond that they will repair the roads after they are done, but that could take 10 years or more, meanwhile our roads are barely functional now and our county’s resources for road repair are slim. How will the roads be taken care of during the mining process (and how long will the mining go on for)?

As a nurse who has cared for both adults and children suffering from asthma, I know that dust is a trigger for asthma attacks. I am particularly concerned because one of the routes for the coal trucks passes right by the Cleveland Multi-Needs Center, where children with special needs attend school. Repeated asthma attacks destroy lung tissue and leave asthma patients with shortened lives. Coal dust air-pollution is not good for anyone in our county. What provisions are being made to keep our air from being polluted by the coal dust?

I may be able to hear the sounds of the trucks and auger drilling from my home, or not. Others living closer will definitely be impacted by this. What protections do we have according to law?

While many may say that beauty is the least of their concerns when it comes to these hard economic times, the beauty of this area is why I made this area my permanent home. The permit that MCoal has applied for has all types of mining checked. If they should decide to blast or strip more of the area to get to the coal portion of the hills, then the recovering forest (from the previous mining in the same area) will be damaged or destroyed, along with the beauty I look out upon when I look at these hills. How will ASCM ensure that MCoal will protect these quality of life issues?

I respectfully request that the Alabama Surface Mine arrange a meeting in Oneonta or Cleveland, after regular business hours (after 5 p.m., so working folks can attend) to answer our questions.

Sara Rose, R.N.

Blountsville