Environmental group appeals permit decision for Mon County mine
September 8, 2010 ·
The West Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club is appealing a decision by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to issue a permit for a proposed mine in Monongalia County.
The group argues the water pollution permit fails to address concerns about hazardous pollution.
The New Hill West Mine would expand Patriot Mining Company’s operations in the Cassville area of Monongalia County by an additional 225 acres.
The DEP issued Patriot's NPDES, or water pollution permit August 30, but the state chapter of the Sierra Club filed an appeal to the West Virginia Environmental Quality Board last week.
Jim Kotcon is chair of the Energy Committee with the West Virginia Sierra Club.
"Our biggest concern is that the West Virginia DEP is authorizing dumping up to 10,000 tons per acre of fly ash and coal combustion residuals on the mine site without requiring a discharge limit on the kinds of toxins that come out of fly ash," he said.
Kotcon says he is also concerned with the tests the DEP uses to monitor toxins from fly ash.