Glynn Wilson

by Glynn Wilson

ROSA, Ala. — More than 75 people packed the Rosa Town Hall to overflowing Monday night to learn about a giant coal mine planned for Blount County within 100 feet of the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River that, if approved, would destroy hundreds of acres and dump millions of gallons of toxic sludge over five years into a river that is already stressed nearly to the breaking point.

The public did not even find out about the permit application from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management until it was basically too late to launch a full-scale fight. A tiny legal notice was published in The Blount Countian, a local weekly newspaper with a marginal Web presence that doesn’t tell people much about the world. No one at the paper even thought to do a story to notify the people who live on land adjacent to where the 2,000 acre coal mine is planned.

Glynn Wilson

Dwight Norris tells his story…

They may not have found out at all if not for Dwight Norris, who hiked into the woods to investigate when he heard a bulldozer digging some test holes in the area.

After hearing the presentation from Black Warrior Riverkeeper Nelson Brooke and seeing the overwhelming turnout, Norris said he has some hope that the people can launch a movement to stop the mine.

“This gives me some hope,” he said.

The public has only until August 1 to write in public comments for the Alabama Surface Mining Commission permit, although now that people know about it, they may try to bring some political pressure on the Blount County Commission, their state legislative representatives and the Alabama Environmental Management Commission to extend the public comment period. The mining commission is planning a public hearing of sorts for the third week of August

An ad hoc group of citizens has formed to combat the mine by the Mcoal corporation. They set up a Web site to get information to people about it at RosaMine.org.

In addition to the major concern of water quality for the river and local drinking water sources from the 62 new discharge locations on the river and tributaries connected to it, where the company will dump sediment containing heavy metals and toxic chemicals, the concerns expected to be addressed by citizens in their letters include the effects on aquatic habitat in the river and its tributaries, including the Black Warrior River watershed itself.

Concerns also include air quality, including dust from the mine and transportation of the coal, as well as the safety of their children, especially at Locust Fork Elementary School on Hwy 79. Noise from trucks and heavy equipment is a concern, especially on Mountain Gap Road. Property damage and dropping property values are of grave concern.

Road damage and subsidence of the land from underground mining is of great concern, as well as the proposed coal processing plant planned for the site, a coal washing facility that uses toxic chemicals that will also be discharged into the river. The mine will also result in wildlife displacement and habitat loss, the loss of native forest, and negative effects on the local quality of life.

Brooke said his group disagrees with ADEM in its approach to permitting mines just about anywhere.

“We think there should be a limit on where coal mines should go,” he said. “Our purpose is to keep our rivers beautiful.”

Sam Howell, president of the Friends of the Locust Fork, a volunteer group that is associated with the Black Warrior Riverkeeper, a member of the national Waterkeeper Alliance, wonders why ADEM would even consider permitting another coal mine on a stretch of river that is already considered legally impaired and on the list to clean up.

“There’s something wrong with that,” he said.

Blount County Commissioner Waymon Pitts took some hits from people at the meeting, especially for not doing more to get the word out. But he said, you know, it’s not in the power of the county commission to stop a coal mine. Some citizens pointed out, however, that it might be his elected responsibility to try — if he wants to get reelected.

The most emotional moment and the most applause of the night came for Paul I. Mullen, a.k.a. Running Spear, who said his Native American heart was in the fight for the long haul.

“I know some of you have Native American blood flowing in your veins too. Get that spirit going and fight this thing,” he said. “It will be an uphill battle. But my heart is in it all the way.”

Tags: Blount County Folks Pack Hall to Fight Coal Mine

This entry was posted on Monday, July 27th, 2009 at 9:56 pm and is filed under Environment News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.