On Thursday, August 19, the Alabama Surface Mining Commission hosted a public hearing on an application for a coal mine called the Shepherd Bend Mine along the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River northwest of Birmingham and southwest of Dora and Sumiton. The commission has 60 days from August 19 to rule on the permit.

If issued, this permit will authorize strip mining for coal on Shepherd Bend, right across the river from the Birmingham Water Works Board’s Mulberry Fork drinking water intake, would likely result in mining-related pollutants traveling directly to the intake and to Birmingham’s water treatment facilities, according the Black Warrior Riverkeeper non-profit, public advocacy group.

“Not only will this mine pose a threat to Birmingham’s drinking water supply, but it will also threaten water quality, wildlife habitat recreation, aesthetics, and the peaceful way of life residents aim to have along the river,” Riverkeeper Nelson Brooke said in a statement today.

The Black Warrior Riverkeeper and the Southern Environmental Law Center are challenging ADEM’s permit in court, according to the statement.

The commission is currently considering a proposal for mining 286 acres at Shepherd Bend, draining to sediment ponds that would discharge wastewater at 4 outfalls. The total proposed area for the mine is slated to be 1,773 acres, including 29 outfalls –- 10 of which would be upstream of the Birmingham water intake.

Shepherd Bend Mining, LLC, owned by members of the Drummond family, has already received a wastewater discharge permit from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) for the full 1,773-acre area.

The Birmingham Water Works Board submitted comment letters to ADEM in December, and to the commission in August, stating concerns with source water quality degradation, increased treatment costs, and decreased tap water quality. According to the water board, the location of a proposed mining operation with outfalls within 800 feet of a major municipal water supply intake is “unprecedented” and “represents an incompatible use.”

The University of Alabama System owns the majority of the land at Shepherd Bend that would be mined. The university would have to lease its property to the mining company for the mining to occur. The group urges everyone concerned to share their views with the UA system.

The University of Alabama System
Birmingham Office
(205) 975-5566
Tuscaloosa Office
(205) 348-5861

http://www.uasystem.ua.edu/Administration/Contact%20info.htm

For background information on the Shepherd Bend Mine proposal, check out some of the news coverage and documents.

Click here to see a Google Map of the area.

Recap of the August 19 ASMC Public Hearing in The Birmingham News.

University of Alabama student’s article opposing Shepherd Bend Mine in The Crimson White, republished in The Locust Fork News-Journal.

Coal Mine Would Strip University of Alabama of its Reputation

Shepherd Bend Mine – Application for ASMC Permit # P3945 Doc

Written Comments Received by ASMC as of 7/8/10 doc

Shepherd Bend Mine – ADEM Permit #0079162 doc

Tags: Environmental Groups to Sue to Stop Shepherd Bend Mine

This entry was posted on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 6:01 pm and is filed under Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Clean Coal is a Dirty Lie, Drummond Coal, Environment News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.