New Coal Mine Planned

Surface operation near Everettville awaits DEP OK

Morgantown Dominion Post
21 July 2012
By Tracy Eddy

A new surface coal mine could open near Everettville, pending approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

According to DEP documents, the roughly 27-acre site could be less than a mile from Everettville. Operations could include a haulroad, a surface mine, highwall mine and auger mine in the Pittsburgh coal seam.

DEP spokesman Tom Aluise said officials are reviewing the mining permit. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is evaluating the water permit, he said, which would allow the operation to discharge treated water and stormwater into the Monongahela River.

SCJL Co-Leasing Corp. is listed as the applicant for the permits. DEP documents also list Laurita Surface Mine under related applications.

Representatives from SCJL Co-Leasing Corp. did not respond to The Dominion Post in time for this report.

A representative from Laurita Excavating referred calls to Mepco Inc. and representatives of that company did not respond to The Dominion Post in time for this report.

Resident Carol Thorn said the new mine could mean more jobs for local miners.

“It’s important to keep our coal miners working,” she said. “Our economy isn’t great right now ... I think our economy needs coal.”

Thorn is also president of the Everettville Historical Association.