Taylor Mine Clears Final Obstacle

Facility expected to generate 380 jobs

Morgantown Dominion Post
12 March 2010
By Evelyn Ryan

Construction of International Coal Group’s (ICG) Tygart No. 1 mine complex in Taylor County will resume in mid-2011, now that the final obstacle has been removed, company officials announced Thursday.

The mine will be an economic boon to Taylor County, which lost two of its major industries, the box plant and Fourco Glass plant, Taylor County Commission Tony Veltri said.

The mine is expected to employ about 380 people.

The West Virginia Surface Mine Board has upheld a May 2009 decision by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to reinstate a surface mining permit for the deep mine complex east of Grafton, a release issued by ICG’s corporate office at Scott Depot reported.

ICG CEO and President Ben Hatfield said the company plans for first production to be in late 2012.

The Tygart No. 1 Mine would cover about 6,000 acres underground just southeast of Grafton near Knottsville, adjacent to Tygart Lake and Tygart Lake State Park. The Tygart Valley River, at the nearest point, is about 1,050 feet from the proposed mine boundary.

While this will be a longwall underground mine, it requires a surface mining permit for the portal, air shafts and operations buildings for the mining operations.

“We’re excited about it coming because it’s going to mean some economic development for the county, and it’s going to mean some darn good-paying jobs,” Veltri said. “We as a commission are not against it.”

It also gives residents who work in mines elsewhere a chance to work near home, he said. As for the economic impact, he pointed out that coal miners can make $50,000-$70,000 a year. In addition, the company will pay county property taxes.

“Hopefully this will be the economic thing that will kinda get us back on the map and get us going again,” he said.

When it’s in full production, the Tygart No. 1 mine is expected to produce 3.5 million tons of steam and metallurgical coal. Permit records show the company plans to operate the mine for more than a dozen years.

ICG’s release said the Tygart No. 1 project received the necessary federal and state approvals, but it was delayed by challenges from the Taylor Environmental Advocacy Membership, a local environmental group.

The DEP issued a permit June 5, 2007 for the Tygart No. 1 underground longwall mine and preparation plant complex. The company has begun site development work, with major construction expected to begin early in 2008. That was delayed by the challenge.

The board’s order, issued Wednesday in the challenge filed by the group against the state DEP and ICG, found that the mining company’s water management plans “will accomplish the protection of the water sources.”

As for the group’s concerns about the mine pool, the board ruled “the evidence demonstrates that water quality will be met without the use of perpetual treatment.”

“We are pleased the Surface Mine Board agrees that our Tygart No. 1 mine plan is environmentally responsible and meets all state regulatory requirements,” Hatfield said.