Daniels, DNR 'exploring' coal mining at Glendale

Interesting post Woody.

Jack,

I am reserving comment until I see particulars.

Any idea what coal company they are talking to or location of teh ground to swap?

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Now I'm not sure of the EXACT details. The idea was to mine the area in question, restore it, pay the state big bucks (which could possibly be used to purchase more public ground in the state), and (this was the important part) the coal company would cede some existign ground to the state. As I recall (don't hold me to this), it was like 20,000 acres. I will see if I can get more details.

Jack

Mining at Glendale?

Company finished exploratory drilling this week

By Nate Smith, Staff Writer

Exploratory drilling for coal finished this week at Glendale Fish and Wildlife Area.

The drilling, conducted by Black Beauty Coal, was on the north side of the nature reserve. Drilling was finished by Thursday, and the results of the study are not expected for 90 days.

In a permit dated Aug. 25, the state’s Department of Natural Resources, which oversees the reserve, gave Black Beauty permission to drill 20 to 35 holes at a depth of 130 to 180 feet.

“We were approached by a coal company that thought would be a reserve there,” said DNR Director Kyle Hupfer, who gave permission for Black Beauty to drill on state lands. “When the results come back, we will start looking into the feasibility of mining.”

Black Beauty Executive Vice President E. Wayne Park said Thursday the coal company has a license to drill but not to mine.

“It will be a long process,” Park said. “Obviously, when you’re in state land, there is a lot of steps we have to go through before mining. Rest assured, we are fully aware of the sensitivity of the area.”

The geology of the area radically changes, Park continued. Therefore, the company would not know how much coal is there and if it is usable.

Both Hupfer and Park said if Black Beauty would mine Glendale, there would be public meetings so residents would have a chance to give input about future mining.

Bruce Stevens, director of the DNR’s Division of Reclamation, said if mining were to happen in Glendale, the land would go through a bidding process for companies wanting to mine.

“Apparently, the reason Black Beauty is interested is because it is near one of their current operations,” Stevens said. “Exploration for reserves adjacent to current operations is a common practice for coal companies.”

Several people who live next to Glendale have reservations about a coal company that might mine there. Terri Abel lives near the park.

“I just think it irritates me that the state can (give permission to) mine and take away Glendale Fish and Wildlife Area,” Abel said. “People are working on a petition and stand against it.”

Mark Dillion, owner of The Musket Shop near the grounds, has started a petition and wants to have 50,000 signatures to stop the mining.

“What I’m hoping not to see is the mining of Glendale,” Dillon said. “Half the businesses in Daviess County count on Glendale for support. Daviess County is going to lose bids on this if they come in to mine. The businesses will lose.”

On Thursday, Dillon said he found through unnamed sources that Black Beauty and the state have arranged a land trade for the Glendale area. For the acres in the northern part of Glendale, 10,000 acres of reclaimed mining land would be given to the state, and the closest site to the county would be near Linton.

None of the sources contacted from Black Beauty or the state confirmed there was a land trade, but an e-mail message from Burgess Brown, DNR legislative director, said the following: “If we were to mine, the state would not lose control of the land. It would be restored back to its original condition, and it would mean new money and possibly new land for hunting and fishing in this state (i.e. money or land in exchange for the coal).

“We believe it is responsible management on our part to know what we have on this property and be able to make an educated decision about its future.”

“What impact to Daviess County will it have? If Glendale is gone, where will all the wildlife go?” Dillon asked. “We benefit from tourism, your restaurants, everything. If we allow a (mining) toe-hold on Glendale, will they continue with the whole area? I don’t know if we’re too late to stop something like this.”

Glendale falls into the district of State Rep. Dave Crooks, D-Washington. He said Friday that he is very much against the prospects of mining in Glendale.

“I’m absolutely against it. There are some things that shouldn’t be for sale,” Crooks said. “This is an area that attracts tourists to Daviess County from all over. It won’t be as appealing to outdoor enthusiasts if there is a large coal shovel going 24 hours a day.”

Crooks, who learned about the drilling through constituents, said he is drafting legislation to be introduced next year that would limit the permission DNR can give.

“I’ve had numerous calls on this. I think it is important. I’m drafting legislation that says if the DNR makes a proposal to mine at Glendale or any state recreation area, it must get legislative approval,” Crooks said. “I don’t think the administration should make a decision without legislative review.”

Glendale Fish and Wildlife Area, now over 8,060 acres, was created in 1956 from area around Dogwood Lake purchased from local landowners. The funds used to buy the land came from the federal Pittman-Robinson and Dingell-Johnson Acts. Final authority to mine would have to come from the federal Fish and Wildlife Service.

Black Beauty is a subsidiary of Peabody Energy, the nation’s largest coal provider.

www.washtimesherald.com/local/local_story_273150025.html

I agree..

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I just wish they could get some more public ground up my way! There is so much public land down south, a lot of it hardly gets used, Splinter Ridge for example. Not many people hunt there for deer or turkey.

DNR NEWS

For immediate release: October 3, 2006

DNR to hold meeting about Glendale plans Oct. 11

Public input to be sought at each step of process

Officials of the Indiana DNR will be in Montgomery, Ind. at 6:30
p.m. (local time) Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the Montgomery Community Building in Ruritan Park to discuss the issues and answer questions regarding the possibility for coal mining on the northern end of the Glendale Fish and Wildlife Area.

"The Glendale Fish and Wildlife Area is an important asset for
the DNR and people of Indiana," said DNR Director Kyle Hupfer. "Dogwood Lake is a very important part of life in southwestern Indiana and we will not entertain any proposal that would disrupt the use of the lake. However, we owe it to the citizens of Indiana to determine what value, if any, the resources below the surface of a small part of Glendale may have."

In late August, the DNR granted Black Beauty Coal Company
permission to conduct low impact exploratory drilling in the northernmost two square miles of Glendale F&WA. The public property is adjacent to private land that is already being mined by Black Beauty. Black Beauty completed its drilling by the end of September and the DNR is awaiting the results. Those results will be made public as part of the process.

Glendale was acquired using federal funding dedicated to fish
and wildlife habitat restoration and preservation. As a result, the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service would have to approve any mining activity. Any proceeds from mining would be required to go toward the purchase of additional fish and wildlife habitat. None of the funds would go to the state's general fund or toward DNR operations. Any mined land would be restored to DNR specifications. Additionally, any sale of the coal mining
rights would have to go through an open bidding process.

"The DNR and the administration will be neutral in this process.
Hunters and anglers of Indiana consistently point to a lack of public land as their biggest area of concern. It is those hunters and anglers who will need to make a decision as to whether the additional land to be acquired by the state for public hunting and fishing access is worth the disruption while mining takes place," Hupfer said. "All that the DNR will do is provide a mechanism for a deal to be analyzed and a decision to be made."

The DNR has also established a special e-mail address to receive
comments about the Glendale Fish & Wildlife Area process. Interested parties may e-mail the DNR at Glendale@dnr.IN.gov.

Montgomery is located on US Hwy 50/150 east of Washington in
Daviess County. Turn north on First St. from Hwy 50 in Montgomery and then east onto Park St. for four-tenths of a mile. The community building is on the right.

KEY WORDS:

""Any proceeds from mining would be required to go toward the purchase of additional fish and wildlife habitat. None of the funds would go to the state's general fund or toward DNR operations. Any mined land would be restored to DNR specifications. Additionally, any sale of the coal mining
rights would have to go through an open bidding process.""

I don't see the problem......No different than selling timber