The Department of Environmental Protection will participate in a public open house on  September 18, to inform the community about Amfire Mining Company’s proposed underground mine in South Mahoning and West Mahoning townships, Indiana County.

The open house will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the Little Mahoning Bible Conference grounds at 1051 Alabran Road in Smicksburg, Indiana County.

DEP mining staff and representatives from Latrobe-based Amfire Mining will be on-hand to discuss Amfire’s plans to use room-and-pillar mining to extract bituminous coal from the site. As proposed, the site would cover nearly 62 acres of surface activity. The underground mining would extend a total of 4,367 acres.

The proposed site is within an Environmental Justice area, which is identified as any census tract with 20 percent or more of the population at or below the poverty level, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, and/or with a 30 percent or greater minority population.

DEP offers such communities the opportunity to attend informational meetings, such as this open house, to learn about the permitting process and proposed permit activities.

Those with a disability who wish to attend this open house and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation to participate should contact Deborah Ferenci at 724-769-1027 or through the AT&T Relay Service by calling 1-800-654-5984 (TDD users) or 1-800-654-5988 (Voice Users) to discuss how DEP may accommodate their needs.

Copies of the company’s application are available for public review by appointment at DEP’s California District Mining Office, 25 Technology Drive, California Technology Park, Coal Center, PA 15423.

Those interested in scheduling an appointment to review the application, as well as municipal governments who seek a copy of the permit for the community, should call 724-769-1100.

Copies of the application are also available weekdays by appointment, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Amfire’s office at One Energy Place, Latrobe, PA 15650, by calling 724-537-5731.

NewsClip: Amish Notified Of Mining Plans In Indiana County

9/17/2012