The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement denied a permit to Pacific Coast Coal in Black Diamond to resume mining operations at the John Henry No. 1 mine.

OSM sent a release today, Sept. 2, reporting the decision on the mining permit.

According to the release surface coal mining operations began in 1985 and the mine was active until 1999.

The release stated, "Federal law requires companies to reclaim coal mine sites after mining is completed. From 2002 to 2008, Pacific Coast Coal advised OSM it intended to resume mining. Based on that information, OSM granted Pacific Coast renewal permits and did not require the company to reclaim the site. In that time, the company signed no contracts, nor did it produce coal at the mine.

"In April 2009, OSM gave the company a final opportunity to obtain a contract for the sale of coal, or to submit a plan to reclaim the site. The company did not respond to OSM’s mandates until May 2010, when it agreed to begin reclaiming the site."

The release stated in July 2010 the company asked to mine "3.5 additional acres to obtain 26,000 tons of coal, purportedly for “test burns” and sale on the spot market.

"However, the company has not shown it has buyers for its coal, and it has not sufficiently described the impacts of its request. It is this request OSM is denying."

FINAL OSM Pacific Coast Coal Company News Release

Contact Covington Reporter Regional Editor Dennis Box at dbox@maplevalleyreporter.com or 425-432-1209 ext. 5050.

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