MCCONNELL'S MILL Groups vow fight against mining

Environmental groups await a judge's decision on the original mining permit.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
PORTERSVILLE, Pa. -- Two environmental groups have vowed to fight a state decision to allow more mining near McConnell's Mill State Park in Lawrence County.
"This could change the geology of the park forever," said Doniele Andrus, president of Friends of McConnell's Mill State Park Inc.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced Thursday it has approved a permit revision for Quality Aggregates Inc. of Pittsburgh allowing the company to expand the Myers Mine blasting plan to include the remainder of the permitted mining area up to 500 feet from the park in the county.
Quality Aggregates is permitted to surface mine 89.8 acres of coal to access 141 acres of limestone that is the company's primary business interest. Mining is expected to continue at the site for another eight years, the DEP said.
The company received a permit in September 2002 to surface mine limestone and coal at Myers Mine. The company's original mining permit did not allow mining or blasting within 1,000 feet of the park boundary so DEP could monitor the effects of the company's operation on the park.
Environmental groups have appealed the DEP's original decision before the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board in Pittsburgh. A decision is expected to be handed down in December, Andrus said.
Reaction
"For the DEP to make this decision without hearing the judge's decision is, in our opinion, a little hasty. It's all politics," she said.
State Rep. Frank LaGrotta of Ellwood City, D-10th said he's also not pleased with the decision.
"Obviously I don't think blasting this close to McConnell's Mill is a good idea, and I do not support the DEP decision to permit it," he said. "However, I have worked with Quality Aggregates and their onsite supervisors, and I compliment them for being a very responsible, safety-conscious company."
He added, however, that if QA does not take "every imaginable precaution to protect the park" he will immediately notify DEP.
The company applied for a revision to their blast plan in March 2004 to allow blasting no closer than 500 feet of the park. Monitoring systems in place have detected no problems from ongoing blasting, and Quality Aggregates has abided by the requirements of the original permit, the DEP said. Park management has submitted no complaints to DEP.
Enforcement
Restrictions on the timing, location and number of blasts will be strictly enforced as mining gets closer to the park, a DEP news release stated.
Blasting restrictions in the original permit will remain in effect, including a limit of one blast per day between sunrise and 10 a.m. weekdays, with no blasting permitted weekends and holidays. Park management must be notified before every blast.
Other technical restrictions from the original permit to prevent dust, excessive ground vibrations and noise will continue to be enforced, and monitoring equipment will remain arrayed throughout the area to verify mining is in compliance with the permit conditions, the DEP stated.
Lynn Merlino of Slippery Rock Stream Keepers, another environmental group opposed to the mining, said they believe the blasting will put limestone into the water and destroy park plants. She said the group also is concerned about pollution because Slippery Rock Creek also is a source of drinking water for about 40,000 people in southern Lawrence County.
cioffi@vindy.com