Ohio coal producer withdraws state park mining permit

BELMONT, Ohio (AP) — A coal producer has withdrawn its request to the state to allow it to mine under a portion of a park in eastern Ohio.

Ohio Valley Coal Co. had asked the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to expand its underground Powhatan mine beneath 16 acres of the 1,005-acre Barkcamp State Park in Belmont County.

The Columbus Dispatch reported today the company, owned by Murray Energy Corp. of St. Clairsville, withdrew the application earlier this month.

A Murray Energy official told state officials the area was currently not economically mineable.

Part of the request that was withdrawn included using an additional 314 acres outside the park for room-and-pillar mining.

Some environmentalists had expressed concerns about the proposed mining but didn’t file formal comments.