Take Action
The Ohio Division of Forestry (DOF) and Ohio Division of Natural Resources Mineral Resources have proposed a 550 acre strip mine in Perry State Forest. Yes, strip mining in 2018!
Send your comment today to protect Ohio's forests!
The proposal to strip mine more than 550 acres of public land will result in significant environmental impacts as well as a loss of the social and economic benefits of the forest to the New Lexington community and Ohio at large.
The coal company Oxford has failed to acknowledge that the permit area is a public forest where community members and visitors hike, horseback ride, hunt, and fish and ride APV trails that are historically established.
The Ohio EPA Director has proposed to authorize serious degradation of the waters in and near the mining area. 16 proposed treatment ponds would discharge into Essington Lake, Hocking River watershed and Perry Reclaim Dam Three Impoundment, into the headwaters of the Buckeye Fork subwatershed. Both lakes are downstream of the proposed mine area and not considered by Ohio EPA and Oxford coal.
Strip mining coal is serious business and should not be PERMITTED in 2018!
Please get engaged!
Attend the public hearing October 2, 2018 at 6:00 PM at the New Lexington High School Cafetorium, 2547 Panther Drive, New Lexington, OH 43764.
The hearing will last until all written and oral comments have been received.
Or write comments: Comments will also be received through October 9, 2018 at close of business (5:00 PM). Send all comments via email to: epa.dswcomments@epa.ohio.gov or via mail to: Ohio EPA-DSW, Attn: Permits Processing, PO Box 1049, Columbus, OH 43216-1049. Please include the public notice no. 18-08-037 with all comments.
Sample Email:
Dear ---
I write to express my opposition to the proposed Oxford Mining Company Mine in Perry State Forest and its associated draft proposed Clean Water Act NPDES permit (Public Notice No.: OEPA 18-08-037 DFT; Ohio EPA Permit No.: 0IL00172*AD).
The proposal to strip mine more than 550 acres of public land will result in significant environmental impacts to forest, wildlife and water species, as well as a loss of the social and economic benefits of the forest to the New Lexington community and Ohio at large.
The coal company Oxford has failed to acknowledge that the permit area is a public forest where community members and visitors hike, horseback ride, hunt, and fish and ride APV trails that are historically established.
The Ohio EPA Director has proposed to authorize serious degradation of the waters in and near the mining area. 16 proposed treatment ponds would discharge into Essington Lake, Hocking River watershed and Perry Reclaim Dam Three Impoundment, into the headwaters of the Buckeye Fork subwatershed. Both lakes are downstream of the proposed mine area and not considered by Ohio EPA and Oxford coal.
Oxford coal is stating that remaining a strip mine will remediate water impacts. Oxford failed to submit background monitoring data to establish existing water quality in the Perry State Forest. Without knowing background water quality and by failing to require ongoing monitoring for numerous pollutants, it will not be possible to determine if water quality is improved, as local residents have been promised.
The ODNR and OEPA continue to consider C02 outputs during a serious time of climate disruption.
Please send emails to:
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Division of Surface Water
Attn: Permits Processing
PO Box 1049
Columbus, OH 43216
Craig Butler
Director OEPA
Tiffani Kavalec
Chief, Division of Surface Water
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Lazarus Government Center
50 W. Town St. Ste. 700
PO Box 1049
Columbus, OH 43216
tiffani.kavalec@epa.ohio.gov
Lanny Erdos
Chief, Division of Mineral Resources Management
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
2045 Morse Rd.
Columbus, OH 43229
Brent Heavilin
Coal Permitting and Bonding Manager, Division of Mineral Resources Management
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
2050 East Wheeling Ave.
Cambridge, Ohio 43725
Linda Holst
Acting Director, Water Division
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Region 5
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604