DUBOIS – The continued public hearing for a surface mining outfit looking to work within Sandy Township was held Monday night.
Amerikohl Mining Inc. is proposing surface mining for coal on property located off of Larkeytown Road, Wayne Road and West Long Avenue. The company is looking to use the upper area of West Long Avenue as the only access point to the 552 acre project. Transport trucks would use West Long Avenue, then Larkeytown Road to get to state Route 830, and from there Interstate 80.
The company needs the township supervisors to grant them the conditional use of the land, as it is zoned residential agricultural. There are also a number of variances that may need to be granted.
When the Jan. 14 hearing adjourned for the evening, the Sandy Township Supervisors asked representatives from Amerikohl Mining Inc. for a number of items.
Among these items were proof of insurance, a list of references and a history of DEP compliance.
Those items were submitted Monday night.
Supervisor Chairman Brady LaBorde questioned representatives of Amerikohl about bonding the bridge over Sandy Lick Creek. John Saugrich of Amerikohl indicated that that topic was discussed at the first hearing, and that Amerikohl would be willing to bond the bridge.
Saugrich also answered questions regarding blasting. He stated that as per DEP regulations, if a water line or well within 1,000 feet of the blasting area is damaged by blasting, it is Amerkohl’s responsibility to take care of the problem.
While the supervisors could have made a decision Monday night, they took their solicitor’s advice and opted to review the information submitted before making a decision.
“We will set a date for a decision to be made,” said LaBorde.
While no exact date has been set yet, the supervisors voted to make a decision within 45 days.