Residents, landowners tell state regulators they oppose 2nd Rustic Ridge mine in Donegal area

A group of about two dozen Donegal area residents pleaded with state environmental regulators Wednesday to reject an application for another coal mine next to an existing one.

They cited mine subsidence damage, loss of water supply, coal truck traffic and stream pollution from the mine the Johnstown company already operates in their community.

Mining officials from the Department of Environmental Protection heard from residents at a public hearing voicing their frustration at both LCT Energy LP of Johnstown for seeking to dig another mine and DEP regulators who they claim are not going to reject the company’s application.

LCT Energy wants to open Rustic Ridge Mine No. 2 underneath about 2,300 acres of land in Donegal and Mt. Pleasant townships. That mine would be adjacent to Rustic Ridge Mine No. 1, which is in Donegal and Saltlick townships.

“We thank them (LCT Energy) for nearly absolutely nothing,” said Eric Harter, the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper for Mountain Watershed Association, a Melcroft-based environmental organization.

Troy Williams, DEP district mining engineer, said regulators are reviewing the application for the new mine. He repeatedly assured about 50 people in the audience no decision has been made and their comments will be considered.

The technical review they are conducting of LCT Energy’s application is being done under the existing regulations, Williams said to those who questioned the review they are doing.

The issues of the loss of water supplies was frequently raised in an area that relies upon wells and springs.

More than 116 residences within the area could have their water supply impacted by the mining.

Tim Hostetler of Acme said he moved from his Donegal-area home near the Rustic Ridge Mine No. 1 to a 165-acre home in Acme after his water supply was destroyed twice. LCT Energy would not pay for him to have another well dug because he was more than 1,000 feet from the mine border. He said one of the new wells cost him about $5,500.

“You guys (DEP) didn’t do nothing for me the last time,” Williams told the DEP officials.

Although Hostetler was told he could have fought the denial by LCT Energy, he said he had no confidence in the system.

“We shouldn’t have to fight a big company,” Hostetler said.

Chris Lacey of Bear Rocks, also expressed his concern about the impact the mine and discharges from the operation will have on streams.

“I hope you find a reason to deny them,” Lacey said.

The new mine LCT Energy wants to operate would have mining buildings on a 64-acre parcel along Claypike Road near Acme in Mt. Pleasant Township, with the remaining operations underground.

State regulators already approved LCT Energy’s expansion of its 2,850-acre Rustic Ridge Mine No. 1 by about 1,450 acres. That would push mine operation north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike by the Donegal exit and underneath Donegal Lake and Route 711.

In June, the Mountain Watershed Association, a Melcroft-based environmental organization, filed an appeal challenging DEP’s April 4 approval of the expansion.

“We keep reminding DEP that that this (area) is more than a coal seam,” said Stacey Magda of Acme, a Mountain Watershed community organizer.

That mine has the potential to impact the headwaters of Jacobs Creek, Champion Creek, Indian Creek and Four Mile Run, Magda said.

The coal has to be trucked from the mine because neither Rustic Ridge No. 1 has access to a rail line nor would Rustic Ridge No. 2, where coal would be removed at a site near Claypike.

“That’s 200 more coal trucks coming that way (Route 31), It is a death trap,” Magda said.