- Last Updated on Friday, 31 May 2013 22:57
By J.R. Brower
The estimated turnout at the May 6, 2013 Nottingham Board of Supervisors public hearing on Ramaco’s deep mine site conditional application was so high, that Ramaco decided to hire security guards just in case the crowd got out of control.
The estimated turnout at the May 6, 2013 Nottingham Board of Supervisors public hearing on Ramaco’s deep mine site conditional application was so high, that Ramaco decided to hire security guards just in case the crowd got out of control.
 Ramaco, LLC Attorney Rebecca Bowman and President Michael Bauersachs accepted Nottingham’s 62 conditions for their proposed coal mine.
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Ramaco, LLC, of Lexington, KY plans to develop the mine off Little Mingo Road on a vacant 72-acre horse farm that is the site of a historic farmhouse. Along with the farm, Ramaco purchased an estimated 8 million tons of coal reserves owned previously by defunct MonView Mining Company and prior to that Mathies Coal Company. The main reason Ramaco purchased the reserves is because the seam contains the more valuable grade which company president Michael Bauersachs described as metallurgical coal. The reserves lie mostly under Nottingham Township with a smaller northern section beneath Peters Township near Venetia Road.
“Our target will be for coking coal”, he said, explaining that there was a ready market nearby at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Works.
 Instead of verbalizing their complaints at the public hearing, some Nottingham residents held signs protesting Ramaco’s plans for the mine located off Little Mingo Road.
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As it turned out, the crowd of 75 to 100 concerned residents were not given a chance to voice their disapproval of the board’s decision to allow Ramaco to accept the supervisors proposed conditions, many of which were suggested by residents themselves in recent weeks.
At the beginning of the public hearing, Nottingham Township Board Chairman Peter Marcoline made clear to the crowd that residents were given every opportunity to voice their opposition to the controversial mine at a previous public hearing on April 1 and regularly scheduled board meetings on March 18 and April 15. It was at that hearing where the supervisors announced that the conditions for the mine’s application would be expanded to include almost every valid opposition point that residents expressed both vocally and in writing.
At the beginning of the public hearing, Nottingham Township Board Chairman Peter Marcoline made clear to the crowd that residents were given every opportunity to voice their opposition to the controversial mine at a previous public hearing on April 1 and regularly scheduled board meetings on March 18 and April 15. It was at that hearing where the supervisors announced that the conditions for the mine’s application would be expanded to include almost every valid opposition point that residents expressed both vocally and in writing.
 Nottingham Supervisors Doug King, Peter Marcoline and Todd Flynn revealed concerns about the proposed mine from Nottingham residents as well as those voiced from Peters Township, Union Township and the Ringgold School District.
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Marcoline directed the May 6 hearing rapidly but thoroughly, limiting audience comments. As he read through each of the 62 conditions, some residents raised their hands to comment on certain ones, but to no avail.
The only feedback from residents was strictly visual. Many held up signs directed towards Ramaco company officials stating: “Protect OUR Community, Say No to Ramaco!”
The floor was given to Ramaco attorney Rebecca Bowman, who expressed her surprise at the number of conditions, some of which she described as “excessive”, but reluctantly accepted them.
“It is our right as a township to impose any conditions that we want to,” answered Marcoline. “That’s the law.”
Some of the 62 conditions included stipulations on: noise, on-site coal washing, zoning certificate approval, lighting, highway occupancy permits, sewage plans, stormwater runoff, hours and days of operation, employee sleeping quarters, and existing trees and vegetation. Ramaco President Bauersachs said, “We can make the conditions.” He said that his company plans to pursue other mining opportunities in this region. The company projects that the Nottingham-based will create at least 40 jobs.
“Moreover, coal mining jobs typically lead to creation of additional jobs for suppliers and retailers,” he said.
The company’s press release stated that supporting development of coal and the implementation of clean coal technologies, would lead to a better worldwide environment. It also said that from a global perspective, coal is positioned in the next few years to overtake oil as the leading source of energy in the world.
Regarding the board’s acceptance of Ramaco’s application to operate in Nottingham, Supervisor Todd Flynn said, “Did I want this?...no, but it’s the law, and they agreed to meet the conditions.”
“If they had opposed the conditions, they could have taken it to court. If the court had ruled in Ramaco’s favor, the court could then have thrown out all the conditions. In that case, Ramaco could then do whatever they wanted,” he said.
Although Ramaco’s mining operation is not expected to begin for at least two years, more than several Nottingham residents said they plan to oppose the mine every step of the way. No doubt they will be carefully following the next phases of the permitting process. Ramaco still must get approval from PennDot to haul at least 70 truckloads of coal per day on Little Mingo Road, a narrow country road in poor condition already.
Also, the company has not yet filed an application with the state DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) from whom they can expect keen scrutiny.
The only feedback from residents was strictly visual. Many held up signs directed towards Ramaco company officials stating: “Protect OUR Community, Say No to Ramaco!”
The floor was given to Ramaco attorney Rebecca Bowman, who expressed her surprise at the number of conditions, some of which she described as “excessive”, but reluctantly accepted them.
“It is our right as a township to impose any conditions that we want to,” answered Marcoline. “That’s the law.”
Some of the 62 conditions included stipulations on: noise, on-site coal washing, zoning certificate approval, lighting, highway occupancy permits, sewage plans, stormwater runoff, hours and days of operation, employee sleeping quarters, and existing trees and vegetation. Ramaco President Bauersachs said, “We can make the conditions.” He said that his company plans to pursue other mining opportunities in this region. The company projects that the Nottingham-based will create at least 40 jobs.
“Moreover, coal mining jobs typically lead to creation of additional jobs for suppliers and retailers,” he said.
The company’s press release stated that supporting development of coal and the implementation of clean coal technologies, would lead to a better worldwide environment. It also said that from a global perspective, coal is positioned in the next few years to overtake oil as the leading source of energy in the world.
Regarding the board’s acceptance of Ramaco’s application to operate in Nottingham, Supervisor Todd Flynn said, “Did I want this?...no, but it’s the law, and they agreed to meet the conditions.”
“If they had opposed the conditions, they could have taken it to court. If the court had ruled in Ramaco’s favor, the court could then have thrown out all the conditions. In that case, Ramaco could then do whatever they wanted,” he said.
Although Ramaco’s mining operation is not expected to begin for at least two years, more than several Nottingham residents said they plan to oppose the mine every step of the way. No doubt they will be carefully following the next phases of the permitting process. Ramaco still must get approval from PennDot to haul at least 70 truckloads of coal per day on Little Mingo Road, a narrow country road in poor condition already.
Also, the company has not yet filed an application with the state DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) from whom they can expect keen scrutiny.
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