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Environmental Alert for Grantsville, Maryland!
Hot Topics - Maryland Energy Resources Corp., LLC/ Joseph Peles
Coal Company mining application in Grantsville, Maryland - What you need to know!
The Maryland Energy Resources Corp., LLC (affiliated with the Joseph Peles Coal Company) is proposing the construction
and operation of a 3040 acre coal mining effort in Grantsville, Maryland. This mining effort is slated to take place
along the north branch of the Casselman River. It is ironic that this portion of the river is just recovering from a
acid runoff mining disaster from years past. The Patuxent Conservation Corps, along with many local residents, are concerned
about the implications of this pending mining operation, as it applies to both the environment and the quality of life for
the local residents. Our concerns are as follows: - The proposed mining application requests the permission
to pump 750,000 gallons of water from the ground on a DAILY basis. This volume
of water draw from our community's aquifer/water source could dramatically impact the well water quality and water levels
within, and well beyond, the 2941 acre area. Furthermore, a loss of quality well water associated with this activity
could certainly affect the real estate property values for local residents.
- The proposed mine plan includes tunneling
under the Casselman River at several points. This delicate trout fishing estuary is a valuable source of outdoor recreation
in Garrett County.
- The proposed mining site design requires the direct encroachment and adverse impact of sensitive
wetlands.
- The proposed site design requires the encroachment of the protective environmental setback buffers along
the Casselman River.
- The estimated traffic impact from this operation is believed to be 100 coal truck passings per
day. This potentially equates to (1) coal hauling truck, potentially loaded with 22,000 pounds of coal, traveling on
our community roads every 10 minutes.
- Due to the grade of the county road (Durst Rd.), it is anticipated that the
noise generated by this traffic would approach the effective noise level of an interstate highway to the surrounding community.
- Due
to the close proximately of the mining haul road to the Casselman River bridge and riparian water bodies, it is our fear that
the dust from this excessive traffic would negatively impact the water quality, as well as the local air quality.
- It
is believed that the mining company is retaining the right to go into a 24 hour around the clock operation in it's application
with the Bureau of Mines
- The mining company representatives have admitted to participating in discussions associated
with the potential construction of a coal burning power plant on or near the same site along the Casselman River.
- The
mining site is directly adjacent to a sensitive conservation area operated by the Patuxent Conservation Corp. The Maryland
Dept. of Natural Resources - Bureau of Mines has already invested more than $150,000 of taxpayer dollars in reclaiming
this site after previous mining activity left it an environmental disaster. The Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources
- Maryland Environmental Trust jointly holds the environmental easement associated with this riparian parcel in partnership
with the Patuxent Conservation Corps.
- The Boy Scouts of America regularly use the parcel adjacent to this proposed
mining site for scouting activities. Should the proposed mining application be approved, this site would no longer be
suitable for use for the scouting outdoor program
- How scenic do you really think Maryland's "Scenic Byway"
Route 495 will be when it is polluted by coal and road dust caused by the estimated 72 to 144 additional coal trucks traveling
the road each day?
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