Proposed [Alton] coal mine”s impact [near Bryce Canyon] up for debate

Proposed coal mine’s impact up for debate Josh Huntsman The Spectrum

CEDAR CITY — Residents debated the potential economic benefits and environmental impacts of a proposed coal mine track near Alton at public hearing Tuesday. The Bureau of Land Management held the forum in order to receive public comment and present its findings.

“This is a huge issue for the area,” said Kane County resident Brad Alex who traveled to Cedar City to educate himself on the project. “It splits the two sides to our area. First we have the economic need for jobs and second we have the potential negative impact to Bryce Canyon and our way of life.”

The proposed tract would surround and attach two current mine tracks owned by Alton Coal, a Cedar City company, and open 3,581 acres to coal mining.

Located just south of Alton and approximately 10 miles west of Bryce Canyon National Park, the tract would pull from the Smirl Coal Seam which winds across much of Kane and Garfield counties and provide approximately 49 million tons of recoverable coal during the next 25 years.

“This area is the only acreage allowable by federal law to mine this particular coal seam,” said James Holloway, a geologist for the BLM. “The surrounding area around Bryce Canyon had a ban on mining after action in 1979.”

The BLM presented the findings of an Environmental Impact Statement which indicated the potential impact increased coal mining would have in Southern Utah.

“This is a huge concern for people in the area,” said Keith Rigturp, district planner for the BLM. “There are real concerns in every area from light pollution which could effect the dark night sky to noise levels to increased traffic.”

While Rigturp said that it’s difficult to quantify many of the concerns people have with the project, the research seeks to build a “better understanding of the situation.”

“We did exhaustive research and included a large number of stipulations to protect the environment that would have to be followed by whoever mines the coal,” he said.

Jeff McKenzie with the BLM explained that the coal would be “strip mined” where long strips of land would have top soil and material removed in order to access the coal. Once a strip of coal was removed, the area would be reclaimed by replacing material and top soil for replanting.

Dr. Teri Hildebrand, assistant professor of biology at Southern Utah University, said she had “huge concerns” about the scientific legitimacy of the Environmental Impact Statement.

“First off, no legitimate scientist would conduct vegetative studies in the autumn as was done in the Environmental Impact Statement simply because vegetation is not at its peak in the autumn,” Hildebrand said. “There are some very serious problems with how these survey were done.”

Rick Sandy, a Panguitch resident, said he was worried that increased truck activity would create safety hazards.

“It will get to the point where you won’t even be able to cross main street,” he said.

According to the Environmental Impact Statement, truck traffic would increase by approximately 4 percent on Highway 89 North from Alton to State Route 20 to Interstate 15 and south through Cedar City where the coal would then be shipped by rail to power plants in Delta.

Any concerns were a definite minority opinion on Tuesday night as the vast majority of commenters spoke in favor of the coal mine tract.

“This will provide sustainable jobs that families can live off of,” said Dirk Clayson, a member of the Kane County Commission. “The reclaiming efforts would leave the land better than what it was.”

Doug Heaton, a member of the Alton City Council, said the current ecosystem of sage brush and juniper trees came as a result of sheep over-grazing and “is neither the best nor original ecosystem.”

“It’s not a good spot for anything out there and reclaiming will give it some real use,” Heaton said.

The management of Alton Coal did not wish to comment on the matter other than by stating they expected to hire 100 direct employees for the mine along with 60 truck drivers.

The Environmental Impact Statement estimates another 320 jobs that would serve the mine indirectly would spring up during the next 25 years.

“This socioeconomic impact is probably the most important issue,” said Keith Stole, a Kane County resident. “This will bring jobs to the area and allow young people to stay here to raise families. Otherwise, they would have to move away just to live.”

While the meeting on Tuesday didn’t reflect it, there is a growing opposition to the plan from some residents in Panguitch and the surrounding area who say additional coal mining would harm the environment and culture of the area.

“We are color country, not coal country,” said Norma Eisling who attended a meeting held in Panguich. “We survive off of tourist dollars and we will lose tourists if we add more light, noise, pollution and trucks to the area. It’s as simple as that.”

The BLM will continue to take public comments concerning the proposed Environmental Impact Statement, which can be found until Jan. 6 at

http://tinyurl.com/l22p2u

Comments can be submitted by fax to 435-644-4620 or by e-mail to ut_kanab_altoncoal@blm.gov http://www.thespectrum.com/article/2…pact-up-debate