NELSONVILLE, Ohio — Recently, forest supervisor Anne Carey of the Wayne National Forest, issued a decision to consent to U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management leasing seven parcels (433 acres) of federally-owned coal.
The coal is beneath the Wayne National Forest, in Perry and Morgan counties, east of the town of Corning.
Assessment
The Forest Service Environmental Assessment for the project concludes there would be no surface occupancy on the Wayne National Forest. The report adds that no significant resources would be impacted if the coal were leased and mined by underground methods.
After a Forest Service appeal period, the BLM may issue its own decision on whether or not the coal will be included in a future competitive lease sale. The EA considered potential impacts to surface resources including water, air, wildlife, plants, heritage resources and recreational opportunities.
Preventing collapse
If the coal were leased by the BLM, it could be mined in the future using a room and pillar method, whereby pillars of coal remain after mining is completed to prevent mine collapse.
More information on how to file an appeal can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/projects/wayne/landmanagement/projects (see the decision legal notice document) or by contacting the Wayne National Forest at 740-753-0101.
