The U.S. Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement, which directly controls surface mining in Tennessee, has reopened the permit process for a proposed 422-acre mine in Campbell County, Tenn.
Environmental groups Tennessee Clean Water Network, Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife and SOCM wrote to the agency to express their objections. The groups wrote, “The proposed permitted area falls almost entirely within the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area ridgelines that the Department of the Interior has designated as unsuitable for coal surface mining in its December 7, 2016 decision.”
Triple H Coal, LLC, originally filed the permit in 2014, and the groups objected then as well. Their original concerns include the potential for new acid mine drainage problems, threats to human health in the area, harm to federally threatened blacksided dace and damage to the hydrologic balance beyond the mine permit boundary. The groups urged the agency to consider the cumulative impacts to land, air and water from other nearby coal operations when evaluating this mine.
The agency is holding an informal hearing about the mine at 6 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Jacksboro municipal building in Jacksboro, Tenn. — By Molly Moore
Related Articles
Latest News
More Stories
‘First Line of Defense’
During Hurricane Helene and its aftermath, rural fire departments and other first responder hubs played critical roles in keeping their communities safe, even without power and cut off from outside support for days or weeks after the storm. Two years later, plenty of work remains to ensure these hubs have the resources they need to operate day to day and be ready when emergencies or natural disasters strike.
The Rocky Road — and Bridge — to Recovery
Hurricane Helene is estimated to have damaged nearly 7,000 private roads and bridges in Western North Carolina. Two years later, many restoration projects are complete, but the journey hasn’t been easy — and isn’t over for others.
After 20 Years, Letcher County Prison Proposal Is Still Alive, Though Obstacles Remain
A $605 million proposal for a federal prison on a former strip mine site in Letcher County, Kentucky, championed by U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, refuses to die, despite local opposition, a lack of support from the executive branch and numerous other obstacles.
The Washout and Rebuild
For nearly two years, residents of Unicoi County, Tennessee, have had to make do without a hospital after Hurricane Helene destroyed the rural hospital. Ballad Health, which owns the hospital, broke ground on a new location — in another floodplain — in August 2026.
The Shenandoah Salamander
The Shenandoah salamander is a woodland salamander, which has adapted to life at higher elevations away from water. This sparkling rarity lives among the dry leaves, cracked logs, and stony hillocks on the highest peaks of Shenandoah National Park.
‘Foraging Is a Way of Connecting’
Foraging has experienced a modern resurgence, partly because of social media, online groups, the pandemic and people wanting to connect with nature. It also builds community, whether in person or online.
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Leave a Comment