The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Wildlife are seeking public comment on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) that considers Service approval of underground coal mining operations under the Brush Creek Wildlife Area in Jefferson County, Ohio, about 35 miles southeast of Canton. The Service and the DNR will accept public input during a 30-day comment period ending November 18.
The proposed alternative in the EA permits the Division of Wildlife to sell the mineral rights to the Sterling Mining Corporation, which would obtain rights to recover coal under approximately 658 acres of the wildlife area. An underground coal seam would be removed using the “room-and-pillar” mining method with a safety factor equal to or greater than 1.5.
In the room-and-pillar method of underground mining the primary means of protecting the surface from subsidence, or settling, is a "pillar" of coal left in place. The coal pillars are designed to be 1.5 times stronger than necessary to support the weight of the overburden.
A second action alternative analyzed in the environmental assessment would involve underground mining of the same coal seam using safety factors of 1.0 to 1.5. A third "No Action" alternative is also considered, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, which would maintain the site and usage as it currently exists. Another alternative, full recovery surface and underground mining was considered, but not carried forward for detailed analysis, as it would cause excessive disruption of wildlife resources.
If public comments indicate there are additional issues not covered in the draft EA, these issues will be addressed in the final environmental assessment. The proposed project is not anticipated to result in significant environmental impacts, and a preliminary determination has been made that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.
The proposed project is also being reviewed under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The public is encouraged to inform the DNR or the Service about archeological sites, buildings and structures, historic places, cemeteries, and traditional uses of the area that could influence decisions about the project.
Copies of the draft EA are available on the DNR’s Web site at:
The draft environmental assessment may also be obtained by writing to Jeff Herrick, Division of Wildlife, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319, calling (330) 644-2293, or emailing at Jon_Parker@fws.gov
Written comments should be sent no later than Nov. 18, 2005, to: Jeff Herrick, Division of Wildlife, Department of Natural Resources, 912 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron, Ohio 44319, Fax: (330) 644-8403, or email at
