The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has approved a permit for the proposed Bulldog Coal Mine in southwestern Vermilion County. Sunrise Coal Company, based in Terre Haute, still has not cleared its final hurdle, though. Anyone who has or may have an adversely affected interest can still request a hearing to contest the decision. They have 30 days to submit the request.
Sunrise Coal said earlier that the proposed Bulldog Mine would boost Vermilion County’s economy — creating 300 permanent jobs with an average salary of $76-thousand dollars, plus health care and fringe benefits. A study conducted by Northern Illinois University also said there would be indirect employment from the mine in areas including food service, wholesale trade, architectural, engineering, health care, and others.
As required by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Sunrise Coal will install ten additional groundwater monitoring wells within the proposed permit area, to further monitor groundwater. Both the groundwater and surface water monitoring programs are dynamic, and the Department reserves the right to add monitoring parameters or locations should the need arise.
[Citizens and others spoke out at some earlier public hearings on the proposed coal mine in southwest Vermilion County.]
The agency found the effects from the proposed operations should be negligible on surface water quality in the permit area. And the Department of Natural Resources also found the quality of streams within the proposed shadow area should not experience any change in water quality as a result of the room and pillar underground mining operations.
The Department also found the proposed Bulldog Mine will not affect the continued existence of endangered or threatened species. And specifically, the Department said steps being proposed would minimize and appropriately mitigate adverse impacts to the northern long-eared bat.
Sunrise Coal had originally planned on starting its mining operations near Allerton five years ago.
