advertisement

Arclar receives permits to expand Wildcat Hills mine

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Despite objections by environmental groups, Arclar Coal Company has received two permits that will allow mining to expand on 668 acres at the Wildcat Hills mine west of Equality.

The Illinois Environmental Protection agency on Wednesday officially issued a water quality certification and discharge permit sought by Arclar for the operation. Mining, under the conditions of the permit, may begin now that Arclar has the permits in hand. A spokeswoman for Peabody Energy, parent company of Arclar, did not immediately return a call seeking a timetable for mining to begin in the expansion area.

The expansion has been the subject of controversy. Two hearings - one for each permit - were held on Sept. 29 and Oct. 14. Proponents, mostly workers, company officials and businesses that work with Arclar, argued in favor of the permit. Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, Prairie Rivers Network and the Environmental Law and Policy Center raised concerns about issuance of the permits.

Peabody officials and employees said the IEPA is doing a good job of environmental oversight. The preliminary permit was issued after a thorough review and mining should therefore be allowed to begin.