Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance staff attorney Stephen Bloch viewed the same displays with disdain, maintaining "some bad ideas don't go away. This was a bad idea 30 years ago and it's a bad idea now."
These polar positions were expressed Wednesday night at Salt Lake City's Main Library during the fifth and final meeting in which the U.S. Bureau of Land Management was soliciting public input on issues that should be addressed in an environmental impact statement (EIS) being prepared on the coal mine proposal, known as the Coal Hollow Project.
The EIS will address Alton Coal Development LLC's application to lease 3,600 acres of BLM land about three miles south of the Kane County town of Alton. The company also is seeking a state permit to mine another 440 acres of private land within the federal acreage. The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining began that permit process last June.
If both permits are approved, Alton Coal Development projects its strip mine could remove 2 million tons of coal annually. It would create 50 jobs in Alton, a ranching and livestock community of 134 residents, nearly a quarter of whom live below the poverty level. About 190 truck trips each weekday would carry the coal north through Panguitch, then west to Interstate 15 and south to a railroad line near Cedar City.
But the proposed mine's proximity to Bryce Canyon, and the fact that it is upwind from several other national parks in southern Utah, undoubtedly will generate objections over air quality and regional haze.
"This will be another source of dust and particulate matter that will impact air quality and visibility," Bloch contended.
Litvin argued that the company must adhere to strict federal and state dust-control standards, "so I don't see any visibility impact to the surrounding national parks." He also emphasized the importance of high-paying jobs to the area, both at the mine itself and in support capacities.
Bloch and Litvin were among three dozen people who filtered through the library room during a three-hour open house. Many were bureaucrats from the state mining division and various agencies whose comments will be incorporated into the EIS, such as the U.S. Office of Surface Mining and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Among the few members of the general public, Salt Lake City resident Gary Gaz said, "We have to get coal from somewhere, and people down there need jobs." He supported the proposal as long as "they put the land back close to what it was" and do not cut off access to four-wheeling and biking.
The BLM also held meetings in Alton, Kanab, Panguitch and Cedar City. The agency's draft EIS is scheduled to be out in April of 2008. After a three-month public comment period, the final EIS is likely to be published in October of 2008. A decision is expected in the first quarter of 2009.
mikeg@sltrib.com
