The Clintwood Elkhorn Mining unit of TECO Coal is seeking a wastewater permit from the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection on a mining project located on Persimmon Branch near Woodman in Pike County.
This project, also covered under Revision 1 of Kentucky Department for Natural Resources mine permit #898-4358, proposes to add a total of 2 acres of surface disturbance. This operation will provide for the continuation of approximately 20 jobs directly in the area work force, said a socioeconomic report written by the company and released by the DEP on May 3 as part of a public notice process.
“KDNR Permit No. 898-4358 proposes to recover 22.4 million tons of coal,” said the report. “This will generate approximately $1.8 billion of taxable profit, of which the surrounding counties will receive an estimated $269 million (15 percent). Additional revenue will be given to local businesses, generated through increased employment to handle support services catering to the mining operation directly and to the needs of the employees on a daily basis.”
U.S. Office of Surface Mining data shows that the Kentucky DNR issued permit #898-4358 in August 2010 and that it covers a 602-acre mine area.
TECO Coal is a unit of TECO Energy (NYSE: TE), which said about this operation in its Feb. 24 Form 10-K annual report: “Clintwood Elkhorn Mining Company has two coal preparation facilities. One is located near Biggs, Kentucky in Pike County, and is supplied by 11 underground mines and two surface mines. The second Clintwood Elkhorn Mining facility is located near Hurley, Virginia and is supplied by four underground mines and one surface mine. Some mines have supplied both locations during the course of the year. Principal products at both locations include High Volatile metallurgical coal and steam coal. Products from both locations are shipped domestically to customers in North America via Norfolk Southern Corporation and vessels via the Great Lakes. International customers receive their products via ocean vessels from Lamberts Point, Virginia. In total, Clintwood Elkhorn Mining produced 1.8 million tons of coal in 2011, leaving a reserve base of 44.6 million recoverable tons.”
