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Macomb, IL – The coal mine southwest of Industry will be the subject of a public hearing this week. It begins at 6:00pm, Tuesday, April 12, at the Spoon River College Community Outreach Center, 2500 East Jackson Street, Macomb.
Springfield Coal Company has submitted an application to renew its pollution discharge permit with the Illinois EPA.
But Water Resource Scientist Traci Barkley, who is with Prairie Rivers Network, said the mine has been out of compliance with its current permit more than 300 times in the past five years.
"They've been not only out of compliance in a high number of times, but also in a high magnitude," Barkley said.
Barkley said the company also does a poor job of following coal ash handling practices at its site.
She said the pollution threatens wildlife such as fish and deer. It also threatens the people who eat them.
"I think this mine operation needs to get in compliance with its permit," Barkley said. "I think it's gone on for too many years now."
She said regulatory agencies have been hit hard by the state's ongoing budget problems, which makes it more difficult for them to ensure permit holders are complying with rules.
After the hearing, the Illinois EPA will accept written comments through the mail and via e-mail for 30 days
The Illinois Attorney General's office filed a complaint against the mine more than a year ago, accusing it of exceeding permit levels with discharges into waterways, including Grindstone Creek. The pollutants include iron, manganese, and sulfates.
The complaint was filed with the Illinois Pollution Control Board.