Saline County, IL — Locals in Cottage Township in Saline County recently contacted Disclosure, reporting that Peabody Coal had already begun the logging process on the proposed mine area before they were issued a permit. Now, that activity has been put to and end, and Peabody Coal has been cited for surface mining without a permit by Illinois officials.
In late December, Cottage Township residents reported that logging equipment had been brought into the proposed mining area, and that as of yet no notification had been provided that permits had been issued from the Illinois Department of natural resources. On January 4th, Disclosure reported to the area of the logging, and gained photographic evidence of the logging as it was being conducted.
Now, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has issued Peabody Arclar Mining LLC a citation for pre-surface mining activity, and ordered a stop to the activity. The coal company has also been forced to take action to prevent damages to the land which has been disturbed by the logging activity.
Monday, officials learned of a new interpretation of the activity, handed down by the U.S. Office of Surface Mining, and immediately issued the the citation, as well as the order to stop. The new interpretation of the activity came as a result of complaints issued to the Feds by locals and the environmental group, the Sierra Club.
The Sierra Club has joined with local residents to oppose the mining of Cottage Township by Peabody Coal, and has made a large point of highlighting the fact that endangered species of animals live in the area which was being logged in preparation of the mining. This is one of the points of review in the pending application for mining permits. Now, Peabody will not only have to fight that point in the application review, but will also have to answer for their actions, as the IDNR now will consider the citation in their decision.