The efforts of one Ohio coal company to mine under Dysart Woods is one step closer to fruition.
The Ohio Division of Mineral Resource Management approved The Ohio Valley Coal Company's request to mine under Dysart Woods, which is used as a land lab by Ohio University.
Dysart Defenders, a group devoted to preventing mining in the woods, will appeal the decision along with the Buckeye Forest Council, said Chad Kister, Dysart Defenders coordinator. Kister is lobbying OU to appeal the decision as well. The groups also are trying to get an injunction to halt mining operations while the appeal is decided.
Kister said mining under the forest would cause major destruction of the old growth forests by causing parts of the surface to cave into the mined areas underneath when the coal supporting the surface is removed.
The Ohio Valley Coal Company disputes allegations that mining would cause harm to the surrounding environment. The mining is coordinated with respect to tree location to minimize impact, said Syd Peng, chair of the Mining Engineering department at West Virginia University, who was Ohio Valley Coal asked to study the effects of mining Dysart Woods.
University officials still are reviewing the decision and have not decided whether to file an appeal. OU President Robert Glidden wants to do everything he can to protect that resource
said OU spokeswoman Lessa Brown. Glidden is on vacation and could not be reached for comment.
If we have Ohio University on board I'm optimistic about the success of the appeal, Kister said.
Ohio University owns 455 acres of Dysart Woods, but it does not own the mineral rights for the coal beneath the surface, which are owned by The Ohio Valley Coal Company.
I can't emphasize enough the importance of OU getting involved in saving its old growth forest Kister said.
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Nick Juliano
