Committee renews Yahar Coal Mine conditional-use permit for five years after neighbors raise dust and noise concerns

The Richland County Natural Resources Committee voted to renew the conditional-use permit for the Yahar (Normitage) Coal Mine for five years after hearing from nearby residents about dust, early-hour truck traffic and an earlier erosion event that sent sediment into a neighbor's woods.

Multiple neighbors and property owners described ongoing disturbances. Nearby resident Paul Ellenbrand told the committee, "I can hear the backup horns from the equipment, plain as day," and said he wants prompt communication if incidents occur; he said he is not opposed to the pit but wants assurance that future discharges or erosion will be acknowledged and addressed.

Operator representatives and the mine's on-site manager (identified in the record as Robin) described steps taken after a heavy rain that produced sedimentation on neighboring land. Robin said erosion-control measures had been installed according to the approved plan and that after the heavy rain the operator added sediment ponds and other measures so "nothing will leave the site." The operator also offered to provide contact information for neighbors to report incidents and to consult ticket records to identify and address out-of-hours activity.

Committee members and staff discussed enforcement options if violations recur. One member said revocation of a conditional-use permit is possible for repeated violations, though staff characterized revocation as an "extreme" step and said the office prefers to track incidents and seek resolution first. Staff also reminded the committee that mine operators must file a financial assurance for reclamation; staff said the assurance is returned after proper reclamation and inspection.

The operator agreed to additional mitigation steps mentioned in the meeting — staff said recycled asphalt will be placed on access drives to reduce dust — and invited neighbors to report unpermitted activity so staff can check ticketing and address the operator directly. The committee approved the five-year renewal on a voice vote.

Actions and next steps recorded: committee renewal for five years (approved); operator to apply dust mitigation (recycled asphalt) and to provide contact/ticket records upon neighbor complaint; zoning staff to track complaints and confirm financial assurance on file for reclamation.

Speakers who addressed the committee included neighbors who documented incidents and the operator; staff committed to tracking complaints and to following up if the operator does not correct problems. The renewal was approved without a recorded roll-call tally in the transcript; the meeting record shows the motion carried on voice vote.