The planning commission of Morris Township, Pennsylvania is asking local representatives to reject Consol’s request for a new portal, part of its $US500 million dollar expansion plans.

According to the Observer-Reporter, the company allegedly violated zoning permit terms for a shaft it built four years ago by not adhering to a landscaping stipulation that required the company buffer the shaft from public view.

“They’re in non-compliance on their last conditional-use (permit),” said commission chairman Scott Finch. “They just planted trees two days ago,” and added the matter would likely be taken to Washington County Court.

Consol, according to the newspaper, needs to obtain a zoning variance in order to construct the portal as well as a subsequent mining plant on Archer Run Road. During that time, stipulations regarding noise, lighting glare and traffic can all be set by the township supervisors, who also have the option to accept or deny the plans without any conditions.

Senior Consol engineer Joseph Wilcox said the company would meet the obligations. “We will comply,” he said at a recent public project meeting.

Finch said supplemental evidence may needed to be supplied to attorneys for the township, and that a decision for the hearing to reconvene would be made in seven days. From the time that hearing ends, the supervisors are then give 45 days to announce a decision on the zoning permit.

The Pittsburgh-based energy company intends to begin site preparations in October and commence mine drilling for the first of two shafts about a month later. The entire project is expected to take about two years.