The department this week issued a permit to Amfire to conduct mining in 2929.4 acres of the Upper Freeport Coal Seam. The company will also use 73 acres on the surface for water treatment facilities and other support activities.
The mine portal will be located in the Cresson township, and according to the Associated Press the operation will create hundreds of jobs with a mine life of 20-25 years.
The development will be Amfire’s second go at the project. It had begun developing the Cresson mine two years ago but stopped the project because of depressed coal prices.
Original plans for the mine were about double the area granted by the department this week. Concerns had been raised that a larger mine could release water that increased the discharge from surrounding mines.
The permit is valid for three years for Amfire to begin mining.
