The Indiana-based company is looking at a prospective plan for an underground operation that would possess a 30-year lifespan and employ more than 300 workers.

Sunrise has also submitted notice of its test drilling work in Vermillion County to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and has leased 17,000 acres of land for exploration.

The Chicago Tribune said Sunrise is hoping to determine mineable reserves from the property by the end of the year, as it currently reviews quality and rock mechanics.

If it opts to progress with plans, it will begin the 18 to 24-month permitting process for the operation.

"When mining using the room and pillar approach, roughly half of the coal is extracted and the remaining coal is used as support so as not to disturb the surface," company president Brent Bilsland explained of Sunrise’s decision not to employ longwall methods underground at the new mine.

"Additionally, we install metal supports to safeguard our miners."

Sunrise already employs room and pillar extraction for the Sunrise Coal mine in Carlisle, its other underground complex in the region.

That operation employs over 320 workers and produces 3 million tons annually.

The company said it will comply with state and federal water supply regulations and has planned numerous monitoring wells and stream sampling, retaining an independent third party for regular sampling and monitoring.

It also plans to pipe its own water supply to the site.

Sunrise Coal is a wholly owned subsidiary of Colorado-based Hallador Energy. It previously operated the Riola mine near Catlin, Indiana, under the name Catlin Coal.