Special counsel will handle Forward Twp. mine issue

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

The Forward Township supervisors ratified a contract with special counsel Monday to work with the township on the Coronado mine issue.

William Sittig of Sittig, Cortese was hired by the township last year around the time public meetings ended due to COVID-19, and supervisors just recently realized the hiring hadn’t been ratified at a public meeting, according to Solicitor Matt Racunas. Chairman Tom DeRosa said Sittig was hired at a rate of $650 per hour.

Sitting recently emailed the supervisors an update on the Coronado Coal/Mon Valley Minerals pending zoning application.

In the letter, Sittig stated that the company is seeking rezoning of nearly 1,000 acres for the deep mine operation, including 44 acres for the shaft site, most of which is currently zoned conservation or residential; 36 acres for the slope site, most of which is zoned conservation; 82.5 acres for the plant site, all of which is zoned conservation; 33 acres for the loadout site; and 180 acres for the mined rock storage area, 83 of which are in the conservation and residential zoning districts.

Sittig said Coronado is challenging the township ordinance that prohibits coal mining in conservation and residential areas.

“The Coronado Application is still active and pending despite the Township’s inability to conduct in person public meetings and public hearings due to the pandemic,” Sittig wrote to the supervisors. “In fact, the attorney for Coronado Coal has demanded that the Township, because of the delays caused by the pandemic, approve its application without any public meetings or public hearings.

“The Township notified Coronado Coal that its position is not only legally incorrect but appears to have been initiated in bad faith. Accordingly, the Coronado Application is not only pending, Coronado Coal is taking the position that the Township has no choice but to approve the application.

“The Coronado Application is ready for Planning Commission review as soon as the Township determines it is safe to conduct in person meetings,” Sittig wrote.

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