Coronado Coal will have hearing Aug. 18
By CHRISTINE HAINES
chaines@yourmvi.com
A hearing date has been set for a coal company that wants to begin operating in Forward Township on land zoned for conservation.
Tom DeRosa, chairman of the township supervisors, said the planning commission hearing for Coronado Coal will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 18 at Elizabeth Forward Middle School.
“We’re having it at the middle school because I anticipate people showing up,” DeRosa said.
In February 2020, the township received a letter from Coronado Coal/Mon Valley Minerals challenging the township’s zoning ordinance regarding the extraction of minerals. It simultaneously filed for a conditional use of more than 930 acres on nine parcels. The company describes the current use of the property as vacant land, forest, former strip mine, natural gas well pad and impoundment.
A month later, the pandemic hit, closing down public gatherings. The township, anticipating significant public interest, didn’t want to hold a hearing on the matter via Zoom.
The township offered Coronado a hearing date in June, but the company said it wasn’t ready at that time.
“At the hearing they’ll get to do a presentation on their application. They’ve submitted a binder,” said township Solicitor Matt Racunas.
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