The following news article is about Mach Mining's
Pond Creek mine in Williamson County. Mach is a subsidiary of Colt Coal.
Colt owns Hillsboro Energy in Hillsboro, Illinois. Hillsboro Energy is
attempting to get a permit for a longwall mining operation in Montgomery County,
Illinois. The article tells plainly what is in store for Montgomery County
if the longwall mine permit is approved.
Residents
Upset Over Mine Damage
WILLIAMSON
COUNTY- What started out as a few cracks in Dwina Road road has quickly tuned
into something more serious. Local resident George Strunk says he's seen it
happen before.
"It will be up and down just like a washboard."
Residents say Dwina road was closed just this week-- making travel more
difficult and showing them first hand what the mine can do to local roads and
property.
"They've already sank the road on Jordans Fort Road, and the Thomasville Road."
says Strunk.
In recent months, officials with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
say three Williamson County roads have been shut down because of mining work
done at the Pond Creek Mine.
Local residents tell us farm ground has also been damaged, and they're afraid
their homes could be put in jeopardy as well.
"Oh my home will be next" says Strunk.
For nearly one hundred years the family has owned this same land, but since 2005
the coal mine is what's in their backyard.
"No, you can't have your windows open for the dust and the noise" says Strunk.
"Are you hoping they'll buy you out?" I asked.
"Yeah" he said, "I was hoping they'd leave but they're not going to leave so
yeah they'll have to buy me out or I'll just have to live with it."
Residents say they've seen homes uprooted because of mining damage, and others
just abandoned.
Many want the mine to buy their property so they can move elsewhere but so far
there have been no offers.
"All we wanted is to be treated fairly" says, anonymous resident.
Some residents didn't want their identity revealed because they're hoping to
work out a deal with the Mach Mining company.
They say their property value is damaged and they want out before it's get
worse.
"They could give me what I need to move, let me start a new. We just can't live
like this" he says.
Mach Mining refused to comment on the situation.
News Three did speak with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources-- the
group that regulates mines.
They told us the mine will be forced to fix the road damages.