FAYETTEVILLE — Board members of the Page-Kincaid Public Service District, which serves approximately 2,000 people in eastern Fayette County, aired concerns about the impact of Frasure Creek Mining’s proposed surface mine on the area’s water supply and distribution system during Friday’s Fayette County Commission meeting.

The PSD’s wellheads sit within a half-mile of the proposed mine site and are located in the same watershed.

In a letter to commissioners, the PSD cited three primary concerns: protection of the area’s primary water supply, location of another source for the area’s water supply if water is contaminated, and water loss due to breaks in lines caused by mining operations.

They requested a letter of support from the commission reflecting their concerns, which the commission agreed to provide in time for Tuesday’s permit appeal hearing in Charleston. Citizens of Fayette County are challenging the recently approved Open Fork No. 2 permit, which lies within the Page-Kincaid PSD Source Water Protection Area.

“We had a big role in putting that water system in place,” said Commission President Matthew Wender. “Given that it is taxpayer money, we have a responsibility to protect that investment.”

Eighty percent of the funding used to establish the PSD came from public grants totaling nearly $6 million. The commission supplied a grant of $10,000.

The PSD’s letter also stated that the group has “asked Frasure Creek for assurances over the past few months,” and that “nothing concrete has been obtained.”

Bart Jackson, manager of the PSD, told the commission that Frasure Creek Mining officials he has been in contact with are looking at four more surface mining permits in the Page-Kincaid area, in addition to the five permit applications currently under review, the single permit pending appeal and the three permits already in operation. These nine permits total 3,662 acres and include 23 valley fills.

“A couple of weeks ago, they came and proposed that with any of these mine permits they got approved, they’d make a $10,000 donation,” Jackson said.

“We asked for a $10 million bond for the water system. They said due to cash flow they couldn’t do it. We’ve asked them to help with another well location. They haven’t really said one way or another on that. They haven’t gotten back to us on the proposal.

“They said if something did happen to the wells, they would step in and fund it, but down the road, if it was determined that it was not a problem due to mining, then they would expect to be reimbursed.”

Referring to recent allegations by environmental groups that ICG and Frasure Creek Mining falsified data and committed over 20,000 violations, Wender said, “We have been reading about issues with this company in Kentucky, so we’re not sure how sincere this company really is. Will they look around and point the finger at someone else while people are without water?”

The possibility of heavy metals leaching into the aquifer that supplies the wells’ water concerns the PSD, though the likelihood of this outcome remains unknown due to several gaps in information, including the entry and exit points for surface and ground water into the water supply from which the PSD draws its water.

When asked by the commission how such an outcome would be addressed, representatives from the PSD responded that fixing the problem would dramatically change the treatment process and require a costly upgrade to the plant.

“Our objective is to protect our well,” said Jackson. “That’s what this is all about. We’re not trying to put the mines out of business or anything like that. We just want better practices to protect the streams. Even though they have a bad track record down in Kentucky, I know it can be done. That’s what we’re asking for your help with.”

Several concerned community members also attended the meeting, including Ginger Danz, of Fayetteville.

“My first real concern is the health effects,” Danz said. “I’m also concerned about Fayetteville because this is a national treasure. The New River Gorge is the center of tourism in West Virginia. That we’re willing to destroy it for short-term gain is what scares me.

“I was pleased that (the commission) was receptive to the information provided, asked legitimate questions and agreed to write the letter.”

Another resident, Levi Rose, asked that the letter move to prohibit mining in the PSD’s Source Water Protection area.

“There’s a reason it is a Source Water Protection area,” he said. “I don’t know why we have this ‘fix it after it’s contaminated’ attitude. We should move to protect it now.” 

Frasure Creek Mining did not immediately return calls for comment.

—E-mail: cmoore@register-herald.com