Some unhappy with coal mine company's logging on state property

Lily Group, based in Sullivan, the developer of a new underground coal mine located adjacent to the fish and wildlife area, started clear-cutting about 120 acres 10 days ago.

The logging site is located near the intersection County Roads 700N and 1500W in Wright Township.

Final permits from the state Department of Natural Resources have yet to be secure by the coal company, but log cutting operations on land in which Lily Group holds the mineral rights is underway.

A Greene County man, who lives next to the state property and near the mine site, is not happy.

"What about concerns for wildlife habitat loss, soil erosion, and loss to the public? I own property that butts up to Hillenbrand on the north end of the current logging activity. I thought I was safe having the State of Indiana as my neighbor from ever having to deal with such extreme intrusion," said Hershel Neff III, whose property borders the Hillenbrand FWA. "This is clear-cutting. They are cutting everything down. This is not selective cutting.

He continued, "I'm not against jobs for Greene County, however, I am opposed to the rape of taxpayer's money and public resources to benefit a single source, in this case a coal mine that will profit from these endeavors. Sullivan County commissioners approved trying for federal grant money to do a feasibility study for a 5,000 acre lake to be located near Hymera. Landree Mine will be discharging into Headwaters Big Branch region of the Busseron Creek Watershed, which will feed directly into the area under consideration for the lake. It would make much more sense to concentrate economic growth surrounding this lake for long-term stability in the local workforce that isn't detrimental to the environment. Monroe Lake, Cecil M. Harden Lake, and Patoka Lake can be cited for economic growth and development surrounding a large body of water that has remained stable."

Lily Group spokesman Cory Smith said the company wants to be a good neighbors in the development of its Landree mining operation.

"We wouldn't be doing anything if we didn't have permission. We want to be good neighbors with everybody. That's why we have gone through all the guidelines and everything. I can tell you, there is a lot of 'red tape'," Smith said.

Smith said the timing of the cut is a business decision with concern for wildlife -- particularly the habitat for the Indiana Bat.

"We had to do the wood cutting by a certain date, we have to have the trees down by April 15," Smith said. "We've walked the property many times with the state and the people who are over the protected species to make sure we were doing it according to their wishes."

Neff also raised concern about the bonding of county roads used in the logging and mining operations.

Greene County Highway Superintendent Mike Hennette said Friday morning that he was aware of the logging going on, and said the roads leading to the site were not bonded at this time.

Hennette pointed out there is currently a 10-ton weight limit on county roads.

The road superintendent said, "The road is not bonded, but the person that is doing that is permitted to cut trees. But he can not take any trees out because we've got a 10-ton load limit on the road. I think the only thing he is doing is just cutting them down. He's going to haul them out of there some time, but he's well aware of the load limit."

Hennette added, "Whenever the coal mine comes in there they are going to have to bond some roads."