Group Protests Frasure Creek Mountaintop Removal

(West Virginia) - Several concerned Fayette County business owners and residents appeared in front of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Kanawha City office Tuesday seeking to stop mountaintop removal at Frasure Creek Open Fork No. 2 in Fayette County. Frasure Creek Mining LLC plans to mine several properties near Page, Kincaid and Beards Fork. Four permits have been approved, and five surface mining permits are pending. The DEP originally granted a permit to Frasure Creek Mining’s Open Fork No. 2 mine in January, but that permit was appealed to the Surface Mine Board, which hosted a hearing July 12th. Authorities with the DEP said a decision could be made within the next few days or weeks.