Iron Senergy breaks ground on new coal refuse disposal structure
Iron Senergy employees recently joined the company无毛视频檚 chief executive officer to break ground on a new coal refuse storage structure that is anticipated to bring more than 700 new jobs and $4.5 million in tax revenue to Greene County.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on Nov. 23 at the future site of the new Coal Refuse Disposal Area (CRDA) structure, located on Mooney Ridge Road in Whitely Township. CRDAs are areas or land plots used by mines as places for disposing of or storing coal refuse.
Calling it a significant investment in Cumberland Mine无毛视频檚 future, Justin Thompson, Iron Senergy CEO, said the groundbreaking also represents an expansion of the current mine plan.
无毛视频淭his decision further represents a critical milestone for the future of Cumberland无毛视频檚 workforce,无毛视频� said Thompson, who added that at least 80% of the 700-plus new full-time jobs will be 无毛视频渨ell-paid无毛视频� union laborers. In addition, Thompson said the new structure will bring in $3 million in tax revenue for Central Greene School District and $1.5 million for the county and township.
无毛视频淭oday visually signifies a commitment to run a long-term sustainable operation,无毛视频� Thompson said. 无毛视频淚 couldn无毛视频檛 be more excited with the progress.无毛视频�
Thompson said Iron Senergy无毛视频檚 anticipated investment of $50-plus million in the project emphasized the importance of environmental safety.
无毛视频淲e could have probably spent less on this project, but the company chose to go a more expensive route because it costs more to guarantee the protection of the environment,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淪pending more time 无毛视频� and money 无毛视频� focusing on doing the right thing, that无毛视频檚 the right way to do it.无毛视频�
Thompson also recognized the state Department of Environmental Protection for its efforts and assistance in the project and for working with the company in preserving the employment of more than 700 full-time jobs.
无毛视频淒EP officials have been, and continue to be, very cooperative with us,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淭hey, as well as state and local officials and representatives, have given us feedback and have been tremendously helpful every step of the way.
Thompson said Iron Senergy无毛视频檚 Task Force 22, a multi-disciplinary team formed this past spring, will create a specific focus to evaluate refuse capacity and evaluate new and creative ideas. He said the task force will 无毛视频渁ccurately quantify construction time, capital investment, operating costs, operational risks, environmental risks, permitting requirements and bonding requirements of all options associated with expanding the refuse storage capacity for the continued operation of the Cumberland Mine.无毛视频�
Thompson also thanked the company无毛视频檚 current workforce 无毛视频渇or their daily commitment to our operations无毛视频� as well as United Mine Workers of America Local 2300, of which Iron Sneergy employees are members.
The new structure will be the company无毛视频檚 third CRDA, and the project is expected to be finished by 2023. Thompson said after construction is finished on the new structure the company will finish working on and updating the mine无毛视频檚 second CRDA structure.
Although the company purchased Cumberland Mine from previous owners Contura Energy Inc. last December, Thompson said the project announced Tuesday has been 无毛视频渋n the works无毛视频� for more than a decade.
无毛视频淭his CRDA will extend the life of the mine for at least another 20 years,无毛视频� he said.
Mark Alaman, Iron Senergy无毛视频檚 senior vice president of engineering, said the company will continue to have a commitment to the project after gaining ownership of the mine.
无毛视频淭his is an essential structure for the mine,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淚f we don无毛视频檛 build that third CRDA, then this mine doesn无毛视频檛 run.无毛视频�
Noah Beazell, Iron Senergy无毛视频檚 senior manager of advanced water treatment, who has been employed with the mine for 16 years, said he is happy to see this project 无毛视频渇inally come to fruition.无毛视频�