Iron Senergy breaks ground on new coal refuse disposal structure
Iron Senergy employees recently joined the company鈥檚 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鈥檚 future, Justin Thompson, Iron Senergy CEO, said the groundbreaking also represents an expansion of the current mine plan.
鈥淭his decision further represents a critical milestone for the future of Cumberland鈥檚 workforce,鈥� said Thompson, who added that at least 80% of the 700-plus new full-time jobs will be 鈥渨ell-paid鈥� 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.
鈥淭oday visually signifies a commitment to run a long-term sustainable operation,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 be more excited with the progress.鈥�
Thompson said Iron Senergy鈥檚 anticipated investment of $50-plus million in the project emphasized the importance of environmental safety.
鈥淲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,鈥� he said. 鈥淪pending more time 鈥� and money 鈥� focusing on doing the right thing, that鈥檚 the right way to do it.鈥�
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.
鈥淒EP officials have been, and continue to be, very cooperative with us,鈥� he said. 鈥淭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鈥檚 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 鈥渁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.鈥�
Thompson also thanked the company鈥檚 current workforce 鈥渇or their daily commitment to our operations鈥� as well as United Mine Workers of America Local 2300, of which Iron Sneergy employees are members.
The new structure will be the company鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 鈥渋n the works鈥� for more than a decade.
鈥淭his CRDA will extend the life of the mine for at least another 20 years,鈥� he said.
Mark Alaman, Iron Senergy鈥檚 senior vice president of engineering, said the company will continue to have a commitment to the project after gaining ownership of the mine.
鈥淭his is an essential structure for the mine,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f we don鈥檛 build that third CRDA, then this mine doesn鈥檛 run.鈥�
Noah Beazell, Iron Senergy鈥檚 senior manager of advanced water treatment, who has been employed with the mine for 16 years, said he is happy to see this project 鈥渇inally come to fruition.鈥�