This article originally published in The News Record

October 20, 2006

Area coal mines worry about development of subdivisions

As outlying subdivisions and coal mines keep growing at a dizzying pace, some local producers are getting worried about the two interests colliding.

“We're all for subdivision development and want to see housing developed but we would hope people would look at where active mining operations are going to move and avoid those potential types of conflicts,” said Marion Loomis, executive director of the Wyoming Mining Association.

Loomis and officials representing 10 of the 14 mines in the Southern Powder River Basin met with Deputy Attorney Carol Seeger and Interim Public Works Director Philip Giffin last month to discuss the issue.

“The issue that the mines raised ... is subdivision developments occurring too close to active mines and to permits,” Seeger said.

At issue, in particular, was the Franey Rock subdivision, which was in the mining track of the Buckskin mine. Developer Byron Oedekoven said he and the mine are moving toward a solution that would move the subdivision. But Campbell County commissioners concede it likely will not be the last time such an issue will be raised.

“There's still coal underneath the land and sometime in the future, that coal has the right to be mined,” said Commissioner Alan Weakly, a former mining engineer. “What I am saying is there are areas where people will build and in the future they will have to un-build.”

See Friday's News-Record for the full story.