Published: November 20, 2018 |

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A long-standing, bitter fight with Alcoa Warrick Operations on one side and the City of Boonville and some residents on the other side has been settled.

The dispute involved Alcoa’s desire to mine coal at Liberty Mine, in northern Warrick County, in order to power recently restarted potlines at the plant.

Two of three idled potlines are rebooted, with the third expected to go online later this year.

Boonville officials and people living near Liberty Mine repeatedly insisted they did not object to the land being mined.

However, they wanted more protections from potentially harmful impacts of mining, such as blasting and contaminated water runoff, than the Indiana Department of Natural Resources required. The dispute went to court.

The City Council on Friday unanimously approved terms of compromise with Alcoa and with Save Our Homes, a coalition of homeowners near the mine. The council’s special meeting took 3 minutes; negotiations to reach the compromise took months.

The compromise, which will become part of a consent decree filed with Warrick Superior Court, states:

•  A buffer of 1,000 feet will exist between blasting activities and Save Our Homes residents.

•  Seismic monitoring in the area will increase.

•  Blast warning sirens will be in use.

•  Boonville will repeal an ordinance which bans mining within three miles of the city limits.

•  All involved parties will end litigation and administrative permit appeals.

“I am glad we have been able to reach a compromise that brings closure to these matters in a manner that provides protections for the city and homeowners while allowing Alcoa and Liberty Mine to move forward,” said Mayor Charlie Wyatt, a retiree from Alcoa. “I look forward to a continued relationship with all parties for the betterment of our collective community.”

Liberty Mine LLC in 2017 filed for a permit to expand mining operations to provide an electrical generation option at Alcoa Warrick Operations, and the rebooted potlines there.

Alcoa praised the compromise.

“This action provides us with a critical option for reliable fuel for the Warrick Power Plant which provides power and utilities for our integrated aluminum complex,” said Ed Hemmersbach, vice president for Rolled Products.

Source: Courier & Press

To stop by Alcoa’s website, CLICK HERE

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