‘Coal mine’ stalls small Virginia airport runway’s takeoff (Obama's War on Coal = War on Airport)

The Washington Times ^ | October 17, 2012 | Debra McCown

[Timber Rattler]

Officials from two Southwestern Virginia counties say a project vital to the area’s economic development has been held up for years because of a dispute with federal regulators over what is an airport and what is a coal mine.

Local leaders say the three-year battle with the U.S. Office of Surface Mining over plans to extend the runway at Grundy Municipal Airport has cost taxpayers in this poverty-stricken corner of Appalachia millions of dollars in lost opportunities, and a list of regulatory hurdles remains before construction can even begin.

“We were attempting to permit this project as an airport project, not a coal-mining project,” said state Sen. Phillip P. Puckett, a Democrat from Lebanon who has been involved for three years with the effort to lengthen the runway from 2,200 feet to more than 5,000 feet — the length needed to comply with insurance standards for corporate jets. The holdup: Federal regulators have refused to allow the runway project to go forward without a mining permit because of the coal deposits below the land that will be dug up during construction.

“That’s where the permitting process got caught up — in determining whether it was an airport project or a mining project, by the Office of Surface Mining in Washington,” Mr. Puckett said. “We’ve tried to resolve that with them for the last couple of years. We’ve had very little success.”

Regulators contend that a mining permit is needed because local authorities plan to sell the coal dug up in extending the runway to help finance the overall project. The Office of Surface Mining said it “will continue to work with the state, as well as other affected local and federal officials, regarding the best way to proceed with the proposed airport expansion.”

[Timber Rattler]

This airport sits on top of a mountain at a reclaimed strip mine site. It's extension will require the removal of some remaining coal deposits, which the local authorities want to sell to help pay for the work. Obama says no, and so the airport will remain virtually useless for commercial purposes.

[randita]

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[DonaldC]

“It’s extension will require the removal of some remaining coal deposits, which the local authorities want to sell to help pay for the work.”

That is just asking for gov problems.

[Ed Condon]

If they ever get this resolved, I would imagine that the enviroweenies will find that the area is the habitat of the purple breasted, snake footed, gorbelsnort, which is so rare that it has never been seen, but has been identified by its song “graft, graft, graft.”

[Slings and Arrows]

[dennisw]

Another FUBAR caused by evil heartless DC bureaucrats. Gov’t getting in the way and not letting them build it.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The federal surface mine law was signed by Jimmah Cahtah.
I remember several road projects had to be abandoned because more than 250 tons of coal would be extracted in the process.

[NonValueAdded]

And once they clear the Federal hurdles, the UMW awaits.

[Truth29]

Coal country people can help resolve this by electing Romney on November 6th.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I should add that the OSM law was largely written and produced by Congressman Mo Udall of Arizona in the mid-late 1970s.

[Timber Rattler]

There are very few, if any, UMWA mines remaining in SWVA.

[houeto]

Another FUBAR caused by evil heartless DC bureaucrats.

Yep, just like the crap going on in Tombstone.