Partial state approval for Andalex Resources' plans for an underground coal mine in the Kaiparowits Plateau is being challenged by the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.
Specifically, the environmental group is appealing the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining's finding on Oct. 12 that the Dutch-owned company's application for a permit to mine and reclaim the Smokey Hollow Mine complies with state regulations.The approval applied to a 10,000-acre area from which Andalex hopes to remove 2.5 million tons of coal annually.
SUWA's protest has been filed with the state Board of Oil, Gas and Mining, which oversees implementation of the coal regulatory program by the division.
The granted permit does not address a second application, filed by Andalex in January, to mine an additional 15,000 acres of coal reserves that would be reached through the Smokey Hollow por-tal.
"It makes no sense and is unlawful that (the board) is turning a blind eye to more than half the area proposed for mining," SUWA spokeswoman Heidi McIntosh said.
"It is our hope that the board will see the error of the division's ways and reverse the groundless approval of the permit application package," she added.
SUWA argues that the division's decision not to address all of the proposed coal mine, including access roads and power lines, is inappropriate.