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    Northcentral Community Information

    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​Review of Minard Mine

    This page is an active repository for public information regarding DEP’s review of the proposed Minard Mine.

    Current News

    A technical deficiency letter (TDL) was sent by the Department to Bishop Brothers on December 27, 2023. The TDL can be viewed here: Technical Deficiency Letter (PDF).

    Update February 28, 2024: The response to the TDL was submitted on February 26, 2024. The electronic copy of the revisions are provided below.

    Update April 15, 2024: A “Geomorphological and Phase I Archaeological Survey”, completed by Quemahoning, LLC, was submitted on April 8, 2024. The PA State Historic Preservation Office will be reviewing the submission and will provide further correspondence following their review. The electronic copy of the report is provided below.

    Update April 24, 2024: The PA State Historic Preservation Office provided a response to the Phase I Archaeological Survey that was submitted. The electronic copy of the letter is provided below with the Comments from Other State and Federal Agencies.

    Update April 26, 2024: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) provided a letter finding that the proposed stream crossings can be authorized under the Pennsylvania State Programmatic General Permit-6 (PASPGP-6). In other words, the USACE determined that the proposed stream crossings do not require a separate permit from the USACE, but rather will be covered under the Pennsylvania’s general permit. That determination followed SHPO’s response regarding the archaeological survey, which was required as part of USACE’s review of the proposed stream crossings. The letters from SHPO and USACE were the final step in the coordination with those agencies. The electronic copy of the letter is provided below with the Comments from Other State and Federal Agencies.

    Update May 30, 2024: A new technical deficiency letter (TDL) was sent by the Department to Bishop Brothers on May 22, 2024. The TDL can be viewed here: Second Technical Deficiency Letter (PDF).

    Update July 1, 2024: The response to the TDL was submitted on June 14, 2024. The electronic copy of the revisions is provided below.

    Update August 5, 2024: A new technical deficiency letter (TDL) was sent by the Department to Bishop Brothers on July 30, 2024. The TDL can be viewed here: Third Technical Deficiency Le​tter (PDF).

    Update August 14, 2024: The response to the TDL was submitted on August 12, 2024. The electronic copy of the revisions are provided below. 

    Update September 19, 2024: The Department has completed the technical review of the permit application. The Department sent a bond request letter to Bishop Brothers Construction Company, Inc. requesting that $242,493 in bond be submitted. The bond is held until reclamation of the mine site is completed. The Bond Request Letter can be viewed here: Bond Request Letter (PDF).

    Update September 30, 2024: An evidentiary hearing was held at the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas on September 19, 2024. The hearing was regarding the appeal by members of the public to the clarification that was approved by Athens Township on August 15, 2023. That clarification applied the 2021 conditional use decision to the wood conservation zoning district in addition to the agricultural zoning district that was already approved. A news article about the evidentiary hearing in the local Morning Times newspaper is here. As part of the evidentiary hearing Bishop Brothers presented a Blasting Impact Analysis report produced by Vibra-Tech Engineers, Inc. That report has been incorporated into the permit application as part of the draft Module 16 Blast Plan.

    Once bond is submitted and approved by the Department then the permit will undergo final preparations for issuance. The public comment response document is also being written which will respond to all comments received by any means.

    If you have further questions or would like to be on the distribution list for the public comment document, please contact Jordi Comas, Office of Environmental Justice for Northcentral Region at jcomas@pa.gov.


      Summary of Project (prepared from application by DEP)

      Bishop Brothers Construction Company, Inc.
      Minard Mine Permit Application
      Mining Permit Application No. 08230301
      NPDES Permit Application No. PA0270041

      Background

      Bishop Brothers Construction Company, Inc. (“Bishop Brothers”) has applied for an industrial mineral surface mining permit and associated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for its proposed Minard Mine. The proposed project location is in Athens Township, Bradford County. The site is located along the Chemung River just west of Sayre and Athens, PA. The site is approximately half a mile from the intersection of Mile Lane Road (SR-4020) and Meadowlark Drive (T-303). The proposed total project area would be 360.7 acres. Within that project area, Bishop Brothers is proposing to disturb a total 150.7 acres that currently has a land use of cropland and forestland.

      Summary map of major project elements. Summary map of major project elements.

       

      What will the project entail?

      The proposed surface mining activity would include blasting and removal of sandstone from the currently forested hillside above Tutelow Creek. Mining of sand and gravel would be done in the area between Tutelow Creek and Chemung River currently used as cropland. A processing area is proposed for crushing and screening of material being mined. Air Quality permits will be required to be issued prior to the start of any processing on the permit. The proposed entrance to the project area will be off Meadowlark Drive.

      Water pumped from the pits in the sandstone mining area and stormwater would be discharged into Tutelow Creek from the project area. Erosion and sedimentation controls are required around all affected areas. The receiving waterways have a designated use of Warm Water Fishes. There are two stream crossings proposed to be constructed to access the sandstone mining area across Tutelow Creek. One crossing will be a bridge over Tutelow Creek, and a culvert pipe will be installed to cross a small unnamed tributary to Tutelow Creek.

      The mining plan is proposed to be phased in over a number of years. If approved, the estimated life of this operation would be expected to last for over 20 years. The sand and gravel mining area is proposed to be reclaimed as a water impoundment, while the sandstone mining area on the hillside is proposed to be reclaimed as grassland.

      What is an Environmental Justice Area?
      Census Tract 9504, which covers Athens Borough, is an Environmental Justice Area, due to a higher poverty rate. Hence DEP is working to facilitate enhanced public participation to ensure that the public is informed and has the opportunity to be involved. More information on Environmenttal Justice can be found on our Office of Environmental Justice page.

      What is the review process?
      Bishop Brothers submitted the permit application to DEP on May 15, 2023. DEP accepted this application as administratively complete on May 18, 2023, and is currently reviewing the application to determine if it complies with Pennsylvania’s laws and regulations for noncoal surface mining. Bishop Brothers also published a notice of the application in the local Morning Times newspaper as required by regulation.

      What will happen if the permit is issued?
      If DEP approves the permit, Bishop Brothers may begin mining and related activities. The issuance of the permit may be appealed by the public if anyone thinks that DEP erred in its decision. Anyone who provides comments on the permit application, whether in writing or orally at the public meeting, will be notified once the permit is issued.

      Where can I review the application?
      An electronic copy of the application is available below.

      The public can review a paper copy of the application at:

      Athens Township Municipal Building
      45 Herrick Avenue
      Sayre, PA 18840
      Open 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday
      Telephone: (570) 888-2319

      DEP Moshannon District Mining Office
      186 Enterprise Drive
      Philipsburg, PA 16866
      Open 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday
      Telephone: (814) 342-8200

      Will there be a public meeting and how can public comments be submitted?

      A public hearing was held on September 26, 2023.

      A public informational meeting was previously held on July 31, 2023.

      The archived details of those meetings are available on this webpage below.

      The public comment period for the application expired on September 26, 2023. DEP will respond to all comments in a public response document prior to deciding to approve or deny the application.

      Although the public comment period has expired, if you have any information to provide to DEP that you believe is relevant to the review of the application you may provide it by one of the following means:

      1. Submit them in writing, mailing them to:
        DEP Moshannon District Office
        C/O John Mital
        186 Enterprise Drive
        Philipsburg PA 16866
      2. Submitting them by email by sending them (with your name and email address) to jmital@pa.gov.

      Who can I contact with questions or comments?
      John Mital, Licensed Professional Geologist
      Lead Permit Reviewer
      DEP Moshannon District Mining Office
      Telephone: 814-342-8117
      Email: jmital@pa.gov


      Permit Documents Including Comments from Other State Agencies

      Original Application (PDF) - Please note: This file is very large. Download time will likely be longer than usual depending on your connection. If you would prefer to download this file in smaller sections, we have separated it into smaller files at the links below.


      New Documents incorporated into the original application (added September 1, 2023):


      Response to Technical Deficiency Letter (TDL) dated February 26, 2024:

      • TDL Response (PDF)
        Note: Individual maps and plans from the TDL response are split into separate files under the Maps section below.


      Response to Technical Deficiency Letter (TDL) dated June 14, 2024: 

      • TDL Response (PDF)
        Note: Individual maps and plans from the TDL response are split into separate files under the Maps section below:

      Response to Technical Deficiency Letter (TDL) dated August 12, 2024: New
      • ​​TDL Response​ (PDF)​
        Note: Individual maps and plans from the TDL response are split into separate files under the Maps section below:​


      Blasting Impact Report from Vibra-Tech Engineers, Inc. dated September 27, 2024: (New)

      Comments from Other State and Federal Agencies:


      Maps​

      Response to TDL (8/12/2024) New


      Response to TDL (6/14/2024)


      Original Submission:

      The map and cross section files are included in the complete “Original Application” PDF above, but are also provided here as separate files for ease of reference.


      NPDES Documents

      The public comment period for the draft NPDES permit will be open until September 4, 2023.

       

      Environmental Justice

      The location of the proposed map places it in the Athens Environmental Justice area as determined by DEP policies as administered by the Office of Environmental Justice [OEJ] and its Office of Environmental Justice Viewer. The main focus of the OEJ policy in this project is to do enhanced public participation because “environmental justice ensures that everyone has an equal seat at the table.

       

      Useful Links

       

      Archive of Past News or Events

      September 26, 2023: Public Hearing held at Athens Area High School Auditorium.


      July 31, 2023: Public Informational Meeting hosted by DEP held at Athens Area High School Auditorium.