Oppose A NEW Mountaintop Removal Permit On Coal River Mountain


Nov 5, 2025

Please oppose this NEW mountaintop removal permit on Coal River Mountain.Alpha Metallurgical Resources subsidiary Republic Energy has applied for a new surface mine permit for 670 acres to extract 10 million tons of coal on Coal River Mountain, above Rock Creek, WV at the head of Rock Creek, Righthand Fork, and Bee Branch. The WV Department of Environmental Protection will conduct an informal conference (public hearing) starting at 5:00 pm Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, to accept comments opposing the “Eagle South” permit, number S300125. There is no virtual or call-in option available, but see below for other ways to make your objection known. Your comments will become part of the public record.                    -->>You can sign on to Coal River Mountain Watch’s comments and add some of your own at https://tinyurl.com/eaglesouthcomments -The conference may be attended in person at Marsh Fork Elementary School, located at 5960 Coal River Road, Rock Creek, WV 25174. The purpose of the informal conference is to allow comments from those people who have an interest which is or may be adversely affected by the permit submitted by Republic Energy, LLC, for Permit S300125.-You can also submit your comments prior to the conference by email to permit supervisor Laura Claypool at Laura.B.Claypool@WV.gov. Be sure to state that you oppose permit S300125 submitted by Republic Energy. 

Information about this permit:The proposed Eagle South permit, number S300125, is a new 670 acres (1.05 square miles) in addition to the existing active and permitted 10+ square miles of surface mining and sludge dams on Coal River Mountain. This permit would strip a mile and a half of the ridge between Rock Creek and Righthand Fork and two miles of the ridge adjacent to active operations at the head of Bee Branch. We participated in a site visit on Oct. 7, viewing the area at the head of Righthand Fork. The area is still practically undisturbed, covered with lush, beautiful Appalachian headwater forests. Adjacent active permit areas have become piles of dusty rubble, with frequent blasting sending clouds of hazardous dust into neighboring communities. This pollution endangers residents with elevated rates of cancer, heart disease, birth defects, and other deadly illnesses.

Thank you for standing with us to oppose this proposed vast expanse of destruction. 

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