Today Prairie Rivers Network and our partners Stand Up to Coal, Salt Fork Friends, and the Salt Fork River Runners released the video “Questions for Sunrise Coal.”
In the video, concerned rural residents, farmers, and villagers ask what will happen if Sunrise Coal moves forward with their proposal to open a coal mine in Vermilion County: What will coal mining mean for clean water? The health of local residents? The economic vitality of this area for future generations?
Prairie Rivers Network is concerned that a new coal mine could threaten clean water in this water-scarce part of the state, where rivers run low during the summer, and residents rely on shallow groundwater for drinking, domestic and agricultural use. Mining and washing coal is extremely water intensive, which raises the question: will there be enough water to go around? And what impact will the discharge of mine wastewater have on the Salt Fork River – a local treasure that is struggling to survive?
