Stories from the Heartland - Citizens Against Longwall Mining Speak Out
Citizens Against Longwall Mining share stories of their struggle to stop the development of a new coal mine within the city limits of their small central Illinois community of Hillsboro. Longwall mining and its "planned subsidence" threatens over 5000 acres of nearby farmland. Residents express their frustration over what they feel has been an unfair permitting process and voice their concerns over the loss of prime farmland, altered drainage patterns and the displacement of farm residences. An 88-foot tall, above-ground impoundment covers over one square mile and holds hundreds of millions of gallons of toxic coal slurry, a by-product of coal washing. With the mine officially open for less than three years, plans are already underway for the construction of a second coal slurry pond on the site.
