Posted on January 20, 2025
ATHENS TWP, Pa. (WETM) — A years-long mining proposal is nearing full approval in Bradford County after the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approved several main permits for a sand and gravel mine just outside of The Valley.
The Minard Mine Project was granted its surface mining and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits on January 8, 2025. The permits now allow for the mining of 150.7 acres of cropland and forestland in an area west of Sayre Borough and Athens Borough, close to the Chemung River. The project is proposed to be phased in over many years, with an estimated lifespan of the project being 20 years.
The issuing of these permits marks the first decision of 2025 after the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas denied a public appeal from citizens protesting the project back in November. The appeal was regarding a conditional use approval by Athens Township made on August 15, 2023.
The court issued an opinion on November 21, 2024, denying the appeal stating that, “Objectors did not meet their burden in proving that the proposed mining project poses a substantial threat to the public health, safety, and welfare of the community that exceeds the impact that would normally be expected with such conditional use.”
For much of 2024, the company behind the project, Bishop Brother’s Construction, and the Pennsylvania DEP were in a series of back-and-forth with technical deficiency letters being presented and corrected. The DEP found several deficiencies in the project’s plans throughout the year, requiring Bishop Brothers Construction to make proper adjustments to have a chance for permit approval.
The DEP said the permit is fully bonded to allow mining operations to begin, but other permits need to be obtained before other work, such as blasting, can begin.
The DEP needs to issue a blasting plan before anything can occur in the sandstone and mining area. This plan is a requirement of the surface mining permit and public notice of the blasting schedule before blasting can start.
Another permit that would be required is one for air quality, which must be issued by the DEP before the processing of stone can start.
The DEP said that Bishop Brothers must provide documentation from Athens Township saying the township’s Land Development Plan has been met, another requirement of the mining permit.
The final requirement of the mining permit is that Bishop Brothers must get a letter from Athens Township analyzing the floodway impacts from the mining, according to the DEP.
Along with these additional permits, a mine conservation inspector must perform quarterly inspections at random, once any activity starts at the mine. Complaints about the mining can be referred to the Moshannon District Mining Office at 186 Enterprise Dr. Phillipsburg, Pa.
A full list of documents breaking down the entire project including permits, DEP comments, maps, and other information regarding the mine can be found on the DEP’s website.
