Coal Mining To Return To Ohio County

A coal company plans to make a $200 million investment to reactive an Ohio County mine that as been idle for nearly 30 years. Alliance Resource Partners has started the formal paperwork and permitting process to reopen the former Valley Camp mine, which is now called Tunnel Ridge LLC. The longwall mine could produce up to 6 million tons of coal each year. The company is projecting about 300 new jobs with salaries averaging in the $50,000 to $55,000 range with benefits. Tunnel Ridge is expected to be a $200 million investment venture over five years. When producing in 2007, the mine will be the first coal operation in Ohio County in 30 years.