On May 14, the MWA Advocacy team (including two on-staff attorneys), staff from Jacobs Creek Watershed Association, and members of the Rustic Ridge Action Committee joined about 30 residents of the Donegal, Champion, Stahlstown, and Acme areas for a community town hall regarding the Rustic Ridge Mine Complex. This meeting was held at Saint Raymond of the Mountains in Donegal Township – a location that is convenient for concerned residents and within the boundary of the active Rustic Ridge I mine.
This was an opportunity for the concerned and impacted residents of the Laurel Highlands to come together and learn about the current status of the active and proposed Rustic Ridge Deep Mine Complex. Our advocacy team presented general information, current permitting updates, tips on property and water monitoring, property owner rights, and an opportunity to review the accuracy of structure and water supplies listed on the required Water and Structure Inventory as submitted with permit materials.
Further, a watchdog report was shared as LCT’s Rustic Ridge I has been operating for 6 years and has created serious issues such as subsidence to homes, presumed impacts to private water supplies, and a massive burden of environmental stress and quality of life instability for our rural community.
Most importantly, this Town Hall created a space for residents to come together to discuss their experiences and concerns. Testimony was heard from community members that already suffer impacts to their water supplies and way of life, mineral rights owners who refuse to lease, and concerned residents who want to stay in the know despite lack of transparency from LCT Energy.
This town hall was MWA’s fourth community focused informational session on this issue in the past year and a half. Residents should stay tuned for more opportunities to be informed and stay engaged on this ongoing issue. Another community town hall will be hosted in Fall 2024. For more information, contact stacey@mtwatershed.com
Take Action!
Those who attended had the opportunity to sign on to an action or mail letters to the DEP and state legislatures calling attention to the widespread community concern and ongoing impacts to the beloved Laurel Highlands community. Save the Laurel Highlands from the Rustic Ridge Mine Complex – Action Network
Community Resources:
DEP Expansion Page: Rustic Ridge 1 Expansion
Water and Structure Inventory Resources: Protect Your Water and Property Rights – Mountain Watershed Association (mtwatershed.com)
Property Monitoring: Property Monitoring Log