The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is holding a public hearing at 6:00
tonight (Wednesday) to take comments and questions concerning the Pond Creek
Coal Mine's application to dump wastewater containing sulfates and chlorides into
the Big Muddy River. Galen Thomas is a member of the Southern Illinois Kayak
and Canoe Club, and he says people who use the river for recreation should
attend tonight's meeting . According to a media release sent by Southern Illinoisans
Against Fracturing Our Environment, the company has applied for a permit to be allowed
to discharge up to seven million gallons of mine water water per day into the Big Muddy
River. The public meeting will be held at the Diamond Club, at Rent One Park.
