The Ohio Division of Mineral Resources (ODMR) scheduled a public hearing Thursday, September 19 at 6:00 p.m. at the Belmont Technical College in St. Clairsville for a permit exponentially more destructive than any yet seen for Dysart Woods: the -12 permit that would undermine every single acre of Dysart Woods.

In directly undermining Dysart Woods with longwall and room and pillar mining, Ohio Valley Coal Company’s D-0360-12 permit (-12 for short) would cause subsidence, an earthquake effect that directly topples trees, and dewatering of the trees, which are dependent upon the many springs and streams. These springs and streams would fall through fissures in the strata caused by mining, making the water far too deep for the trees roots to reach.

Find out more at www.dysartwoods.org.

Dysart Defenders is looking for organizers to set up slide presentations around Ohio to prepare people for the hearing. People can contact Dysart Defenders Coordinator Chad Kister at chad@dysartwoods.org if they are interested in hosting a slide presentation.

"We cannot give up now," Kister said. "Dysart Woods has survived 42 years of threats thanks to the valiant efforts of hundreds of people and dozens of organizations over the years. We cannot let the 400+ year old trees down now."