ATHENS, Pa. (WENY) -- A long-debated topic in Athens Township is the proposed Minard Mine.  The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection had a public forum on Tuesday night to get the public’s thoughts on it.  Eleven people signed up to speak, and the DEP says they have received forty-one written comments regarding the proposed 300-acre sandstone and gravel mine.  The majority of the comments tonight expressed concern about the potential impacts of this project. 

“We need this nature, we need the trees to breathe.  We need to save our mountain,” said Kristine Litteer, a concerned resident. 

The Bishop Brothers have submitted an application permit to mine along the Chemung River in Athens Township.  As of right now, the proposal is under technical review, while the DEP evaluates it to see if the plans comply with PA laws and regulations.  Since the proposal was announced, there has been public outrage about the plans. 

“I cannot bear the thought that a single project has the potential to harm so many people, and have such an environmental impact, right outside my back window,” said Jaimee Alsing, another concerned resident who spoke at the forum. 

“I understand aggregate is important to the production of a nation and the production of a community, and so are good jobs, but so is clean air and the Safety of our children are important.. how we balance those two things are important, and thats why we are here,” added J.C. Christian, another concerned resident. 

 Comments ranged from concerns of noise levels, to air quality, to the disruption of wildlife.  The DEP did not respond to any comments tonight, but instead recorded each and every comment.  A representative from the DEP explained what role these comments play in the decision-making process. 

“The program staff that are reviewing the particular application, we'll take it back and review all of those comments, both oral and in writing, that have been received by the deadline.  That becomes part of what's called a comment response document, and so they compile those and respond to each and every comment. That document is issued usually when a decision is reached,” said Megan Lehman, regional communication manager for PA DEP. The deadline for comments about the project was today. 

The DEP says there is currently no timeline for if or when the mine project will be approved.  The full plans for the mine can be found here.