The first steps have been taken to reopen Deer Run Mine in Hillsboro, which has been closed since late March. According to Montgomery County Board Chairman, Roy Hertel, the federal mine inspectors have checked out the mine and allowed the coal company to open the mine again.

They can turn on electricity, pump water, (and) clean their equipment. Im not sure exactly what theyre going to have to do to start mining coal again, and they have no projected date as to when they will start mining coal again.

While Hertel said that there is no projected date as to when the production of coal can resume, he reiterated that the mine is open.

The good thing, though, is the mine is open and theyre getting ready to look at everything; but as far as a projection date of actual production of coal or back to full production of coal, they dont have that.

-David Jenkins
July 21, 2015