A rally for coal is set for Monday evening at Scott High School.
The rally is set to begin at 5 p.m.
The rally is in response to a ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers, who has temporarily halted a plan to expand one of West Virginia's largest surface mines, saying he needs additional time to consider arguments before deciding if the project should be blocked permanently.
According to reports, the Magnum Coal Co.'s Hobet 21 mine has already issued 60-day notices of a potential shut-down to its 100 workers.
Logan County Commission President Art Kirkendoll said he will attend the rally to show his support for the mining industry.
"It could be very, very devastating. This is scary," Kirkendoll said of the potential ruling to shut down the operation.
"I hope all the elected officials and the public, and the support people who work for the coal mines and the miners all show up. What they're gathering for is to stand up for people's rights to work, their ability to operate. The main supporter is the United Mine Workers, because this is a union job, which is a good thing. I'll be there. I've never failed to attend any of these when there are job-related problems. I think that's our duty."
The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over its decision to grant a federal Clean Water permit for the expansion of Magnum Coal Co.'s Hobet 21 mine along the Boone-Lincoln county line.
The company is calling the new workings Hobet 22.
The corps held a 30-day public comment period on the permit in 2006, but details of the company's final plans for mitigating for the loss of about 4.2 miles of streams were not available until this March.
The federal Clean Water Act requires mitigation for the loss of water resources.
The environmental group argues the corps didn't consider the mine's impact on the environment or give the public adequate opportunity to comment.
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