Community members in a small Clearfield County town are at odds with P&N Coal Company. 

Westover Borough residents are concerned a proposed 50-plus acre strip mine could have a negative impact on their local environment.

The mining would supposedly take place within 50-feet of the town’s water tower and right next to lines that supply water to the entire community.

“If the water tower or water line gets damaged, the whole town is out of water until it’s repaired,” Kevin Westover, a Westover Borough councilman, said.

The town itself is pretty small. There are less than 400 residents, but they pride themselves on pristine water.

“People go to their tap and turn the water on every day and expect that it be there,” Tracey Hoyt, another councilman, said. “For something detrimental to hurt the system so people wouldn’t have water is a big deal.”

It’s not only the water supply town leaders are worried about. They also fear for what it could do to the streams and creeks in the area.

We’re told the town isn’t against the mine, they just don’t want it so close to important resources.

“We’re not against strip mining at all,” Westover said. “We just want them to back up and get away from this important equipment that serves our community.”

The community has requested a meeting with DEP,  which will take place Wednesday, March 21 at the Westover Area Fire Company. The meeting has an informal starting time of 6 p.m. and the official start time will be 7 p.m.