Hello everyone! I wanted to update you all on what is going on with the Joes Valley coal mine that I mentioned in Episode 6, as well as give you a heads up on what's going on with the podcast. I initially planned on recording an episode for this update and posting it on my podcast, kind of like what I did for Episode 3.5. However, I am currently working on a few other episodes at the moment, and I thought it would be best to just keep this to the blog.
Update on the Joes Valley Mine
So since I posted the episode (Which was over 3 weeks ago, jeez) I have corresponded with a few people from the Access Fund and Salt Lake Climbers Association (SLCA). Also I have looked a little further into the permit documents concerning the mine. So as it turns out, the mine is in fact set to open soon!!
To catch you up to speed if you forgot, the coal mine near Joe's Valley had been closed for about 20 years, but was recently repurchased and is now set to open back up. This mine is located right next to the boulders on the right fork, which is a major area for people to park and climb. Trucks are set to use the very tiny road to drive up and down carrying coal from the mine to the nearby plant. This is obviously problematic for a number of different reasons including the health and safety of the climbers, the potential destruction of the local environment around Joes as a consequence of the mining activities, and of course the climate implications of burning coal to use as fuel.
It doesn't seem like anyone on our side necessarily knows when or how that is going to happen, but judging from the documents sent back and forth, they are having meetings and trying to push to open the mine in the near future. I have linked the paper trail at the bottom of this blog post.
As it turns out, this coal mine is technically located on land owned by the Utah Schools and Institutional Trust Land Administration (SITLA), which doesn't have to necessarily abide by the typical federal protocols which I am fairly certain would not allow for coal mining to happen so close to a recreation area. It is for this reason that the mining company was able to buy the land outright, and hightail the permit process so that they can open up soon, rather than deal with a lot of the environmental regulations usually involved with a coal mine, from what I understand.
Furthermore, they managed only mention the rock climbing activities once in the permit application, and just as a formality to describe the recreation in the area. They do not, however, mention how they will ensure the safety of the climbers both with the trucks being a hazard in the area, as well as the inevitable coal dust that will inundate the area.
So what can we do about it? That's the big question, and I do not have a definitive answer yet. I personally do not want the coal mine to open at all, and I do not think it has any business opening up. Realistically, coal is on it's way out in terms of being a viable source of energy. Given that they want to employ the "Longwall" mining method (a method used primarily for mines that are near the end of their viability), it seems like this mine would only be in operation for a few years. However, those from the Access Fund didn't seem to think that there was any way to actually stop the coal mine from opening back up. However, I want to look further into this and see if there is any way to get a better environmental review and get them to agree to strict standards in terms of the trucks on the road impacting the climbers.
Better yet, there is one way to ensure that this mine does not stay in operation very long. Basically there is a very small market in the United States for coal as an energy source. Largely due to the explosion (pun intended) of natural gas, the United States is not really in the market for buying more coal. So the viability of opening up a new coal mine lies with the ability to sell the coal to Asian markets, which are still net positive in terms of the rate at which they are using coal. This means that the coal industry, especially the mines in the western US, is reliant upon being able to ship coal across the pacific.
However, many western US port cities such as Oakland, Richmond (CA), and Seattle have passed legislation banning coal from being exported out of their ports, citing the fact that coal is known to pollute shipping areas and be a huge environmental hazard. These decisions are still being battled in courts, but the bottom line is that if coal cannot be shipped out of the ports, then the Utah mines will fail. The CEO of the new Joes Valley mine said it himself in the article I linked below. So, the way I see it as long as they can't ship coal out of the Western US ports, this coal mine won't be able to open. So, if you are sitting there wondering what you can do right now, it is this: support the cause to block coal from being shipped from western US cities. This will not only protect Joes Valley, but also local communities where coal will be mined as well as the global climate.
Coal Mine Article in Salt Lake Tribune
Permit Files For the Coal Mine
Episode 6 Episode Addendums
So after publishing episode 6 on Joes Valley I got some comments from a kind Redditor by the account name u/slainthorny who pointed out a few things I thought were worth mentioning and clarifying.
First, I mentioned in the episode that it was unlikely that you would find a fossil. Well apparently fossils are a lot more prevalent than I thought. According to u/slainthorny they are all over the place especially in the Cabin Fever area. I did not happen to notice any fossils, but I admittingly was not looking out for them. However, you do not have to look very hard to notice the sedimentary sequence on the side of the valley, like I talked about. So relative to the obvious changes in rock type on the cliffs, the fossils are less obvious. However, I apologize for downplaying their existence.
Second, I talked about the relative hardness of the sandstone. In the episode I mention how the rock is seemingly pretty intact and hard compared to the the rocks formed before it and after it. While I did notice that the areas that I climbed had trustworthy holds, it is important to note that at the end of the day it is still a softer rock when you compare it to say granite, and is porous to a degree. For this reason, you should not climb on it after a rainstorm, just like with almost every sandstone crag. I commented on the surprising intactness and composition to compare it to the rock surrounding it, and further explain the significance of the environment in which the rock was deposited.
Third, in the episode I talked about the unique colors of the rock and how the black stripes and blotches could have come from accidental coal combustion. However, I do not know this for certain, so if you have any source to debunk this claim, it would be much appreciated.
Anyway, I welcome any feedback and I am hoping that over time we can direct it to the blog for the discussions, but for know reach out to me however you prefer (MP, Reddit, Email, Instagram, ect.)
Podcast Update
I figure if you are cool enough to read the blog, you deserve a little podcast update. I know that I have not been posting episodes as frequently as I was this past fall, but I have a few episodes in the works that I am really excited about. First, I really wanted to do an episode on Ibex, so that one will hopefully come out soonish. Then, I am going to put up a big episode on Joshua Tree, which will feature none other than Luke Mehall, who I did my very first full length interview with today! Along with the pieces of the interview that I use for the episode on J Tree, I also want to put out the full interview. So, that's three episodes hopefully coming out in the near future! Stay Tuned! Big things coming.
