While the option for long-wall mining remains on the table, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said June 14 he would veto any proposal brought before him for "strip" or surface mining on county parklands. From 250 to 300 citizens attended a public meeting on the proposal for surafce mining and all but a handful said they opposed the measure.

Longwall mining is one of two basic methods of under ground coal mining, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Longwall mining involves the essentially complete extraction of the coal contained in a large rectangular block or "panel" of coal, and the roof in the mined-out area is allowed to collapse.

Kevin Evanto, spokesman for Onorato, said the mining company would not be granted access to the coal seam from the surface of the county park property.

For surface mining, the company needed permission from Allegheny County Council and Onorato before proceeding. Fiore owns title to the mineral rights, while the county owns the surface rights.

Green Vue Systems approached Onorato about the possibility of mining, said Evanto.

"He contacted our office and we felt the best way to handle this was to make a presentation to county council, the chief executive and the public all at once," Evanto said.

The meeting was held at South Park High School auditorium.

"While the longwall mining option is more of a state process than county, he would still need our approvals and permits," said Allegheny Councilman Vince Gastgeb (R-Bethel Park). "I do not see that happening. Even if he can get access from adjacent property, there are enviromental issues that would make it extremely difficult for the state to give their blessing.

"I guess you could say that the mineral rights he owns are not worth much, and that there won't be any strip-mining on county park property," Gastgeb said.

Gastgeb said an Amish company has approached a council committee and explained a plan for selective timbering on county property. Other options for the county to generate revenue by allowing gas wells on county land, and selling naming rights for county facilities.

The Amish group would not clear-cut county forests, but take out selective trees and split the profits 50/50, Gastgeb said.

"What we were told, is that they would come in and take some mature trees on county property. (But) most of the trees would remain untouched. From a conservation perspective it would be better for our forested areas, permitting more sunlight though. Groups such as the Sierra Club recommend this type of foresting," Gastgeb said.

Estimates of the county revenues from the selective foresting is in the millions, Gastgeb said.