The Coalition of Alabama Students for the Environment, a statewide advocacy network for environmental issues with an emphasis on student involvement, held a news conference in the Ferguson Center Monday to voice its concerns about the proposed strip mine on University property on the Black Warrior River.

Shepherd’s Bend LLC desires to place a strip mine on the property located upstream of a water intake for the Birmingham Water Works in Walker County, which supplies drinking water to approximately 200,000 residents.

Bill Lollar, whose property adjoins the location desired by Shepherd’s Bend, said he has concerns with the location of the proposed strip mine and not the strip mine itself.

“The problem is where this [proposed] mine is located,” he said. “This is not the proper place for a coal mine.”

Lollar, a previous employee of Southern Company at several coal-fired power generation facilities, said he is aware of the dangers of placing a strip mine on riverfront grounds.

He said the toxic minerals of manganese and iron could be discharged into the water supply, thereby forcing the Birmingham Water Works Board to use more chemicals to purge the water of the toxins.

Elyse Peters, a member of the University of Alabama Environmental Council and a sophomore in New College with a depth-study in civic engagement, said University President Robert Witt assured her the University would not participate in any venture detrimental to the health and sustainability of a community.

She said an active strip mine is already on University property in Marion County, however, called Haley Brothers-University Pit.

She said she plans to coordinate a boycott of University services if the land is leased to Shepherd Bend.

“We are now beginning a pledge drive proposing to boycott the services UA provides,” she said. “We’re here to tell the administration not to stake its pride to something as clearly damaging as the proposed mine at Shepherd Bend.”

She said students could withdraw their tuition dollars from the University by taking some of their course-load at Shelton State Community College instead of on campus.

Mallory Flowers, president of UAEC and a sophomore majoring in chemical engineering, said the University has not announced a decision yet pertaining to the leasing of the land.

“The University has agreed to meet with us on several occasions,” she said. “They have assured us that they have no current plans to lease the land.”

She said Shepherd Bend LLC is a subsidiary of the Drummond Company, a coal-producing business whose chief executive officer, Garry Neil Drummond, is a trustee-emeritus of the University of Alabama System.

She said she would caution the University from making a hasty decision concerning the leasing of the land due to Drummond’s relationship with the University.