The Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy has upheld its decision to administratively deny a surface mining permit on Ison Rock Ridge.

The proposed mine, on more than 1,200 acres near Appalachia in Wise County, VA has been controversial since the company first filed a permit to mine there six years ago.

The permit, filed in March 2007 by A&G Coal Corp., was technically approved by the state department in May 2010, under the stipulation that certain documents must be submitted prior to final approval. The permit was then administratively denied in February on the grounds that the company failed to fix certain violations needed to be resolved and bonds and fees were due to the Division of Mined Land Reclamation by November 2012, the Bristol Herald Courier reported.

In early May, an informal hearing was held on the subject, and the company submitted an appeal.

The decision does not prevent A&G Coal from submitting another application for the proposed mine, Casey wrote.

The next step A&G could take is to request a formal public hearing to review the decision. The company has 30 days to submit that request.