ODNR presents Minerton Road reclamation at McArthur open house

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources held an open-house meeting Jan. 14 at the Zaleski ODNR Complex in McArthur to present proposed abandoned-mine land reclamation projects slated for 2026, including a Vinton County entry listed as the Minerton Road Reclamation. The session ran from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 29371 Wheelabout Rd. and brought ODNR Division of Mineral Resources Management staff face to face with residents and stakeholders to review environmental, public-health and safety issues tied to legacy mines.

ODNR officials displayed a list of proposed projects for several counties and explained that the work will be funded with federal grant money allocated to Ohio under recent federal infrastructure funding. The notice announcing the meeting said ODNR was awarded a multi-million dollar grant to support abandoned-mine reclamation, a funding stream that reduces the need for local matching dollars and accelerates remediation planning across affected communities.

For Vinton County, Minerton Road Reclamation is now on the docket for potential construction in 2026. Reclamation projects typically address hazards such as open mine portals, unstable spoil piles, and contaminated drainage that can affect drinking water, private well users, road safety and property values. Local residents at the meeting sought clarification on timelines, potential construction impacts and how reclamation work could change land use near Minerton Road and surrounding parcels.

The presence of state mineral-resources staff at the Zaleski complex underscored ODNR’s emphasis on outreach; staff were available to answer technical and regulatory questions about environmental monitoring, site safety and contractor oversight. The open-house format aimed to make project lists and funding sources transparent before engineering and permitting move forward.

For community members, the immediate implications are practical. Reclamation can reduce public-safety risks and restore land for potential future use, but it may also bring temporary construction traffic, altered access and coordination with private landowners. The federal grant funding signals state capacity to move forward without waiting on local budgets, yet the specifics of project schedules, contractor selection and long-term monitoring remain to be finalized.

Residents and stakeholders in Vinton County should monitor announcements from ODNR’s Division of Mineral Resources Management for updates specific to the Minerton Road site and other local projects. As planning advances through 2026, community oversight and timely questions to ODNR will be important to ensure environmental protections, clear timelines and minimal disruption to daily life in McArthur and surrounding townships.