(ROCKDALE)  The Texas Railroad Commission unanimously approved Alcoa’s application to open its new Three Oaks Mine in Lee and Bastrop Counties at its monthly conference Friday in Austin.  Chairman Michael Williams was joined by fellow commissioners Charles Matthews and Tony Garza in approving the permit to the aluminum producer that is celebrating its 50^th anniversary in Central Texas.

Hearings Examiner Marcy Spraggins of the Railroad Commission told the commissioners that the case documentation included over\whelming evidence that mining can be conducted at Three Oaks Mine in accordance with the regulations.

Alcoa officials welcomed the action and predicted that lignite production will begin sometime next year.  The company mines about six million tons of coal annually to provide power to its aluminum smelter southwest of Rockdale in Milam County.  The lignite reserve at Alcoa’s present Sandow Mine is nearing the end of its life, and the new Three Oaks Mine will provide fuel to generate electricity for another 30-35 years.

Alcoa’s mining operations have received many awards for land restoration, including “Best of the Best” among all surface mines in the United States, from the Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining and most recently the “Lone Star Land Steward Award” from Texas Parks and Wildlife.

Alcoa Sandow and Three Oaks Mines Manager Tommy Hodges said he was very pleased that the permit application presented to the Railroad Commissioners was uncontested.  He said Alcoa has worked diligently to address the issues raised by groups and individuals.  He said this project and permit application has to be one of the most reviewed, discussed and debated actions in recent regulatory history.  The Railroad Commission Staff was well as over 22 other State and Federal entities have looked at the Three Oaks Permit Application.  In addition, Hodges said the new mine property has passed the test of an Unsuitability Petition proceeding and is going through an extensive process for preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Alcoa Energy Manager Bill Eckert said he is very pleased that this day has come.  He said a great deal of work went into the preparation of this application and a similar amount of support came from employees, unions, local, state and federal elected officials, and especially from many community friends.  Eckert said this is a landmark occasion for Alcoa and the communities that have supported the company over the past 50 years.  He said this is an important step in the efforts to keep Rockdale Operations competitive.