A two decade old plan to mine tons of low quality coal in South Texas for Mexican power plants has been revived.

The San Antonio Express-News reports a Texas Railroad Commissioner will begin hearing evidence Monday on an application by the Dos Republicas Coal Partnership to strip-mine coal just north of Eagle Pass. The border city is 130 miles southwest of San Antonio.

The coal is such poor quality that it cannot be used in the United States, but it can be used in Mexico's federally owned power plants just outside Piedras Negras. Those plants near the Mexican border city across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass are not under any pollution restrictions. Eagle Pass-area elected officials and community leaders have mobilized to fight approval of the coal mine.

(Sourced from www.kristv.com)