EDWARDSVILLE — The Madison County Board went on record Wednesday in opposition to long-wall coal mining in the county, even though county officials apparently won't have the final word in the matter.

The board unanimously adopted a resolution that says long-wall mining, in which huge machines cut rectangular underground swaths 1,000-feet wide, negatively affects the environment and agricultural land. It says such mining would leave county taxpayers with undue costs and adverse impacts with few local tax benefits.

The resolution says long-wall mining in eastern Madison County could affect water quality in the Silver Creek watershed, the water source for Highland, St. Jacob and Marine.

Board member Kelly Tracy, D-Marine, told the board long-wall mining was "an ongoing threat" to her district and eastern Madison County. She said the resolution would be nonbinding but said a unanimous vote would be "a clear message" to state and federal officials who could make a decision to allow such mining.

"You don't want it in Madison County," board chairman Alan Dunstan told the board before it voted.

Tracy said Tuesday that Colt Coal began contacting area residents about mineral and subsidence rights about two years ago but had not yet sought permits to begin mining.

"I'm not against all mining but this particular type of mining is awful," she said. "You never get the ground back to its prior state."

Tracy said surface soil above long-wall mines can drop more than 8 feet. She said the subsidence creates bathtub-like basins that often won't drain well.

Traditional "room-and-pillar" mining leaves behind columns of coal that are supposed to prevent collapse. As coal is removed at long-wall mines, the soil behind the machinery is allowed to collapse.

"We have some of the nation's best farm ground," Tracy said. "If we allow long-wall mining, we'll ruin it for years to come."

Tracy said legislation pending in the Illinois Legislature would tighten up the permit process.

Efforts to reach a mining company representative were unsuccessful.

Opposition from a local group called Citizens Against Longwall Mining failed to stop a long-wall mine near Hillsboro in neighboring Montgomery County. Construction of the Deer Run Mine began earlier this year.