The proposed Liberty and Security mines would be situated in the Walden Ridge region of Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau, a previously unmined location east of the traditional mining territory of the Cumberland Mountains.

Security would be a 35-acre operation while Liberty was planned to consist of 127 acres and include a coal preparation plant.

According to the Chattanooga Times Free Press, about 200 people filled a courthouse in the town of Dayton offering mixed feedback as they reviewed the proposed mine applications.

The Tennessee newspaper reported that former Iron Properties partner Dave Fortner told officials the two mines could produce 300 jobs and pay $US12 million in local taxes.

Residents were reported to have expressed concerns that tunnelling and underground water could disrupt homes in the area.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation required the public hearing and said it would only consider comments related to water.

Issues such as zoning, blasting, noise and dust were off the agenda.

Iron Properties is a North Carolina-based land development company which invests in mineral rights, reserves identification and coal mine development with a focus on high-grade metallurgical coal.