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Centralia Conspiracy: Mine Fire Out?

Centralia Conspiracy: Mine Fire Out? - Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 04:43AM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Wednesday March 10 2010
CENTRALIA, COLUMBIA COUNTY- Was Centralia abandoned because of that stubborn mine fire? Maybe not. That's new information revealed in a lawsuit filed in Commonwealth Court Monday by the remaining few residents of the borough. They claim they've been duped. Two decades of turmoil over the controversial plan to relocate residents is turned on its head with details in the lawsuit suggesting rich coal deposits under the borough fueled a plot to get people out in order to seize the coal. In 1962, a fire at a trash dump sparked an underground mine fire. The Centralia "holdouts" don't dispute the fire's presence, only its severity. Included in the lawsuit, are temperature readings that show a significant drop from a number of borehole monitoring sites. One plummeted 300 degrees over a six-year period. About a dozen homeowners have resisted leaving. Until recently, they've been allowed to stay. But the state has hastened eviction plans. At least two homes were quickly demolished after the owners were ordered out under threat of police intervention. The lawsuit claims a Wilkes-Barre law firm is representing a Centralia coal company allegedly primed to harvest the coal as soon as the last of the holdouts is evicted. The same law firm is centrally involved in the eviction process, according to court documents. Several calls to attorneys were not returned. Even more mysterious, in 2006, the state allowed a single homeowner to remain in his house. Even though the structure is located in the middle of the mine fire zone, the state claims the home is no longer in danger. The lawsuit points out that it sits directly across from the coal company. It's the deal they all want. Homeowners have asked the state that they be offered the same arrangement: approval to live in their Centralia homes. But nothing has come of their requests. In fact, they describe a bitter back-and-forth with representatives from the state's Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Some believe area legislators have the power to end the wrangling. Calls to State Senator John Gorner (R-27) and Representative Robert Belfanti (D-107) were not immediately returned. Attorneys from DCED said they would not comment since the matter is in litigation.
 


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