Pocono News Section

Mine Subsidence in Hazle Township

Mine Subsidence in Hazle Township - Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 12:52PM EST

Reported by: Mike Trim
Wednesday, Apr 9, 2008 @12:52pm EST

HAZLE TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY- A mine subsidence iscausing two houses on Smith Drive in Hazle Township to sink fast.

Chief Scott Kostician ofthe Hazle Township fire department says, "D-E-P Has classified as unstablebecause it's still ongoing and it's still occurring as we saw, and until itstabilizes itself and the subsidence drops, there's really not a whole lot thattheir going to do."

The yards startedcollapsing here Wednesday morning, and the foundation of this house cracked. By afternoon, bothhouses were condemned. The owners have beenforced to move out.

Emergency crews say thisis the second time this property has subsided. The first was in 1979. Neighbor Elanor brownhas lived next door for both, and fears her house is next. She says, "It'sterrible. I mean the first time, they didn't do nothing. I just hope that theydo something this time or our houses are worthless."

The owner of onecondemned house didn't want to talk on camera, but says the state told him hishouse was safe after the '79 subsidence. Now he's not sure whathe's going to do.

The Hazle Township fire chief says thisneighbor is very unlucky with its history of subsidence’s. Chief Kostician says, "Thisarea has a bad track record."