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Pocono News Section
Mine Water Causing Flooding Problems in Luzerne County
Mine Water Causing Flooding Problems in Luzerne County - Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 6:17PM EST
Reported by: Jill Konopka
Wednesday, Jan 2, 2008 @06:17pm EST
HANOVER TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY- Backed up mine water is weighing down one neighborhood in Askam, Hanover Township. Pools and pools and even more pools of water are causing lots of problems off Dundee Road. One homeowner contacted us because of his growing concerns.
Carl Olshefski of Clarks Cross Road and some of his neighbors in the nearby Dundee Apartments in Hanover Township are concerned with a mine water buildup bordering their backyards.
Olshefski explained "I’m afraid we're going to get washed away here. The water's coming out of the mines.”
Some have already seen flooding in the basements and to their lawns.
"This is an impending disaster. If they don't do something, the water has to be diverted" continued Olshefski.
Just last week officials with the Earth Conservancy, which owns part of the land, started pumping the water out into nearby Nanticoke Creek.
CEO Mike Dziak of Earth Conservancy said the earlier pumping has helped. "It has, but not enough. We're back pumping today. We’ve got the trench going. It seems to stabilize things. But you can't get ahead of it."
Dziak thinks an old bore on Dundee Road is to blame. He continued "That collapsed, so the water is not coming out of there at the rate it normally came out. That's part of the problem. The Office of Surface Mining and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection have to conclude that and take action."
Mick Kuhns of the Office of Surface Mining explained "We're agreeable the problem is mining related."
The Office of Surface Mining said it may take time but they will implement a two-phase project to fix this potential mine disaster.
The first part will bring short term relief right away. "By getting in behind the apartments and try to do earth work. Construct some kind of ditch. We'd be able to have lower elevation ditch and allow water to drain out on its own free will and not have to pump it out” added Kuhns.
The second phase of the project involves a little more leg work, like looking into why the mine pool elevation is as high as it is. It could involve potentially drilling new bore holes and getting permission from the landowners and permits from state agencies before starting a full bidding process.
Its' too early to pin down any deadlines but with a little patience from property owners the Office of Surface Mining said it'll move as quickly as they can. | | |
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