Pocono News Section

New Mine Reclamation Safety Program Launched

New Mine Reclamation Safety Program Launched - Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 3:37PM EST

Reported by: Dave Skutnik
Wednesday, Apr 29, 2009 @ 03:37pm EST
NEWPORT TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY- Mining will be a part of Pennsylvania's heritage forever. Unfortunately many of these mines have been the site for tragedy, even after they shut down. That's why the state Department of Environmental Protection is launching its "Stay Out - Stay Alive" program.

Abandoned mine sites like the one in Newport Township, Luzerne County have always been popular hangouts, but with deadly consequences. "We're losing lives in Pennsylvania every year on lands like this," said DEP Secretary John Hanger.

Six people have died here in the last 11 years, 5 of them in a New Year's accident back in 1998. They all drowned when their jeep plummeted into the water filled mine during a four-wheeling trip.

That's exactly why the state is launching this “Stay Out - Stay Alive” campaign. "This land is very, very dangerous at night. You can't see where you're going and if you're in a vehicle you could be in an accident well before you have any chance to react to the problem," added Hanger.

Slowly but surely the DEP is reclaiming abandoned mine lands. But with more than 250,000 acres of land that need reclamation, it's going to take decades and billions of dollars.

This project is actually one of the smaller ones on the state's list, but its tragic history made it priority one. DEP Engineer Jessalyn Chamberlain said, "Most of our projects have larger pits filled with water and larger high walls but this one - because of the number of deaths - is a much higher priority since it has been so deadly."

They'll be finished this summer, hopefully bringing this site's deadly chapter to a close.

The Newport Township project will cost almost $750,000. Overall the state will spend over a billion dollars on mine reclamation between now and 2022.