DEP Citizens Advisory Council To Hear Testimony On Deep Coal Mining Impact Report March 17

The DEP Citizens Advisory Council is setting aside two hours at its March 17 meeting to hear public comments 2008-2013 Underground Coal Mining Impact Report required by the state’s Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act (Act 54).

The 2008-2013 Act 54 Report is the fourth in a series required under Act 54. The report includes information that documents and assesses the surface impacts resulting from both longwall and traditional room and pillar underground bituminous coal mining, including damage to surface structures and impacts to aquatic life, pH and conductivity of streams and the loss of domestic water supplies from mining in Armstrong, Beaver, Cambria, Clearfield, Elk, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Somerset and Washington counties.

The report was prepared by the University of Pittsburgh and reviewed by DEP staff prior to its release on December 30, 2014. DEP is required to submit the impact report to the CAC, the General Assembly, and the Governor every five years. Three previous Act 54 reports, also reviewed by the CAC, covered 1993 through 2008.

The University was selected by DEP to complete the report due to the expertise of its faculty and research staff on all aspects of the effects of mining-related subsidence.

Council will also hold a second hearing on March 27 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at DEP’s California District Mining Office, Monongahela Conference Room, 25 Technology Drive, California Technology Park, Coal Center, PA

Persons interested in presenting testimony should pre-register by contacting Michele Tate, Executive Director of the CAC, by calling 717-787-8171 or by sending email at: mtate@pa.gov by March 19.

In addition to accepting public testimony, the CAC is inviting the public to submit written comments on the Act 54 report and is extending the public comment period deadline to April 14, 2015. Comments may be sent by mail to: DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 13th Floor, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8459 or by email to: mtate@pa.gov.

The March 17 meeting will also feature an update from the department by Acting DEP Secretary John Quigley, a presentation on DEP’s proposed FY 2015-16 budget proposal and an overview of the Susquehanna River Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Update.

The Council will meet in Room 105 Rachel Carson Building starting at 10:00 a.m.  Public comments on the Act 54 Report will be taken from Noon until 2:00 p.m. in the same room.

For more information, visit the DEP Citizens Advisory Council webpage.