OSM Approves Removing 11 Sites From Alternative Bonding System Abandoned Mine Sites Lists

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the September 8 PA Bulletin listing sites the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has approved removing from the Alternative Bonding System Legacy Sites list.

ABS Legacy Sites are abandoned mining sites not covered by the federal Abandoned Mine Lands Fund for sites abandoned or forfeited before 1977.

There were a total of 51 abandoned mining sites on the primary ABS Legacy Sites list as of January 31, 2018.

There are 51 sites on the primary ABS Legacy sites list; DEP proposed removing 2, but there are other pre-1977 abandoned ABS Legacy sites lists DEP maintains.

There are 29 sites listed on the potential ABS Legacy sites list; DEP proposed removing 12.  There are 11 bond forfeiture sites that need reclamation work; DEP proposed removing 5.  There are 27 ABS Legacy sites that need water treatment work; DEP proposed removing 13.

The September 8 notice indicated OSM approved the removal of 3 sites from the primary ABS Legacy Sites list and 8 sites from the potential ABS Legacy Sites list.

Click Here for a copy of the September 8 notice.  Click Here for a copy of the January 31, 2018 ABS Legacy Sites list report.