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Sep
16
Written by:
news editor
9/16/2011 1:00 AM
ODNR will hold a public meeting in Athens on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 to discuss proposed abandoned mine land projects being considered in ten southeastern Ohio counties.
COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will hold a public meeting in Athens on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 to discuss proposed abandoned mine land projects being considered in ten southeastern Ohio counties. The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the ODNR/Wildlife district office at 360 East State Street, Athens.
Staff from ODNR, Division of Mineral Resources Management will be on hand to discuss environmental and public health and safety issues associated with Ohio mines that were abandoned prior to August 3, 1977, when legislation addressing the problem went into effect.
They will discuss the policies and procedures of Ohio’s Abandoned Mine Land Program and present a list of proposed projects for Athens, Belmont, Guernsey, Hocking, Jackson, Meigs, Muskingum, Morgan, Noble, and Perry counties. Meeting attendees are encouraged to present details of their own abandoned mine problems in these counties as well as Gallia, Lawrence, Licking, Monroe, Pike, Vinton and Washington counties and to check on eligibility for funding.
In November, ODNR will apply for federal construction grant money from the U.S. Department of the Interior to fund abandoned mine reclamation during the 2012 Grant Period (January 2012–December 2014) throughout the entire state’s coal-mining region. A total of $3.44 million is earmarked for the design and construction of 20 non-emergency projects in southeastern Ohio. Also included in the grant is $4.68 million to improve streams impacted by acid mine drainage problems.
ATHENS ABANDONED MINE LANDS MEETING
Projects proposed for the southeastern Ohio mining district will:
- Demolish several hazardous abandoned mine structures.
- Install bank stabilization, establish channels and achieve general site restoration.
- Dewater three hazardous water bodies, backfill highwalls, reestablish positive drainage, remove stream blockage, and close a mine entry.
- Redirect and/or close several mine discharges with excessive sediments.
- Remove several unstable refuse piles, stabilize and resoil, reestablish positive drainage, create channels, and revegetate.
- Excavate and plug a mine shaft with aggregate and revegetate the disturbed area.
- Backfill highwall, construct retaining wall, rebuild damaged roadway and revegate.
- Eliminate hazardous structures, stabilize gob pile, reestablish positive drainage, construct rock channels and general site restoration.
- Stabilize a landslide and install several underdrain systems.
- Stabilize erosion gullies and stream banks.
- Reclaim a gob pile and affix mine seal.
- Construct several limestone-based passive treatment systems, an aerobic wetland and install a lime reagent active treatment doser.
- Reclaim exposed coal refuse, passively treat underground mine discharge and redirect surface water flow.
- Stabilize gob piles; reduce stream clogging and flooding problems.
- Draining and filling of several strip pits as well as grading of spoil for positive drainage, resoil and revegetate. Channel water off site into receiving tributaries.
The ODNR ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR Web site at www.ohiodnr.com.
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For more information, contact:
Jason Fallon, ODNR Office of Communications
614. 265. 6842
Blake Arthur, ODNR Mineral Resources Management
330. 339. 2207
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