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Sep
16
Written by:
news editor
9/16/2011 1:00 AM
ODNR will hold a public meeting in New Philadelphia to discuss proposed abandoned mine land projects being considered in five northeastern Ohio counties.
COLUMBUS, OH – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will hold a public meeting in New Philadelphia on Tuesday, October 4, 2011 to discuss proposed abandoned mine land projects being considered in five northeastern Ohio counties. The meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Business Conference Room A of the Kent State University-Tuscarawas Campus, 330 University Drive, New Philadelphia.
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 Columbiana, Coshocton, Jefferson, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties. Meeting attendees are encouraged to present details of their own abandoned mine problems in these counties as well as Carroll, Harrison, Holmes, Mahoning, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, and Trumbull 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 state’s coal-mining region. A total of $2.46 million is earmarked for the design and construction of 14 non-emergency public health and safety projects in northeastern Ohio. Also included in the grant is $4.68 million to improve streams impacted by acid mine drainage problems.
NEW PHILADELPHIA ABANDONED MINE LANDS MEETING
Proposed projects for the northeastern Ohio mining district will:
- Eliminate numerous highwalls, associated mine spoil, and reestablish positive drainage.
- Close several vertical mine shafts and linked structures.
- Decrease areas of mine drainage and demolish abandoned hazardous facilities.
- Repair a roadway, reduce the sediment load of an impacted stream and stabilize the stream’s channel and related landslide.
- Dewater impoundments, reclaim an unstable embankment, and construct drainage swales.
- Mount a bat gate over an open portal and install a mine drain.
- Construct additional underground limestone drains to operate in parallel and improve existing drains’ capabilities.
- Grade, revegetate, resoil and create general site restoration.
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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