COLUMBUS, OH - A public meeting to discuss proposed abandoned mine projects being considered in nine northeastern Ohio counties will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, April 26 in New Philadelphia. The meeting will be in Room No. 119 of the Kent State University-Tuscarawas Branch, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
ODNR Division of Mineral Resources Management staff will be available to discuss proposed projects in Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Jefferson, Mahoning, Portage, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas counties. Staff will review Ohio’s Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Program, as well as the environmental, public health and safety issues associated with Ohio mines that were abandoned prior to August 3, 1977, when legislation addressing the mines took effect.
The public is invited to share their comments regarding abandoned mines in northeastern Ohio, stretching from Harrison to Medina counties.
ODNR will apply for approximately $5.1 million in federal grant money in May from the U.S. Department of the Interior to fund abandoned mine clean-ups throughout the northeastern and southeastern Ohio coal-mining region. Part of that money is earmarked for 23 non-emergency projects in northeastern Ohio and the improvement of streams impacted by acid mine drainage.
Examples of non-emergency projects include: excavating and backfilling subsidences or sinkholes, removing a dangerous tipple structure and closing an associated mine entry, sealing mine openings, upgrading or installing mine drainage diversion systems, stabilizing a mine drainage related landslide, safeguarding dangerous highwalls, reclaiming eroding coal refuse piles to prevent local stream sedimentation.