(ODNR EXPLORATORY PROJECT WILL STUDY EXTENT AND CONDITION OF ABANDONED MINES IN VILLAGE OF SOUTH ZANESVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD)

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News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 17, 2000

ODNR EXPLORATORY PROJECT WILL STUDY EXTENT AND CONDITION OF ABANDONED
MINES IN VILLAGE OF SOUTH ZANESVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD

COLUMBUS, OH --The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will soon conduct surface drilling tests to determine the extent and condition of underground mines in a residential neighborhood of South Zanesville in Muskingum County, ODNR Director Sam Speck announced today. Drilling is scheduled to begin during the week of February 21 on streets and public rights-of-way, but ODNR officials may later ask permission to evaluate some private properties as well, Speck said. Drilling is expected to be completed by mid-March.

The project includes several residential streets in South Zanesville, in an area bounded by El Camino Drive, Valley Gem Drive and Juanita Drive.

"These tests will help us determine the extent and condition of abandoned coal mines in this neighborhood, allowing us to develop recommendations to reduce the risk of property damage from any future subsidence," Speck said. "South Zanesville has experienced subsidence incidents in recent years due to the collapse of mines that were abandoned in the 1940s. Such mines were often not mapped or the existing maps are incomplete," Speck said. "We're determined to remedy that lack of information with new, accurate maps."

Individuals with questions or comments may contact Bill Jonard, field project coordinator with the ODNR Division of Mines & Reclamation office in Cambridge at (740) 439-9079 or Derek Collins with the ODNR Abandoned Mine Lands Program in Columbus at (614) 265-1038.

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For Further Information Contact:
Derek Collins, ODNR Geologist
(614) 265-1038
-or-
ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6882