Feb 10, 2017 2 min read

State officials are planning to begin work next week to stabilize the Canonsburg property where a family evacuated its home Wednesday as a precaution because of mine subsidence.

Department of Environmental Protection spokeswoman Lauren Fraley said the agency received a report of a “subsidence event” at the home Monday. Its Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation “contacted the homeowner and did a site assessment on (Tuesday), ultimately declaring the site an emergency,” Fraley said.

She said BAMR officials were on site Friday doing exploratory work and expect on Monday to seek bids for the project – which will consist of drilling and pumping in grout to stabilize the structure – so work can begin later in the week.

The federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement said it has issued an emergency authorization for DEP to use Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation funds to address the problem, a spokesperson said.

Damage at the home was first reported to local officials Saturday, and the borough has condemned the property, on the 200 block of Bluff Street.

Canonsburg Mayor David Rhome said local officials are working with other agencies such as DEP to address the situation.

“The most important part of this is the family is safe and secure and they have a lot of friends around them, and they’re living with other people until we can determine what is going on with this structure,” Rhome said.

The homeowner, who shares the house with her three children, declined an interview Wednesday after evacuating the home.