Jan 23, 2015 4 min read

The Citizens Advisory Council to the state Department of Environmental Protection is accepting public comments on a report prepared by University of Pittsburgh on the impacts of underground mine subsidence on surface structures, water supplies and streams.

The report, released last month, is the fourth to be completed under Act 54 legislation passed in 1994, which revised the law on subsidence damage and requires reports, or assessments, to be done every five years on subsidence impacts.

The CAC also will be accepting public testimony on the report at its March 17 meeting. CAC meets in Room 105 of the Rachel Carson Building in Harrisburg.

The report includes information that documents and assesses the surface impacts resulting from both longwall and traditional room and pillar mining, including damage to surface structures, impacts to the aquatic life and the water quality of streams and the loss of domestic water supplies.

DEP is required to submit the impact report to the CAC, the General Assembly and the governor. The current report covers August 2008 through August 2013.

“Ensuring the public has the opportunity to provide input on the findings and conclusions included in the Act 54 report is critical to the council,” council chairman Terry Dayton said.

“The CAC is very interested in hearing the public’s perspectives on the report and encourages the public to share its comments with council,” he said.

Staff from the University of Pittsburgh also will provide a presentation on the report and its findings at the CAC’s next public meeting Feb. 17.

A total of 1,250 incidents involving subsidence impacts to land and buildings, water supplies and streams were reported during the fourth assessment period, about the same number as in the previous period.

One of the main focuses in the recent assessment was the effects of mine subsidence on streams.

During the fourth assessment period, 96 miles of streams were undermined, according to the report. Of that, 51 miles were undermined by longwall mines in Greene and Washington counties.

“Nearly all reported stream impacts resulted from subsidence associated with longwall mining,” the report said. The impacts included pooling and the loss of stream flow.

The CAC reserved two hours on its March 17 meeting agenda to accept public testimony on the Act 54 report. Registration is encouraged to reserve a time to testify.

Individuals presenting testimony will be asked to limit the duration of their presentation to accommodate all who registered to testify.

Organizations are encouraged to designate one representative to provide testimony. Individuals who do not pre-register may testify as time allows on the CAC’s meeting agenda. Individuals providing testimony are encouraged to submit a written copy of their testimony to the CAC.

To pre-register to testify, call Michele Tate, CAC executive director, by March 9 at 717-787-8171 or by email mtate@pa.gov.

Individuals who need accommodations, as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act, should contact the CAC to discuss their needs at 717-787-8171 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 800-654-5984 (TDD) or 800-654-5988 (voice users).

The public is also invited to submit written comments on the Act 54 report to the council by March 31. Comments can be sent by mail to DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 13th Floor, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8459 or email to mtate@pa.gov.

The council was created by statute to advise the DEP on environmental issues affecting the state. It will use the comments in its own review of the Act 54 report and is expected to issue its assessment and recommendations on the report in April.

The Act 54 Report (2008-2013) is accessible on DEP’s website at http://goo.gl/nF54zB.