The Washington Observer-Reporter and Tribune Review Friday reported DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn announced the agency would not rebuild the Duke Lake dam in Ryerson Station State Park, Greene County, due to concerns about additional settling of an area above an underground coal mine that damaged the original dam.

In 2013, a mediated settlement between the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Consol Energy, which owned the Bailey coal mine which damaged the Duke Lake dam in 2005, resulted in Consol agreeing to pay $36 million to replace the dam, add 506 acres to the park and agreed not to drill on the park lands for natural gas and other commitments.

Secretary Dunn said DCNR will change the focus of its efforts, along with a task force helping the agency, to find other amenities that could be added to Ryerson with the $36 million in funding provided by Consol.

(Photo: Washington Observer-Reporter.)

NewsClips:

DCNR Halts Efforts To Restore Lake At Ryerson Station State Park

DCNR Will Not Rebuild Lake Dam At Ryerson Station State Park

Investor Pushing Changes At Consol Energy

Consol Warns Of Loss From Low Gas, Coal Prices

Op-Ed: Coal Is Losing The War

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