To maintain water levels in the abandoned Gilberton mine complex in Schuylkill County and minimize potential flooding, the Department of Environmental Protection received quotes for an emergency project to drill a new borehole and construct a new pump station.

The construction project was awarded to Global Shaft Drilling, LLC of Morgantown, W.Va., at their quoted price of $2,719,272.

Rising mine pool water levels in the flooded underground coal mine complex, together with stormwater runoff and infiltration, contribute to potential flooding in the Schuylkill County borough.

The existing pump building and three of the four pumps in it are owned by Waste Management & Processors, Inc. of Gilberton. WMPI uses its pumps for an active mining operation.

Through an agreement with WMPI, the DEP has operated one pump since 1972 to address issues related to an inactive abandoned underground coal mine. The new pump station will pump mine pool water from this abandoned mine and discharge it the same location as the existing operation.

Work on the new pump station is anticipated to start in the next few weeks and be completed in June 2017.

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11/14/2016