DEP’s Greensburg District Mining Office issued a remining permit that will result in the reclamation of 8.7 acres of abandoned mine lands and restore the health of a stream in the Yougiogheny River watershed.

By permitting the mining companies to mine remaining coal reserves and reclaim these sites in return for the value of the coal, these projects will save the Commonwealth approximately $60,000 in abandoned mine reclamation costs.

Earlier this month, Albert Stiffler received the permit to remine and reclaim 8.7 acres of abandoned mine lands in the Pittsburgh coal seam in Mt. Pleasant Township, Westmoreland County.

The company will daylight, or expose, extensive underground mine workings that are contributing to surface and groundwater pollution in the area, and remove the remaining coal reserves. The site will then be graded to approximate original contours as required under modern mining regulations, and vegetated with grasses specially formulated to grow on abandoned mine lands.

For more information, visit DEP’s Remining Incentives webpage.

7/28/2006