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News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2002

ODNR TO HOLD MEETING IN NEW PHILADELPHIA
TO DISCUSS ABANDONED MINE PROJECTS IN NORTHEASTERN OHIO

COLUMBUS, OH -- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) will hold a public meeting in New Philadelphia on March 12 to discuss proposed abandoned mine projects being considered in six northeastern Ohio counties. The meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Kent State University Tuscarawas Campus, 330 University Drive N.E.

Officials from ODNR's Division of Mineral Resources Management will be on hand to discuss environmental and public health and safety issues associated with Ohio mines that were abandoned prior to August 3, 1977, when legislation addressing the problem went into effect.
They will also discuss the policies and procedures of Ohio's Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Program and present a list of proposed projects for Tuscarawas, Wayne, Mahoning, Carroll, Columbiana and Harrison counties.

Meeting attendees are encouraged to present details of their own abandoned mine problems in these counties, as well as Holmes, Jefferson, Portage, Stark, Summit and Trumbull counties, and check on eligibility for funding.

On April 1, ODNR will apply for approximately $4.4 million in federal grant money from the U.S. Department of the Interior to fund abandoned mine cleanups during the next year throughout the northeastern and southeastern Ohio coal mining region. Part of that money is earmarked for 16 non-emergency projects in the northeastern coal mining region of Ohio.

ODNR proposes to spend approximately $1,100,000 on design and construction for these 17 projects. Also included in the $4.4 million grant is $300,000 for Ohio's entire coal region to replace domestic water supplies affected by abandoned mines, $50,000 for reforestation of abandoned strip mines and $500,000 to improve streams impacted by acid mine drainage.

Non-emergency projects proposed for the northeastern Ohio mining district include:

  • The reclamation of three coal refuse piles
  • The sealing of four mine shafts and two mine entries
  • The diversion of mine drainage from two houses and a state highway
  • The safeguarding of six dangerous highwalls
  • The repair of a previously reclaimed abandoned strip mine
  • Mine subsidence risk assessment in the Village of Mt. Eaton

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For additional news online, check out the ODNR Press Room at Ohiodnr.com
For Further Information Contact:
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860
-or-
Terry Van Offeren, ODNR Mineral Resources Management
(614) 265-1094