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Unresolved Damage and Water Loss Claims from Underground Mining

In Pennsylvania, mine operators are responsible to repair structures and replace water supplies that are affected by their underground mining operations or to compensate property owners for these effects. Claims arise and are settled on a continuing basis. This on-line spreadsheet contains a listing of unresolved structure damage and water loss claims reported to DEP. Information is organized by mine name, mining company and municipality. Each record provides information on the affected feature, type of problem, date of complaint, anticipated date of resolution and current status. Mine summaries also list the numbers of properties undermined since August 21, 1994 (the effective date of Act 54).

This spreadsheet contains 10 columns and over 150 rows of information.  Please click here to view the Adobe PDF:

Date Complaint Received:

            1.    Structure Damage – Date landowner filed a claim with DEP.

2.    Water Loss/Contamination – Date landowner reported the water loss/contamination to DEP or the mining company.

Due Date for Resolution:

3.    The mining company has six months to resolve the damages through private negotiations with the landowner. If no resolution has been met, the landowner may file a claim with DEP. This claim must be filed within two years of the date the damage occurred. DEP will process the claim as follows:

·         Within 30 days of receipt, DEP will conduct an investigation.

·         Within 60 days, DEP will prepare a report that estimates the reasonable cost of repair.

·         Company and landowner will have 60 days to accept or reject DEP’s report. If a settlement has not been reached, DEP will issue an order.

·         Company will have 60 days to comply with order.

4.    Mining companies are to promptly provide the landowner with a permanent water supply. (Temporary water must be provided within 24 hours of the reported impact.)

This list is updated the first Monday of each month.