In March 2000, DEP commissioned a study with D'Appolonia of Monroeville to study the effects of subsidence from longwall mining using remote sensing techniques.  The study was completed in March 2001.

The study involved nine large forested tracts in Washington and Greene counties.  Using remote sensing techniques with supplemental field observations, the study found no patterns of forest canopy stress in the imagery that could be attributed to longwall mine subsidence.

The contents of the report are found below.  The Executive Summary provides a synopsis of the study, including the background, site selection, analysis and findings.  The report is posted in Adobe PDF format.  (Click here to install.)

Please note that the web-based version of this report is not in its complete form.  Due to the size and detail associated with the imagery, these figures are not available through the Internet.  These figures are an important part of the study, which contribute to the findings and professional opinions presented, and are referred to throughout the text.  For printed copies of the 250-page report, contact DEP at the address at the bottom of this page.

Executive Summary

Table of Contents

For printed copies of the report, write to Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, P.O. Box 8461, Harrisburg, PA  17105-8461, or call 717-783-8845.