coalminesinpa

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__The History of Coal Mines__

"Fueled by the Industrial Revolution, coal mining began in Pennsylvania in the mid-1700s. The initial reason was to support the Colonial Iron industry and then Andrew Carnegie's steel mills in the 1800s and then the electric power plants which are currently used. In 1995, Pennsylvania was the fourth largest coal producing state in the United States. Pennsylvania produces two kinds of coal, anthracite (hard coal) and bitumous (soft coal)." ([])

"The Molly Maguires were a secret Irish-American organization that consisted mainly of Coal Miners. Many historians believe the "Mollies" were present in the United States between the time of the American Civil War until a series of sensational arrests and trials from 1876-78." ([])

According to Wikipedia, coal remains an important energy source, due to its low cost and abundance when compared to other fuels, particularly for electricity generation.

"Early mining companies did not have the technology or knowledge to realize the long term effects of mining, therefore, the hundred of years of coal mining in Pennsylvania have left the descendents of coal miners over 2,400 miles of streams polluted by abandoned coal mine drainage from old coal mines." ([])



Above is an example of a polluted stream due to abandoned coal mines. It is very acidic.



Here are coal miners that are loading a coal car. __Defining the problem:__ The issues that I will be dealing with is subsidence in Centralia. Subsidence can cause property damage and releases of poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide. __Environmental Impacts of the Issue:__

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Mine Reclamation has been in effect since the 1960s. Pennsylvania was the first state to enact reclamation for surface mining. According to the __Geology of Pennsylvania__, "Although Pennsylvania was one of the first states to initiate, promulgate, and enforce environmenmental regulations related to mining, there remains a legacy of abandoned mines, waste fills, and degraded groundwater and surface water." The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act was passed in 1977. According to the textbook, "The 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act mandates restoration efforts, requiring companies to post bonds to cover reclamation before mining is approved." It basically is referring to mines that were abandoned before the act was passed. According to the video the following there are a few hazards with abandoned mines. Shaft openings can be hazardous because someone could fall in the shaft. Abandoned mines also affect our streams and wildlife. Underground fires can result from abandoned coal mines. media type="youtube" key="tlNNxTIEMzk?version=3" height="313" width="533" align="center"

Here is a video on centralia. media type="youtube" key="fkHfnp2czZQ?version=3" height="331" width="632"

According to this video, fire has been burning in Centralia, Pa (which is in Columbia County) for approxiamately forty years. All attempts to put out the fire have failed. Centralia is practically a ghost town because residents had to relocate. Anthracite coal burns longer than other coal and is difficult to extinguish. The fires started because citizens of Centralia burned trash. A geologist tested the ground and it was 447 degrees celsius. Some of the ground collapsed and this is called subsidence. This is what subsidence looks like:



__Public Health Impact of the Issue:__ As you can see in the above picture, it can cause roadways to collapse. Subsidence can also cause homes to collapse. If you live in a coal mining area, you can purchase subsidence insurance for your home. In Centralia, the first concern was the safety of the people. While the people stayed in Centralia, there had to be fire protection implemented by the government. The government put smoke detectors in people's houses and they detected carbon monoxide. These smoke detectors would send alarms to the county. Here is an example of what a home can look like due to subsidence:



__Public policy options options related to the issue:__

After the government put fire alarms in people's houses, they went to Congress. According to the DEP website, in 1984 "Congress appropriated $42 million for voluntary acquisition and relocation of impacted buisnesses and residences due to dangers caused by a fire (i.e. subsidence and noxious gases)." According to a study conducted by the Office of Surface Mining in 1983, it would cost $663 million to put out the fires. From 1985 to 1991, 545 residences and businesses acquired and residents moved. The pros of government involvement are to minimize property damage and prevent future subsidence. The major con is the amount the government has spent and the problem is still not solved.

__Works Cited:__ Brennan, Scott and Withgott, Jay H. __Essential Environment__, Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 2009. Friedrich, Andrew, a retired DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) Shultz, Charles H. (edited by) The Geology of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 1999. [] [] []