Local News
DEP Secretary Reminds Pennsylvanians to Stay Out of Mines, Quarries
By
May 15, 2008, 09:17 PST

SMITH TOWNSHIP, WASHINGTON COUNTY – The idle equipment, steep cliffs, serene pools of water, and mysterious shaft openings of active and abandoned mines can be alluring for adventure seekers, but many times are deadly, according to Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty.

The secretary visited an abandoned strip mine in Joffre today that is less than 10 feet from the Pan Handle Trail—a popular recreation spot in the community—to warn residents to stay out of mines, quarries and abandoned mine lands because of the many dangers these sites can hold.

“There are thousands of abandoned sites just like this across Pennsylvania with steep cliffs, hidden underground mine openings and dangerous water bodies,” said McGinty. “Mines are not safe places for swimming, exploring or off-road riding. When you venture into these sites, you put your life and the lives of emergency personnel who conduct the search and rescue operations at risk.”

McGinty’s remarks kicked off the 2008 “Stay Out - Stay Alive” campaign to warn people about the dangers of trespassing in mines and quarries.

Since 2000, 31 people have died trespassing in mines and quarries in 19 Pennsylvania counties. The U.S. Mine Safety and Heath Administration (MSHA) reports that 249 people have died nationally during that same period.

To combat this problem, DEP has partnered with MSHA, other mining states and the mining industry to promote the Stay Out - Stay Alive program.

“Pennsylvania has been blessed with great mineral resources, and mining has been a cornerstone of our economy for more than 200 years, but the unregulated mining practices of the past have left us with one-quarter million acres of dangerous and deadly mine lands,” said McGinty. “Every year we hear of more tragic accidents: swimmers drowning in abandoned water-filled pits where water temperatures drop dramatically just below the surface; people entering abandoned mines or dilapidated structures and getting lost or trapped; and all-terrain vehicle riders breaking through brush on the crest of an old mine site and rolling down a hillside.

“Be safe this summer. Mines and quarries are not playgrounds; they can kill you. Stay out and stay alive.”

DEP recently began airing 30-second radio and television messages across the state as part the campaign to underscore the dangers of abandoned mine sites and quarries. The department conducts educational programs for community groups and distributes Stay Out - Stay Alive information to those receiving hunting and fishing licenses through the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources also distributes Stay Out – Stay Alive information with all off-road vehicle and snowmobile registrations and to users of state parks and forests. Additionally, DEP works with state and local police and emergency responders to identify and limit access to dangerous sites. Pennsylvania has the largest abandoned mine lands problem in the country. Approximately 1 million Pennsylvanians live within one mile of a dangerous abandoned mine, while active mining operations are found in all but one of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Since 2003, Governor Edward G. Rendell has committed more than $145 million to 240 abandoned mine reclamation projects across Pennsylvania, turning more than 6,100 acres of dangerous wasteland into opportunities for economic growth and improved quality of life.

The $625 million Growing Greener II initiative allocates $60 million to clean up rivers and streams affected by abandoned acid mine drainage and reclaim dangerous sites.
Governor Rendell was instrumental in persuading Congress to reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Lands Fund for another 15 years. The federal program, which is funded by a tax on modern mining activities, will direct $27.6 million to Pennsylvania during 2008 to reclaim abandoned coal mines