Mine Safety Inspectors Focusing on Problems Noted During
Investigation into Fatal Accident at Buck Mountain Slope Mine

HARRISBURG -- Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty
today announced that DEP's Bureau of Mine Safety has begun conducting
enhanced inspections of all 14 underground anthracite coal mines in
Pennsylvania to help mine operators identify and correct safety
problems discovered during the investigation that followed the Oct.
23, 2006, fatal accident at the R&D Coal Company's Buck Mountain
Slope Mine in Tremont Township, Schuylkill County.
A methane explosion at the mine fatally injured miner Dale Reightler,
43, of Donaldson, Frailey Township, and was the only underground mine
fatality in Pennsylvania in 2006.

"During the investigation, our mine inspectors found several
violations of Pennsylvania' s anthracite underground mine safety law,
and I have directed the Bureau of Mine Safety to ensure that similar
violations are not occurring at other mines," Secretary McGinty said.

"Pennsylvania coal is an important piece of our energy future, but
the safety of the miners must come first. We are going to review
safety plans and pre-shift examination procedures with miners, mine
officials and laborers at each mine to make sure that established
underground mine safety procedures are being followed."

DEP's underground mine safety inspectors will accompany mine foremen
and other mine officials on pre-shift examinations at each mine to
ensure that safety checks are being conducted properly. Inspectors
will pay particular attention to methane-detection and ventilation
procedures, and the proper storage and use of explosives.

Governor Rendell ordered a similar enhanced inspection program at all
underground mines in the state in February 2006 following a series of
tragic mine accidents in West Virginia. Although no significant
violations were discovered at that time, mine inspectors did work
with operators to correct several ventilation- related concerns.

Following the October fatal accident at the Buck Mountain Slope Mine,
DEP temporarily suspended the certifications on Dec. 5, 2006, of the
three mine officials who were on duty at the time of the accident,
meaning that they can not serve in an official capacity in any mine
in Pennsylvania.

On Jan. 26, the Bureau of Mine Safety released its final reports on
investigations into the October accident and a previous explosion in
the mine in 2004. Based on information uncovered during those
investigations, the department revoked the mining permit for the Buck
Mountain Slope Mine and ordered the company to seal the mine and
begin immediate reclamation of the site.

DEP's Bureau of Mine Safety regulates mining activities at 60
underground coal mines in Pennsylvania. Underground coal mines in
Pennsylvania produced more than 55 million tons of coal in 2005.

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The article said that there are 14 active anthracite mines operating. I was wondering about the names of these mines, where in the fields they are located ( upper, middle or lower)and the approximate number of employees they have. Are these fairly large operations or family operated and what type of market do they serve. Chris, would you or some of the other UGM know?

Thanks

Most of these operations are small family owned and run operations. All of them are in the middle and southern fields and a lot of them are on leases from Reading Anthracite. As far as i know, Reading pays them about $45 per ton right out of the mine. The biggest anthracite mine is the Harmony mine in Mt Carmel. They use continuous miners (like a Bituminous mine) and employ about 40 guys - but from what I hear they're going to have to start laying off workers. They're running out of the flat-pitch coal which they can mine the the continuous miners.

I don't know when this was last updated . . probably not in a while . . but heres a list from DEP of some of the active Anthracite mines:

(go to the bottem - Northumberland and Schuylkill Countys)

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate ... able03.htm

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Also - check the preview out for "HardCoal." There's come cool info.

http://www.anthracitemovie.com/


Banks

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This ain't longwall... this is long hole!

yep, banks pretty much summed it up.

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