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 Post subject: DEP halts LC&N mining
PostPosted: Wed May 26, 2010 2:50 am 
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Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 7:12 pm
Posts: 85
Location: Harrisburg, PA (or in the coal fields)
DEP halts LC&N mining
by Peter E. Bortner
Published: May 25, 2010

Schuylkill County's oldest anthracite company is at least temporarily out of business, as state officials on Monday suspended its mining permit for what they termed an unwillingness to operate legally.

Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co., Pottsville, must bring its entire 8,000-acre mining business into compliance with its permit before it can resume operations, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger ruled.

"Basically, the operation is shut down," and 40 people's jobs are affected, DEP spokesman Tom Rathbun said Monday.

LC&N cannot even sell coal it already has mined, Rathbun said.

DEP's action halts mining in Coaldale and Tamaqua in eastern Schuylkill County and Nesquehoning and Summit Hill in western Carbon County on lands that have been mined for approximately 200 years.

It also throws into question the future of a company that already is in bankruptcy.

DEP said it shut down LC&N because the company has engaged in illegal mining practices, violated water quality standards and failed to reclaim mined lands, thereby endangering the public.

"Our goal ... is to have somebody operate the sale profitably while bringing it into compliance," Rathbun said. "The current ownership has shown an inability to do that."

DEP said it cited LC&N twice this year for trying to develop unpermitted and unbonded mine pits.

DEP said much of LC&N's site does not have a sufficient reclamation bond that would ensure the land could be rehabilitated if the company cannot or will not do it. Mining on much of the property started long before such bonds were required, DEP said.

Additionally, discharge from abandoned underground sections of the mine workings affect water quality in the Little Schuylkill River, according to DEP.

"The current LC&N management has shown a persistent unwillingness and inability to mine in accordance with state and federal law or address the reclamation and water treatment needs of this mine site," Hanger said. "The department does not take this type of action lightly, but we cannot allow LC&N to continue to ignore the law and leave the bill for cleanup of this site to the taxpayers."

Since 2008, DEP said has issued 24 compliance orders against LC&N, resulting in civil penalties of more than $91,000 and five three-day permit suspensions.

LC&N officials were unavailable Monday for comment on the matter.

Creditors filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition against LC&N on July 15, 2008. That case, over which U.S. Chief Bankruptcy Judge John J. Thomas, Wilkes-Barre, is presiding, still is open.


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed May 26, 2010 6:19 pm 
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Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:15 pm
Posts: 381
Location: State College, PA
so do you think since they are shut down now would be a good time to try to get them to let be poke around some of their land?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed May 26, 2010 8:45 pm 
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Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 2:34 pm
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Location: Within 60 Miles of the Northern Anthracite Field
that sounds like a great idea, give them a call and let me know how that goes for you.........

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu May 27, 2010 1:50 pm 
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Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:15 pm
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Location: State College, PA
which number should I use? Their website has a few...


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu May 27, 2010 4:33 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 8:00 pm
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Location: From Schuylkill County, PA living in Phoenix, AZ
Try their main phone number.....(570) 628-5020

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Thu May 27, 2010 4:44 pm 
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Joined: Tue Sep 16, 2008 6:51 pm
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Location: SW Indiana
Chris wrote:
that sounds like a great idea, give them a call and let me know how that goes for you.........


Maybe I reading this wrong, But i think you're being cruel. :twisted: :twisted:

I'd vote with there is not chance in ....... that a shut down will effect anything.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2010 6:54 am 
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Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:04 pm
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Location: WILKES-BARRE PA
yeah there tough to get a hold of down there, i know even with work we have to call them for a few days before we get a reply, your probably better off just "going and explaining later" tactic

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2010 1:17 pm 
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Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:15 pm
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Location: State College, PA
how heavily is the area around the no. 8 tunnel and that general area posted?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat May 29, 2010 4:34 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:57 pm
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Location: NEPA
Anyplace where there is high activity like down by the no.8, greenwood, and all maintaince buildings are all on film 24/7 with cameras. I know, I worked there.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sat May 29, 2010 9:06 pm 
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Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:15 pm
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Location: State College, PA
if youve worked there are there any areas with neat stuff that they dont use?


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun May 30, 2010 6:32 am 
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Location: NEPA
I do know they are scrapping stuff like crazy down there. They just scrapped a 191-M Shovel.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun May 30, 2010 7:06 am 
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Location: SW Indiana
It's called getting cash fast.

I'm guessing that a lot of things could be bought right now. Especially anything old and less productive.

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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Sun May 30, 2010 9:24 pm 
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Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2010 7:57 pm
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Location: NEPA
Mike A wrote:
I do know they are scrapping stuff like crazy down there. They just scrapped a 191-M Shovel.

That was the Bucyrus 195B they scrapped. That machine was brand new when it was parked, not even a year old. Oh boy lets see....they cut up the two Euclid R45's, a Unit Rig M120, both blast drills, all the Euclid R100's, the H185, Lima 2400, and lots of trucks parts.

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