Area Unsuitable for Coal Mining; Shade Township, Somerset County [27 Pa.B. 2089] The Environmental Quality Board (Board) approved the Department of Environmental Protection's (Department) final recommendation not to designate the Shade Township petition area as unsuitable for surface coal mining activities. This recommendation was based on a technical study and evaluation of public comments.
A petition submitted by the Shade Township Supervisors requested that approximately 565 acres of land located northeast of the Village of Reels Corners in Somerset County receive the designation. The petition asserted that further surface mining operations conducted on any coals within the petition area could result in the diminution, loss or degradation of surface and groundwater resources, including aquifer recharge areas used for water supply. A primary concern identified by the petitioners is the potential loss of private water supplies through surface effects of underground mining in the petition area.
The Department's review concluded that while there is a potential that underground mining operations within the petition area could result in diminution, loss or degradation of some water supply wells, there are strata which contain aquifer zones that are suitable as replacement water supplies. Therefore, alternate water supply sources could be developed in the event private water supplies would be affected by surface mining operations.
Notice of the Department's proposed recommendation not to designate the area was published at 26 Pa.B. 5913 (December 7, 1996) with a 30-day public comment period. Copies of the final recommendation, which includes the technical study and comment and response documents addressing comments received on the petition and those addressing the proposed recommendation, are available from Mick McCommons, Bureau of Mining and Reclamation, 2nd Floor, Executive House, P. O. Box 8641, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8461, (717) 787-4761, or through E-mail to McCommons.Milton@a1.dep.state.pa.us.
JAMES M. SEIF,
Chairperson[Pa.B. Doc. No. 97-653. Filed for public inspection April 25, 1997, 9:00 a.m.]
