Quecreek Mine Report Calls For Mine Mapping Reforms Posted: August 30, 2003
07/29/03: On July 25, the Pennsylvania Department for Environmental Protection released the final accident investigation report on the near-catastrophe and successful rescue at the Quecreek Mine, where inaccurate mine maps resulted in a breakthrough into abandoned workings, inundating the active mine area and placing 9 miners at extreme risk for over 78 hours. As has been the case with many of the Kentucky underground mine breakthroughs described in KRC's July 4, 2003 letter to Secretaries Norton and Chao calling for reforms in mapping and identifying abandoned underground mine workings, the Quecreek No. 1 Mine was not required to drill in advance of the active mine workings at the time of the inadvertent breakthrough because, based on faulty maps, the old works were assumed to be a safe distance away. To read the full Quecreek Mine report and 26 recommendations for reform, go to www.state.pa.us and enter keyword "DEP Quecreek." To read the text of KRC's July 4 letter to Secretaries Norton and Chao.
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