Lake Restoration Still Long Way Off
Washington PA Observer-Reporter
22 February 2010
It was just a matter of time before the official word came out that
longwall mining at Consol Energy Inc.'s Bailey Mine was responsible for
ground movement that damaged the dam at Duke Lake at Ryerson Station
State Park.
The state Department of Environmental Protection and state Department
of Conservation and Natural Resources ordered that the 62-acre lake be
drained July 29,
2005, after inspections by the two agencies revealed expanding cracks
in the 45-year-old concrete
dam. A month later, DCNR removed part of the spillway to prevent water
from backing up in
the lake bed during heavy rains.
DCNR hired a consulting firm to determine the cause of the problem and
came up with a plan to restore the dam and the lake, which was the
centerpiece of the park
and a favorite spot for local fishermen.
The consultant conducted extensive monitoring that indicated the dam
was moving and began investigating several possible causes for the
movement, including
mining by Consol's Bailey Mine.
DEP got into the act following a decision by Allegheny County Court in
a lawsuit filed by DCNR against Consol seeking $58 million in damages
for the dam.
DEP's recent findings were based on concrete information from Consol,
the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DEP files and
months of site
observations.
It comes as no surprise that Consol disputes DEP's determination and
intends to appeal the decision to the state Environmental Hearing
Board.
What is surprising is that a DEP spokesman said the agency will now
begin working with DCNR and Consol on a way to remedy the situation,
"whatever that may
be."
Equally surprising is a statement that DCNR hopes to design a new dam
in the spring and that construction on a new dam would begin sometime
in 2010.
We don't think Consol will go quietly, especially with the company's
ability to appeal DEP's decision to the Environmental Hearing Board.
And as long as Consol holds to its position that "we don't believe (the
damage was) mine related," then don't expect to see bulldozers at
Ryerson Station State
Park anytime soon.