PRINTER'S NO. 341
No. 312 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY BLAUM, GEORGE, TIGUE, MUNDY, STABACK, MICHLOVIC,
OLASZ, JOSEPHS, YOUNGBLOOD, BELFANTI, JAMES, BELARDI, ITKIN,
HASAY, TRELLO, MELIO, DeWEESE, TULLI AND GEIST,
FEBRUARY 5, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY,
FEBRUARY 5, 1997
AN ACT
1 Prohibiting mining in areas with active mine fires.
2 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
3 hereby enacts as follows:
4 Section 1. Powers and duties of Department of Environmental
5 Protection.
6 The Department of Environmental Protection shall promulgate
7 regulations and establish a permitting process for underground
8 coal mining activities which may render an active underground
9 mine fire inactive or improve the safety and welfare of persons
10 within close proximity to the underground mine fire.
11 Section 2. Active mine fires; mining prohibited.
12 Except where permitted by section 1, no mining shall be
13 performed, nor shall the Secretary of Environmental Protection
14 approve applications for mining activities, within 1,500 feet of
15 property identified by the Department of Environmental
16 Protection as areas with active mine fires.
1 Section 3. Effective date.
2 This act shall take effect immediately.
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