There is only one coal mine operating in Athens county. Nevertheless, the coal mining industry has been a major part of the region's past for most of it's industrialized history.
We're home to the Millfield Mine Disaster, the worst mine disaster in Ohio history which attracted international attention at the time. On November 5, 1930, an explosion killed 82 people, including the owners who were somewhat ironically inspecting the new safety equipment. Only nineteen people survived long enough to be found in the shaft nine hours after the explosion by a rescue team, the last of which just died last year.
More recently though, the after effects these long-closed operations have had on the regional environment are becoming known. Many coal mines involved underground mining that would go far below the water table. When the mines were operational, this meant constantly pumping water out of the mines to keep them from flooding. This notably terrifying necessity came to an end with the shutting of the mines when the coal ran dry and the shafts flooded. This flooding can slowly contaminate entire watersheds and ruin them. Acid mine drainage has become more known to those who inhabit Appalachia in recent years.
"Mitch Farley of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources discusses the efforts to clean up acid mine drainage along Pierce Run in the Raccoon Creek Watershed." (The Raccoon Creek watershed runs through the west end of Athens County.)
Appalachia is still full of active mining operations and a coal belt stretches along the southeast part of our state. Below is a map I made of all the active coal producers in our state, their addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers and the names of their presidents so you know who to ask for. Most of the information I used to compile the map came from the Ohio Department of Natural Resource's 2008 Mining Activities report available here. Check in as I continue to add individual mines and production information to the map.
In actuality, you might be better to contact your local officials and pray they listen. The most important (and simple) thing you can do though is spread the word.
View Ohio Coal Mines and Operation Headquarters in a larger map
2 comments:
This was a really interesting post Niklos. I had no idea Athens County was home to the worst mine disaster in Ohio history! The map was also helpful because I found that I live pretty close to two coal mining operations.
--Tricia
Niklos,
I completely agree with Tricia, great post. I'm somewhat of an environmentalist myself, and hope that some problems such as this in our country can be eradicated in the near future. Please keep posting material like this! Great read.
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