HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Clearfield County, said that a Lanse coal operator will restore at no cost to the Commonwealth a Decatur Township property damaged by mining and abandoned 60 years ago.
The reclamation project by the Larry Baumgardner Coal Co. will involve about 3.7 acres of mine land, 7 acres of underground mine and 1,200 feet of highwall at what is known as the Ayers Operation, situated about one mile northwest of Pleasant Hill off of Old State Route 322.
The coal firm will recover roughly 42,000 tons of coal in return for the reclamation work, which is valued at $140,920. At least 7,000 tons of lime will be applied to the site, which will be graded close to original contours.
The land was mined and later abandoned by the Elliot Coal Mining Co. in the late 1950s.
The Moshannon District Office of the state Department of Environmental Protection, which awarded the contract, said blasting is permitted as part of the reclamation but reprocessing of coal refuse at the site is prohibited.