abandoned mines Archives

Senator Bob Casey throwing a bucket of trout into a lake

More federal funding coming to the state to combat the impact of coal mining

Kat Bolus·April 14, 2023

Senator Bob Casey was at a Lackawanna County park to help with trout stocking and celebrate the passage of the STREAM Act, which allows federal money to be allocated to clean up water polluted by mine drainage.

Energy Water

A dumptruck at a large pile of waste coal

How one Pennsylvania company is using waste coal to mine Bitcoin

Boen Wang·November 7, 2022

Pennsylvania has mountains of waste coal left over from the coal industry. One company is mining Bitcoin with power plants that burn waste coal. But what's the climate impact?

Climate Change Energy Pollution

An enormous coal refuse pile hovers over the town of Fredericktown in southwestern Pennsylvania. Decades ago, companies just left piles like these behind when a mine stopped making money. Because of this, Pennsylvania has been left with hundreds of these sites—the most of any state in the country. Photo: Reid Frazier

Pennsylvania to receive $26.6 million to clean and redevelop abandoned mine lands

Jillian Forstadt·November 4, 2022

The goal of the federal program is for the reclamation of abandoned mine lands in conjunction with economic and community development and reuse goals.

Energy Pollution

The peak of a 150-foot tall coal waste pile

Coal powered the industrial revolution. It left behind an ‘absolutely massive’ environmental catastrophe

James Bruggers·June 24, 2022

Scenes from the end of coal: A blasted mountaintop in Kentucky, an underground inferno in Pennsylvania, slowly dying maples in New Hampshire and a toxic pile of waste in Florida.

Conservation Energy Water Your Environment Update

PA expects boost to mine land and water cleanups with coming infrastructure money

Julie Grant·January 25, 2022

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was in Pa. to discuss funds from the new infrastructure law to reclaim abandoned mine sites. Pennsylvania expects to receive $3.8 billion over 15 years.

Conservation Economy Energy Pollution Water Wild Pennsylvania

How waste coal is fueling Bitcoin in Pennsylvania

Kara Holsopple·January 21, 2022

Mining the cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, takes a tremendous amount of energy. In Pennsylvania, that energy is coming from waste coal.

Energy Pollution Technology Your Environment Update

orangish water runs over a small concrete Shute

Pa. expects billions from the infrastructure law for coal mine cleanups. Will it help polluted waterways?

Julie Grant·January 7, 2022

Abandoned mines pollute thousands of miles of waterways in Pa. Advocates want to make sure funds from the new infrastructure law help pay for the cleanup.

Conservation Energy Water

A new documentary chronicles the rebirth of a Western Pennsylvania river

Susan Phillips·October 15, 2021

The Little Conemaugh River was devoid of life from pollution from abandoned mines. A new film looks at a decade-long effort to bring it back to life.

Pollution Video Water Wild Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Could Face New Wave of Abandoned Coal Mines

Susan Scott Peterson·July 12, 2021

As coal companies go bankrupt, state governments may have to pick up the tab of cleaning up coal mines. That could cost billions of dollars.

Energy Pollution

Plan to ‘Reimagine Appalachia’ Touts Jobs, Justice and Sustainability for the Ohio Valley

Brittany Patterson·July 29, 2020

A coalition wants a new vision built on natural resources and well-paying jobs, while addressing climate change and racial injustice.

Climate Change Culture Economy Recreation

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Trump on Earth

EPA terminates $15M climate justice grant to Pittsburgh and Philly non-profits

Map shows what’s possible with federal clean energy investment in Pa.

Trump’s 2-year reprieve gives coal plants ‘a free pass to pollute’

abandoned mines