ATTENTION RESIDENTS OF SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA:

Does this look familiar?  According to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, any operation involving mineral mining and/or processing practices is prohibited from dragging any material from any permitted site.  Everywhere, that is, except in Schuylkill County.  Heavy coal dirt drag out is rampant and widespread here and has created a major public nuisance. This petition is calling for a full investigation by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the US Office of Surface Mining, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Attorney General Michelle Henry and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation into local mining operations that are responsible for this pollution.

Many citizens have called the Pennsylvania DEP District Mining Office in Pottsville, as well as local representatives, only to be told that there were no violations and that they seem to be the only ones complaining.  One complainant was told that “we need a good rain to clean the roads” and that “PennDOT is part of the problem because they put ice melt on the road”.  Another complainant was told that there were street sweepers cleaning the dirt from the highway and that was taking care of the problem.  These street sweepers are only rearranging the dirt, resulting in huge dust clouds and slick road surfaces.  The dirt has become so thick and compacted, it has covered over painted road lines.  The dirt is piled so high along the berms in some areas, it is almost level with the lower guardrail.  The greasy mud-dust clings to houses and cars, making routine care both impossible to maintain and expensive.  You know this.  You see it every day.  This problem is exacerbated by the large number of trucks dragging dirt onto the highways from these mining permitted sites.  

This is negatively impacting our air and water, creating a potentially disastrous public health hazard.  You are breathing it.  Your parents are breathing it.  Your children are breathing it.  Your pets are breathing it.  Every day.  The run off from this road pollution is entering our local waterways, perpetuating the never-ending cycle of pollution and environmental assaults that have become the standard in Schuylkill County.  This is unacceptable.

There is one, simple solution to this problem.  The mining operations involved could install wheel wash stations.  They already have access to free mine pool water, on site equipment and talented humans who could build wheel wash stations for a negligible cost.  These wheel wash stations exist at all mineral mining operations across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Everywhere but Schuylkill County.

If you are fed up with this blatant disregard for our communities, and the damage being inflicted upon your personal properties, our roads, our air, our water and our health, not to mention your overall safety, please sign this petition and let your discontent be known.  You are not alone. 

WE NEED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM NOW.