MAHONING VALLEY State to restore land at 4 abandoned mines

YOUNGSTOWN -- Ohio Department of Natural Resources plans to spend $158,000 this year on reclamation projects at three abandoned mines in Columbiana County and an abandoned mine in Trumbull County.
The projects include a plan to re-direct the water draining from an abandoned strip mine in eastern Elkrun Township in Columbiana County. The water has flooded the basement of a home near the mine.
ODNR plans to spend $60,000 for that job.
The department also plans to spend $40,000 to fill abandoned coal mine shafts in northern Hubbard and Liberty townships in Trumbull County; $30,000 to restore the land around an abandoned coal mine in the northwest corner of Wayne Township in Columbiana County; and $28,000 to seal nine entries to an abandoned coal mine in Salineville in Columbiana County.
Two of the entries will be sealed with gates that will allow bats to enter the mines. The rest of the entries will be sealed with concrete.
Annual effort: The projects are part of ODNR's annual effort to restore land near abandoned mines in order to improve the environment and public safety. ODNR is expected to spend nearly $10 million throughout Ohio as part of the effort this year.
Terry Van Offeren, the manager of ODNR's abandoned mine land program, said most of the reclamation projects will be federally funded. The Wayne Township project will be paid for using money from the company that originally operated the mine.
There are 302 abandoned mines in Columbiana, Trumbull and Mahoning counties, according to the ODNR.
Work on the projects is expected to begin this fall.