Dana Plans to Open New Mine, Focus on Titus Reserves
Washington
PA Observer Reporter
7 June 2011
By Bob Niedbala, Staff writer
niedbala@observer-reporter.com
Dana Mining Co. of Pennsylvania LLC is planning to open a new coal mine
in Dunkard and Greene townships to mine the reserves of its former
Titus Mine.
The company, which also operates the 4 West Mine in Dunkard Township,
has applied for a permit from the state Department of Environmental
Protection for a new mine that will be called the Garards Fort Mine.
The company closed the Titus Mine in fall 2009. It decided to open a
new mine to mine the remaining reserves of the Titus Mine rather than
mining through abandoned workings, said James Laurita, company chief
executive officer.
Opening a new portal, rather than mining through the abandoned
workings, will be safer for the miners, Laurita said.
He noted the Titus Mine, which Dana purchased from the Eberhart Mining
Co. in 2003, had been a "1950s vintage" mine.
The new mine will mine Sewickley seam coal and have a portal on a
35.9-acre site in an area east of Creek Road and Whiteley Creek.
The underground permit area includes 1,383.5 acres north of Bobtown,
west of the Monongahela Township line and east of Roberts Run.
The company hopes to have a permit for the mine late this year, Laurita
said. It will start construction immediately thereafter and hopes to be
ready to begin mining coal next June, he said.
The mine will employ about 60 people and mine using continuous miners
and the room and pillar method of mining.
Coal will be transferred by truck to the company's river operations or
to the belt line at 4 West to feed the Longview Power plant.
The mine will have a life of about 15 years, Laurita said.