Mine subsidence continues to damage properties in Washington Township

By JEFF STITT
jstitt@yourmvi.com

Washington Township supervisors are once again urging residents to buy mine subsidence insurance.
Supervisors Jan Amoroso, Scott Hileman and Chuck Yusko said three township homes were impacted earlier this week by mine subsidence — an issue that has been plaguing the township for a number of years.
“I don’t know if anybody knows it, but there was another mine subsidence,” Yusko said.
After the meeting, he and Amoroso said two homes on Koslasky Street and one home on Perry Avenue were impacted.
“The one on Perry isn’t as bad as the two on Koslasky,” Yusko said.
Amoroso said those who live in the home on Perry Avenue haven’t had to leave their home as a result of the subsidence. Yusko said those who live at one of the houses on Koslasky Street weren’t forced to leave their home, but the supervisors didn’t give a clear answer as to the residents at the second home on that road.
Amoroso said she was under the impression no one was living in one of the Koslasky Street homes.
“They’re bad enough,” she said of the damage at the three properties.
Amoroso believes each of the property owners had mine subsidence insurance, and she encourages everyone to buy into the coverage.
“Mine subsidence insurance is very cheap,” Amoroso said during the meeting.
“I was talking to the guy from the (state Department of Environmental Protection) and he said ‘If you don’t have it, make sure you get it now,” Yusko added.
Pennsylvania has a long history of coal and clay mining. As a result of this underground mining, millions of structures in Pennsylvania are located over old, abandoned underground coal and clay mines, according to DEP.

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