Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection
_ May 1962.
· Fire Commences.
_ 1962 1978.
· State and Federal governments expend $3.3 million
($10.8 million in 1994 $) to control fire with limited results.
_ 1979 1982.
· The United States Office of Surface Mining (OSM) acquires 34 impacted properties and contracts for a study to determine its potential to spread.
· DER (i.e. DEP) initiates air quality monitoring program.
_ 1983.
· OSM study estimates that $663 million is required to extinguish fire.
· A vital transportation link, Route 61, suffers severe subsidence damage from fire. DER stabilizes roadway at a cost of approximately
$0.5 million.
_ 1984.
· U.S. Congress appropriates $42 million for voluntary acquisition and relocation of impacted businesses and residences due to dangers caused by fire (i.e. subsidence & noxious gases).
· Grant administration ceded to the state.
· Previously acquired properties transferred to Commonwealth.
_ 1985 1991.
· 545 residences and businesses acquired and residents moved.
_ January 1992.
· The Centralia Task Force, with authorization from OSM, utilizes
condemnation procedures to acquire properties and relocate remaining residents.
This action is taken due to threat from noxious gases and subsidence.
_ 1992 1993.
· Condemnation procedures initiated against remaining 53 properties.
· Property owners file preliminary legal objections to this action.
· Borough, as owner of minerals located under the municipality, brings suit against "de facto" taking of coal by condemnation.
· Route 61 closed indefinitely due to fire damage.
_ 1993Present.
· Fire continues to spread.
· Total expenditure of funds is approximately $40 million ($53 million in 1995 $).
· County court denies property owners' objections (February 1994) and decides against Borough (November 1993).
· State Supreme Court also rules against property owners (September 1995) and Borough (December 1995).
· Federal grant's expiration date is currently set at December 31, 1997.
This coincides with Commonwealth agreements' termination dates.
IMPACT
Costs
Department of Community Affairs
Department of Environmental Protection
_ United States House of Representatives. (11th District)
· Paul E. Kanjorski.
_ Senate of Pennsylvania. (27th District)
· Edward W. Helfrick.
_ Pennsylvania House of Representatives. (107th District)
· Robert E. Belfanti, Jr.
_ Interested Parties.
· United States Congressman Tim Holden. (6th District)
· State Senator James J. Rhoades. (29th District)
· State Representative Edward J. Lucyk. (123rd District)