A Brief History of
   
The Centralia Mine Fire

(Borough of Centralia, Columbia County)

February 1996
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection

Centralia Mine Fire Chronology

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.

Comparison of Impact & Costs (February 1996)

IMPACT

• 1962
  • Population of 1,100.
  • 545 Families and Businesses
• 1996
  • Population of 46
  • 20 Families

Costs

• Total
  • $30,802,640 (Relocation)
  • $4,702,758 (Administration)
• Per Capita
  • $28,002 (Relocation)
  • $4,275 (Administration)
• Per Household/Business
  • $51,529(Relocation)
  • $8,629(Administration)

Current Commonwealth Services (February 1996)

Department of Community Affairs

• Public Works Administration.
• Demolition of Vacant Structures.
• Population Relocation

Department of Environmental Protection

• Environmental Impact (i.e. Quarterly On-Site Monitoring of Fire)

Legislative Representation & Interested Parties

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)