Eckley in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Land Use Consequences
Photographed By Craig Doda, October 19, 2019
1. Land Use Consequences Marker
Inscription.
Land Use Consequences. . , Forests
Industrial timbering cleared large swaths of stable old-growth woodland. This type of forest-clearing significantly changed the character of the land by removing key components of a stable ecosystem. These new ecosystems facilitated plant growth previously hindered by the dense canopy and created new habitat that supported the growth of deer, turkey, bear, and small mammal populations. Some of the cleared lands were later converted into state forests or game lands.
Coal
As coal was mined, companies dug deep shafts and tunnels below the surface. Mining disrupted ground water patterns by creating new subsurface channels and pools sometimes harboring acidic chemicals. As coal was mined below ground or later in surface pits, waste materials were concentrated in large mounds called culm banks or overburden piles. As industry declined, the region was left with abandoned rail corridors, canal ways, underground mines, houses, commercial buildings, disrupted ground water patterns, culm banks, and deep stripping pits.
Some abandoned rail corridors have been converted into recreational trails while abandoned canal ways, commercial buildings, and mining villages have been turned into heritage sites. Some of the large waste piles have been re-mined for the waste coal they contain which is being burned to make electricity and some of the new underground water pools are being used for geothermal heating.
Legislation
The first federal mine reclamation act was passed in 1977 as a direct response to significant landscape changes brought on by mining and required permits and bonds to ensure that projects were executed properly and money was available for clean up and reclamation once a mine was closed. . This historical marker was erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. It is in Eckley in Luzerne County Pennsylvania
Forests
Industrial timbering cleared large swaths of
stable old-growth woodland. This type of
forest-clearing significantly changed the
character of the land by removing key
components of a stable ecosystem. These
new ecosystems facilitated plant growth
previously hindered by the dense canopy and
created new habitat that supported the
growth of deer, turkey, bear, and small mammal
populations. Some of the cleared lands were
later converted into state forests or game
lands.
Coal
As coal was mined, companies dug deep shafts
and tunnels below the surface. Mining
disrupted ground water patterns by creating
new subsurface channels and pools sometimes
harboring acidic chemicals. As coal was mined
below ground or later in surface pits, waste
materials were concentrated in large mounds
called culm banks or overburden piles. As
industry declined, the region was left with
abandoned rail corridors, canal ways,
underground mines, houses, commercial
buildings, disrupted ground water patterns,
culm banks, and deep stripping pits.
Some abandoned rail corridors have been
converted into recreational
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trails while
abandoned canal ways, commercial buildings,
and mining villages have been turned into
heritage sites. Some of the large waste piles
have been re-mined for the waste coal they
contain which is being burned to make
electricity and some of the new underground
water pools are being used for geothermal
heating.
Legislation
The first federal mine reclamation act was
passed in 1977 as a direct response to
significant landscape changes brought on by
mining and required permits and bonds to
ensure that projects were executed properly
and money was available for clean up and
reclamation once a mine was closed.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1977.
Location. 40° 59.5′ N, 75° 52.033′ W. Marker is in Eckley, Pennsylvania, in Luzerne County. Marker is on Main Street, on the right when traveling west. On the grounds of the Eckley Miners' Village & Museum (Ghost Town). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Weatherly PA 18255, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 30, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 28, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 150 times since then and 96 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 28, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
