State investigating blowout in suspected former mine
CONNOQUENESSING TWP — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will investigate a possible mine blowout along Semiconon Run.
“The department received a complaint this morning that a significant amount of water was flowing from multiple locations that are close in proximity in an area near Boy Scout Road and Semiconon Lane in Butler County,” said Melanie Williams, the community relations coordinator for the department's Northwest Regional office.
Rex Coen, a resident who lives on Semiconon Lane, witnessed the results of what he thinks was a blowout around noon Sunday.
“I think that mine has been there forever,” Coen said. “It looked like it might have been leaking for some time.”
DEP officials didn't provide specific information about any mines in that area.
He then videotaped the water, which had a muddy brown appearance, as it flowed from crevices in the rock face downhill into Semiconon Run.
“(It was) just pouring out of the hillside,” Coen said.
Coen said he called state police Sunday night because he initially wasn't sure who to call. He called the Environmental Protection Agency on Monday morning, which forwarded the issue to the state department.
With Semiconon Run flowing into Connoquenessing Creek downstream, Coen said his main concern was to alert people who live downstream, especially those who may use the creek for drinking water, like Harmony.
“I don't know if there's anything anyone could do about it,” Coen said.
