With condolences to the family of Elizabeth Pollard, there are many ways to raise awareness of the history of Pennsylvania mining — and the subsidence risk across the state. Ground instabilities are common, and the peppering of fracking and oil and gas wells adds to the state of risk. Wide area awareness and monitoring of lands are possible using satellite InSAR, readily and affordably available from many providers, and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. The National Mine Map Repository located in Green Tree can also provide maps across Pennsylvania.
If you want to know, you can.
John S. Metzger
Noblesville, Ind.
The writer is a manager and earth monitoring counselor with AssetAssurance Monitoring.