Eastern US coal producer Consol Energy has halted production at its Blacksville No. 2 underground mine on the border between Pennsylvania and West Virginia border until it determines the source of smoke detected near a shaft on the Pennsylvania side of the mine.
Consol said Wednesday that it canceled the Tuesday midnight and Wednesday day shifts so a remediation plan can proceed.
"It is unknown at this time when mine operations will resume," Consol said on its page on the social media site Facebook. "No personnel will re-enter the mine until it is determined that it is safe to do so."
Consol said company officials on Tuesday afternoon detected elevated carbon monoxide levels in the Orndoff mine shaft in Green County, Pennsylvania, "which suggests that we have smoldering, or the possibility of a fire, in the mine. We are coordinating with federal and state authorities to develop a plan to address these conditions and will begin to implement this plan overnight."
The Canonsburg, Pennsylvania-based coal producer said that all "121-day shift underground employees were safely evacuated through the Kuhntown portal and none sustained injuries. The Orndoff shaft is an intake and return air shaft that provides air to the main line haulage and some seals. It is located about one mile from the Kuhntown portal."
Blacksville No. 2, officially located in Monongalia County, West Virginia, produced 3.2 million short tons in 2012, according to the US Mine Safety and Health Administration. The mine produces Pittsburgh No. 8-seam coal through longwall and continuous mining methods.
