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Boyda Announces $250,000 for Extensive New Study of Galena Undermining
09/19/07DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE GRANT WILL FUND MAPPING OF ABANDONED MINE VOIDS IN SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS TOWN
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) today announced that the United States Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration has awarded a $250,000 grant to the City of Galena for an engineering study to identify abandoned mine voids.
Congresswoman Boyda said, "Galena has my warmest congratulations on this well-earned grant. It is a major first step toward protecting Galena's citizens and revitalizing the area's economy."
Galena's downtown business district has suffered a series of setbacks in recent years due to sinkholes and cave-ins caused by the collapse of abandoned lead and zinc mines. In the summer of 2006, part of the Green Parrot, a downtown business, suddenly dropped into a sinkhole. Many existing businesses and families are also at risk, and some banks and insurance companies have stopped loaning money and issuing policies for new development.
Until now, the full extent of the undermining problem has remained unknown. With the $250,000 grant, the city will have the resources to identify abandoned mine voids beneath the downtown business district, helping to mitigate the risk of future incidences and allowing for additional new development. Once the voids have been mapped, the city can then take steps to fill in the voids or take other appropriate action.
Dale Oglesby, the mayor of Galena, stated, "These funds will be used in the downtown government district for a mine subsidence risk study. In the study we hope to learn the location, depth, width and height of a known mining system that is located beneath the business and governmental section of the city. The information gained in the study will be used to determine the further subsidence and will help establish priorities for remediation. The information will also be used to determine the cost of the suggested remediation actions."
Linda Weldon, the Executive Director of the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission, said, "Everyone is very grateful for all the work Rep. Boyda and her staff contributed to securing this grant. I know she had a representative at Task Force meetings even before taking office, and actually identified the source of the funding for us. It's wonderful to have such commitment from our Congressional representative."
Congresswoman Boyda added, "This major grant is the result of outstanding cooperation among the Galena Mining Task Force, my office, Linda Weldon of the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the Environmental Protection Agency, who all worked very hard to make the application successful."
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) today announced that the United States Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration has awarded a $250,000 grant to the City of Galena for an engineering study to identify abandoned mine voids.
Congresswoman Boyda said, "Galena has my warmest congratulations on this well-earned grant. It is a major first step toward protecting Galena's citizens and revitalizing the area's economy."
Galena's downtown business district has suffered a series of setbacks in recent years due to sinkholes and cave-ins caused by the collapse of abandoned lead and zinc mines. In the summer of 2006, part of the Green Parrot, a downtown business, suddenly dropped into a sinkhole. Many existing businesses and families are also at risk, and some banks and insurance companies have stopped loaning money and issuing policies for new development.
Until now, the full extent of the undermining problem has remained unknown. With the $250,000 grant, the city will have the resources to identify abandoned mine voids beneath the downtown business district, helping to mitigate the risk of future incidences and allowing for additional new development. Once the voids have been mapped, the city can then take steps to fill in the voids or take other appropriate action.
Dale Oglesby, the mayor of Galena, stated, "These funds will be used in the downtown government district for a mine subsidence risk study. In the study we hope to learn the location, depth, width and height of a known mining system that is located beneath the business and governmental section of the city. The information gained in the study will be used to determine the further subsidence and will help establish priorities for remediation. The information will also be used to determine the cost of the suggested remediation actions."
Linda Weldon, the Executive Director of the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission, said, "Everyone is very grateful for all the work Rep. Boyda and her staff contributed to securing this grant. I know she had a representative at Task Force meetings even before taking office, and actually identified the source of the funding for us. It's wonderful to have such commitment from our Congressional representative."
Congresswoman Boyda added, "This major grant is the result of outstanding cooperation among the Galena Mining Task Force, my office, Linda Weldon of the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the Environmental Protection Agency, who all worked very hard to make the application successful."