Budzinski, Durbin, Duckworth Call for Transparency Following Alton Mine Collapse

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth sent a letter to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) urging transparency as officials address the collapse of New Frontier Material’s limestone mine in Alton, Illinois. The collapse caused a sudden sinkhole to appear in the middle of soccer fields in Gordon City Park on June 26. The lawmakers expressed concern that the collapse was not anticipated and requested answers to questions about how to ensure the safe reopening of Gordon City Park and how to prevent dangerous mine collapses in the future.

“The Mine Safety and Health Administration has been an excellent partner throughout the cleanup and safety checks following the collapse, but we have concerns regarding how the collapse was not anticipated. We are seeking to understand ways in which these situations can better be prevented in the future. Additionally, it is important that citizens and local officials know the risks of infrastructure built atop active mining,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter to Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Mine Safety and Health Administration Christopher Williamson. “The citizens and families of Alton impacted by this unfortunate incident deserve to understand what occurred here as well as assurance that real steps are being taken to ensure their safety and a prompt but safe reopening of facilities they enjoy.”

The full text of the lawmakers’ letter to Assistant Secretary Williamson can be found here and below:

Mr. Christopher J. Williamson

Assistant Secretary of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration

201 12th St S, Suite 401

Arlington, VA 22202-5450

Dear Assistant Secretary Williamson,

We are writing regarding the recent collapse of New Frontier Materials’ limestone mine in Alton, Illinois. This collapse caused a 100-foot wide by 50-foot-deep crater to appear in the middle of soccer fields in Gordon City Park. While we are very grateful that nobody was hurt by the sudden sinkhole, we are concerned that the situation could have caused very serious injuries for either the employees working in the mine or for the citizens of Alton enjoying the park.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration has been an excellent partner throughout the cleanup and safety checks following the collapse, but we have concerns regarding how the collapse was not anticipated. We are seeking to understand ways in which these situations can better be prevented in the future. Additionally, it is important that citizens and local officials know the risks of infrastructure built atop active mining. To that end, we would like answers to the following questions:

1. Through the cleanup process as well as safety verification after the collapse, we understand that technology such as Lidar is deployed to understand the makeup of the earth between the surface and the mine. Can technology such as this be used prior to expansion of a mine to understand the risks of that area?
2. To what extent does the activity on top of an active mine have bearing on the stability of said mine? Should there be concerns with public spaces, particularly those used by children, existing in these areas?
3. If there is no way to prevent a collapse, what can be done to prepare localities for resilience in such events? Is there guidance on disaster preparedness for local communities, particularly when public spaces are impacted?
4. What is the estimated economic impact of events such as these on local communities due to the loss and necessary reconstruction of public infrastructure?
5. Who will be responsible for footing the bill for this clean up and remediation effort?

The citizens and families of Alton impacted by this unfortunate incident deserve to understand what occurred here as well as assurance that real steps are being taken to ensure their safety and a prompt but safe reopening of facilities they enjoy. We are grateful for your time and attention to this important matter, and we hope that you take these questions and concerns into consideration as we work to improve the lives of hardworking Illinoisans.

Sincerely,

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