MINERSVILLE - Two men were rescued after a mine roof collapse at a slope operated by the D. & F. Deep Mine Coal Co. at its Buck Mountain Drift Mine in Cass Township.
TJ Kennedy and Justin Redner were injured while installing face props to hold up the roof and walls according to DEP.
"Both of them didn't lose consciousness," Capt. Rob Lauderman of the Minersville Fire and Rescue Company said as he stood before the entrance to the long road up to the mine.
He said one possibly had a shoulder injury and the other a possible back injury, he said.
Workers at the scene helped the two men to the ambulance.
No blood was visible on the two men, he said, adding that their injuries were not life threatening, Lauderman said.
The state Department of Environmental Protection workers and company employees did not comment while on scene.
A Schuylkill County Communications Center supervisor said a call was received at 11:34 a.m. for an unknown medical emergency.
Fire and rescue personnel and ambulances and DEP officials were on scene at the mine.
A Pottsville/Schuylkill Haven Area EMS ambulance was on scene and a Minersville Ambulance drove up the long, rocky road at 12:08 p.m.
A state Bureau of Deep Mine Safety Mine Rescue Unit vehicle followed. Both ambulances left by about 12:20 p.m. with patients inside. Emergency personnel left by 12:30 p.m.
Lt. Brian Mull, with Minersville Fire and Rescue, said a backboard and other equipment was sent up for the two injured.
DEP employees remained on scene after emergency personnel left.
Two MedEvac helicopters landed and took off each with a patient from the Schuylkill County Joe Zerbey Airport, airport Manager Bill Willard said.
The company that owns the land is S. & J. Coal Co., Colleen Connolly, northeast regional spokeswoman for DEP, said Monday. D. & F. Deep Mine Coal Co. holds the active mining permit.
She said the roof collapsed on two people at the mine. She did not know if the people injured were workers at the scene.
The Bureau of Mine Safety will do an investigation, she said.
"I've asked for a report but I don't know when I will get that," she said.
Responding to the scene were Minersville Ambulance, Yorkville Fire and Rescue, Minersville Fire and Rescue, the Pottsville/Schuylkill Haven Area EMS and Heckscherville Fire Company.
History of violations
The D. & F. Deep Mine Coal Co. has a history of violations at the mine, according to state records.
It is currently operating with a permit issued in 2006, Connolly said.
Twelve violations were issued since January 2013.
State records show a mine safety inspection visit Nov. 26, 2013, by DEP resulted in a violation issued Dec. 17 for an unsafe roof, face or rib. The violations were corrected, the report said.
Connolly said typically 30 days is given to repair issues depending on the circumstances.
Other violations include one Dec. 17, 2013, of electrical issues, underground entrances not being properly fenced, maintaining areas to prevent accidents or injuries to employees and ventilating areas for safety.
D. & F. Deep Mine Coal Co. was created Feb. 28, 1992, according to the Pennsylvania Department of State.
The owner is listed as Kerry L. Harris, Pine Grove. A call to Harris was not returned Monday.