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Ohio Battles Environmental Crisis from Abandoned Mines and Wells

6/28/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Southeast Ohio grapples with a looming environmental crisis, burdened by 6,449 abandoned surface mines and 11,572 orphan wells leaking harmful contaminants and methane. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is on the front lines, working tirelessly to seal these wells and reclaim the land, yet the struggle to identify new hazards and manage existing threats continues.

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Story summary

Southeast Ohio grapples with a looming environmental crisis, burdened by 6,449 abandoned surface mines and 11,572 orphan wells leaking harmful contaminants and methane. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources is on the front lines, working tirelessly to seal these wells and reclaim the land, yet the struggle to identify new hazards and manage existing threats continues.