THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, TARTAGLIONE, ARGALL, BROWNE, FONTANA, YUDICHAK AND ALLOWAY, JANUARY 28, 2011

REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 28, 2011  

AN ACT

Selecting, designating and adopting anthracite or "hard coal" as

the official rock of the Commonwealth.

WHEREAS, The eastern and northeastern regions of this

Commonwealth contain virtually all of the nation's supply of

anthracite or "hard coal"; and

WHEREAS, The anthracite ranges cover 484 square miles in the

following nine counties: Dauphin, Schuylkill, Northumberland,

Columbia, Carbon, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wayne and Susquehanna;

and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that 16 billion tons of coal lie

within the anthracite seams in this Commonwealth, of which seven

to eight billion tons of anthracite coal are capable of being

mined; and

WHEREAS, Anthracite mining occurs in the following eight

counties: Schuylkill, Carbon, Luzerne, Northumberland,

Lackawanna, Columbia, Dauphin and Sullivan; and

WHEREAS, Anthracite, historically referred to as "stone

coal," is one of this Commonwealth's most significant natural

resources; and

WHEREAS, The production of anthracite coal has historically

been a major industry and source of employment in this

Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Anthracite played a major role in the

industrialization of this Commonwealth and the United States;

and

WHEREAS, Anthracite coal was known to exist in the area of

Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, as early as 1769;

and

WHEREAS, In 1775, the mining of anthracite began in

northeastern Pennsylvania in a mine located near Pittston; and

WHEREAS, In 1820, the first recorded anthracite coal company,

the Lehigh Coal Mining Company, began shipping anthracite out of

the coal field region; and

WHEREAS, Between 1870 and 1995, 31,113 individuals died in

anthracite mining accidents; and

WHEREAS, In 1971, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum

Commission created the Anthracite Museum Complex, three museums

(Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, Eckley Miners' Village

and the Museum of Anthracite Mining) and one historical site

(Scranton Iron Furnaces) to help preserve and share the rich

history of Pennsylvania anthracite.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Official State rock.

Anthracite or "hard coal" is hereby selected, designated and

adopted as the official rock of the Commonwealth.

Section 2.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.