About 4,700 property owners in South Fayette Township are set to receive notices of abandoned coal mines beneath their buildings and information on the availability of mine subsidence insurance.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Mine Subsidence Insurance Program is mailing notices this week to 1,958 property owners east of Interstate 79. Then in 3 to 4 weeks, mailings will go to 2,725 property owners in the remaining areas of the township.
The notices include address-specific maps of undermined areas and information about affordable insurance coverage for mine subsidence damage, which usually is not covered by standard homeowners insurance.
Mine subsidence occurs when abandoned underground coal mines collapse, potentially causing damage to homes and buildings that sit above them.
The alerts are being sent as part of a broad notification campaign. Notices are being sent to South Fayette homeowners earlier than originally planned due to recent mine subsidence in neighboring Upper St. Clair.
A sample notice is pictured.
For more information, please visit the Mine Subsidence Insurance website. Also, some brochures and insurance applications are available in the township office, 515 Millers Run Road.