Pennsylvania Statutes Title 52 P.S. Mines and Mining § 1406.9a. Prevention of hazards to human safety and material damage to certain buildings

(a) If the Department of Environmental Resources determines and so notifies the mine operator that a proposed mining technique or extraction ratio will result in subsidence which creates an imminent hazard to human safety, utilization of such technique or extraction ratio shall not be permitted unless the mine operator, prior to mining, takes measures approved by the department to eliminate the imminent hazard to human safety.

(b) If the department determines and so notifies the mine operator that a proposed mining technique or extraction ratio will cause subsidence which will result in irreparable damage to a building enumerated in section 5.4(a)(3) or (4),  1 utilization of such technique or extraction ratio shall not be permitted unless the building owner, prior to mining, consents to such mining or the mine operator, prior to mining, agrees to take measures approved by the department to minimize or reduce impacts resulting from subsidence to such buildings.

(c) Underground mining activities shall not be conducted beneath or adjacent to:

unless the subsidence control plan demonstrates that subsidence will not cause material damage to or reduce the reasonably foreseeable use of such features or facilities. If the department determines that it is necessary in order to minimize the potential for material damage to the features or facilities described above or to any aquifer or body of water that serves as a significant water source for any public water supply system, it may limit the percentage of coal extracted under or adjacent thereto.

(d) Nothing in this act shall be construed to amend, modify or otherwise supersede: