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Remediation of Abandoned Mine Lands |
PCB-containing electrical equipment in surface and underground mines has been documented during U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8, mine inspections conducted over the last 25 years. PCB-containing electrical equipment is likely to be in mines world-wide because electrical systems in mines follow the same general patterns as any other industry. The abandonment of this equipment is likely to contribute to world wide PCB contamination. Despite the fact that manufacture of PCBs has been prohibited in the
Dan W. Bench, U.S. EPA Dan Bench is the PCB Coordinator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 8. Mr. Bench obtained a degree in Mining Engineering in 1958 from the Colorado School of Mines. Upon Graduation from CSM he was drafted into the U.S. Army serving in the Corps of Engineers followed by employment in mines owned by American Smelting and Refining, New Jersey Zinc, and Climax Molybdenum. He has been employed at EPA since 1972 as PCB inspector for coal and metal nonmetal-mines, director of the PCB mine inspection program, and as case development officer.