I just found this thread. Like Quaddriver said I thought all of PA was the coal region. Both of my grandfathers along with several great uncles were miners. Others in the family repaired mine machinery or hauled coal. If you'd like to see how deep mining is done you might want to check out TourEd Mine in Tarentum. This is a mined out section of the Freeport coal seam located near the Allegheny River. The tour takes you about a mile back underground. No pimple faced high school kids here. The tour guides are experienced miners who have the proper training to take folks underground. The mine is inspected daily as any working mine would be. There is also a museum on site.