The Department of Environmental Protection this week issued a surface mining permit to Allegheny Enterprises Inc. of Corsica, Jefferson County, to mine and reclaim 293 acres of abandoned mine lands in Lumber and Shippen townships, Cameron County.

Allegheny Enterprises will conduct surface mining activities on 52 acres and will restore the site and surrounding abandoned mine lands to pre-mining contours. Mining will include exposing and removing 16 acres of coal from abandoned underground mine workings within the permit area.

During reclamation, dangerous abandoned surface mine features will be eliminated and the company will construct a passive mine drainage treatment system at an historic mine discharge in the Portable Run watershed that has been degraded by acid mine drainage.

“Re-mining projects encourage modern coal companies to restore long-abandoned mine lands and improve water quality in return for the value of the coal,” said Acting DEP Secretary John Hanger. “This saves the taxpayers money and frees up federal abandoned mine lands funds to reclaim sites that endanger the public or hinder economic development in our former coal mining communities.”

The permit addresses local concerns about potential impacts of mining on Reed Hollow Run and Portable Run, ensuring that Allegheny Enterprises will protect water quality by using lime as an alkaline additive to mine spoil to abate potential pollution; creating a headwater buffer area to eliminate sedimentation to Reed Hollow Run; requiring collection of surface runoff in sedimentation ponds with release of collected water through surface infiltration; and establishing water quality testing at nearby springs and monitoring wells and in streams near the site.

“Pennsylvania is home to the largest abandoned mine problem in the country with thousands of miles of polluted waterways and more than 180,000 acres of mine-scarred lands left over from the days before mining was regulated,” Acting Secretary Hanger said. “Despite the infusion of more than $1 billion over the next 15 years under the federal abandoned mine lands fund reauthorization, we must continue to look for creative ways to address acidic discharges and reclaim lower-priority mine lands. This project will help improve water quality in the Sinnemahoning Creek watershed, which will bolster recreational opportunities and tourism in the Pennsylvania Wilds at no cost to the taxpayers.”

The Reed Hollow mine was abandoned in 1960s before the advent of modern regulations that require mine operators to restore mine sites to original contours, establish vegetation and treat or abate acidic discharges.

Once mining is completed, the entire 293-acre site will be vegetated with native tree species, including aspen, red oak, white oak and white pine.

DEP’s Moshannon district mining office will conduct routine mine inspections to verify that approved reclamation procedures and permit conditions are being followed.

The approximate value of this reclamation effort to the Commonwealth is $129,000.

11/14/2008