On June 18 the federal Office of Surface Mining and its partners will host a tour of a mine treatment system on the North Fork Montour Run in Findlay Township, Allegheny County to demonstrate a new water-powered air compressor with no moving parts used to aerate mine water during the treatment process.

Through a public-private partnership effort, a full-scale operating TROMPE has been installed at an existing passive system that treats abandoned mine drainage prior to entering the North Fork Montour Run.

There will be two guided tours highlighting the TROMPE and the passive treatment system, one from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and another from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.  Refreshments will also be provided from 12:00 p.m to 1:00 p.m. 

Bruce Leavitt, TROMPE designer and developer, will be on hand to describe how a TROMPE uses treated mine water to compress air; how the compressed air can be used to oxygenate the mine water to accelerate iron oxidation; and how to identify mine waters that can benefit from aeration. 

Participants also have the opportunity to learn about the components and performance of the North Fork Passive Treatment System, which includes an Anoxic Limestone Drain and Settling Ponds constructed by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission during the Findlay Connector project and the Vertical Flow Ponds and Created Wetlands constructed in 2008 through grants and in-kind contributions received by the Montour Run Watershed Association. 

The TROMPE passive aeration technology was developed under an Applied Science grant from the federal Office of Surface Mining and installed at the North Fork Passive Treatment System with the support of the Montour Run Watershed Association.

Partners in this project include: the federal Office of Surface Mining National Technology Transfer Team Applied Science Program - TROMPE funding; Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program – Phase 2 system funding; the Department of Environmental Protection Growing Greener Program - Phase 2 system funding; Allegheny County Airport Authority (landowner support); Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Western Regional Office (Phase 1 system installation); Montour Run Watershed Association (Phase 2 passive system grant admin.; volunteer efforts including wetland planting); Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds (O&M funding; monitoring support); BioMost, Inc. (Phase 2 passive system design & construction oversight; Trompe installation assistance); Quality Aggregates Inc. (Phase 2 passive system construction); Stream Restoration Inc. (non-profit) (education/outreach; Trompe grant admin.)

The site is located 2 miles south of the Greater Pittsburgh Airport.  Take State Route 30 to PA Turnpike 576.  Take PA Turnpike 576 West (north-bound towards the Airport).  After paying the $0.75 toll, proceed about 100 feet and turn right and drive through the gate (40°28'28.83"N; 80°16'41.98"W) and into the site.

There is no charge for this event, but please RSVP so that sufficient refreshments can be provided.  Please visit the OSM website to register.

6/3/2013