The AMD&ART acid-mine drainage and art project in Vintondale, Cambria County will receive a 2005 Phoenix Award by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at the National Brownfields Conference in November.

“The AMD&ART project is a terrific example of how to bring a river damaged by acid-mine drainage back to productive reuse. EPA is proud to support this project that is bringing streams back to life,” said Donald S. Welsh, Administrator, Region 3 EPA.

The AMD&ART project transformed a 35-acre property contaminated by acid-mine drainage and converted it into a passive water treatment system and open space. Portions of the project were funded by an EPA sustainable development challenge grant.

The Phoenix awards, established in 1997, are given annually by the non-profit Phoenix Awards Institute to recognize innovative yet practical remediation projects at Brownfields sites in the U.S. and abroad.

This is one of two Phoenix Awards projects in Pennsylvania received among the fourteen winners recognized at the Conference. (See separate article on the Chester Project.)

AMD&ART also won the Governor’s Award for Watershed Stewardship in 2001, the wetlands restoration award from the Department of Transportation in 2002 and the 2005 Western Pennsylvania Environmental Award.

NewsClip: Brownfields Cleanup Wins Recognition

9/30/2005