By Kim Lanich, Watershed Specialist, Elk County Conservation District

This photo represents the many partners that have joined the efforts of the Bennett Branch Watershed Association since its inception. Federal, state, grassroots organizations and private industry are partnering to clean up the watershed.

On an exceptionally warm April day, members from the Bennett Branch Team, DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty, and other elected officials met to discuss the environmental problems facing the Bennett Branch Watershed.

Deep in the heart of elk country, Acid Mine Drainage is a major problem affecting water quality to many tributaries flowing into the main stem of the Bennett Branch. AMD in Elk County is directly linked to over one hundred years of mining, and as you can see in the photo, mining is still part of the economic industry today.

For decades Pennsylvania officials have been attempting to abate the AMD issues in Bennett’s Valley. Finally, tested, successful technology and engineering is catching up in the battle with the iron, sulfuric acid and other heavy metals that contaminate so many tributaries flowing into the Bennett Branch.

In 1998 the Bennett Branch Watershed Association formed to begin the restoration work needed on the Bennett Branch to restore it to its pre-mining condition, and in 2004 the DEP completed and assessment of the work required to remediate the impacts of AMD and AML in the watershed.

After the assessment, the Mineral Resources Management Deputate organized the “Bennett Branch Team” comprised of Department of Environmental Protection staff from the Cambria Office of the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, the Moshannon and Knox offices of the Bureau of District Mining Operations, and members of the BBWA.

Since then others have joined this team such as: the Baltimore District of the US Army Corp of Engineers, the Elk County Conservation District, the Game Commission, Gannett Fleming, P & N Coal Company, Earthsavers, and the newest partner BioMost, Inc.

Currently there are many projects on-going in the watershed. In the lower portion of the Bennett Branch, the US Army Corp of Engineers has been working on three projects in the Dents Run sub-watershed.

Site 3888 is a Vertical Flow System that was previously built, which needs retro- fitting to increase the removal of acidity. Design work includes the addition of an alkaline pond and will be out for bid in 2007, and construction should begin shortly thereafter.

Site 3893 will include a Passive Treatment System. Design has been completed and construction will begin in 2007. Gannett Fleming has been working on these projects in conjunction with the USACE.

Site 3895 (design by BioMost Inc.) will consist of two phases. Phase 1 design is complete and will consist of an oxidation and precipitation channel in conjunction with a Vertical Flow Pond. Construction will begin in mid July. Phase 2 is currently being designed, and will consist of two vertical flow ponds, two wetland ponds and a horizontal flow limestone bed. Construction is anticipated to begin within the next year.

The DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, is also working on sites in the Dents Run watershed.

Site 3898 is a surface mine reclamation site including removal of highwalls, grading for proper slopes, alkaline addition, and drains and culverts.

On site 1934, mining still continues. Limestone is removed and left onsite for future use, and acid rock extracted from this site will remain onsite, but will be layered with fly ash, and will then be capped with clay to stop rainwater infiltration. Dangerous high walls were also removed and re-graded for appropriate slopes.

In the upper reaches of the Bennett Branch, the Bennett Branch Team is recommending restoration of the main stem in two phases. DEP’s BAMR is in charge of this part of the restoration project.

Phase 1 includes the design and construction of an active chemical treatment plant in the Hollywood/Tyler area; and Phase 2 will be the design and construction of an active chemical treatment plant in the Caledonia area.

Phase 1 has begun design for the treatment plant and plans are due by December 2006, with construction to begin in 2007. Design, construction and operation of the second treatment system in Caledonia is planned to follow sometime later.

From the watershed assessment, all high priority Abandoned Mine Land sites were inventoried and catalogued. Reviewers targeted twenty-four problem areas with human health and safety hazards, with an approximate $30 million to reclaim. The Office of Surface Mining has begun working on five of these surface mine reclamation projects.

The Bennett Branch Watershed is inundated with mine discharges and abandoned mine lands. The BBWA is fortunate to have such a diverse, highly qualified team to remediate the many AMD and AML issues plaguing the watershed.

So on August 9, the BBWA will hold a celebration to thank the many people who have worked so hard cleaning up this beautiful watershed. The event will be held at 11:00 on Winslow Hill.

If you are interested in attending this event, please contact Kim Lanich at the Elk County Conservation District at 814-776-5373, or by email at klanich@elkoes.ncentral.com

6/16/2006