On December 17, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of  $19,640,380 to support eight local abandoned mine lands reclamation and water restoration projects in six counties as part of the federally-funded Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage Grant Program.

The counties include Clearfield, Greene, Indiana, Lackawanna, Schuylkill and Tioga.

“Reclaiming abandoned mine land is a crucial endeavor, restoring both the environment and communities in the Commonwealth, while simultaneously creating jobs and bolstering the economy in both the short- and long-term,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “These grant recipients are taking on projects to pave the way for meaningful efforts in improving water quality, fostering ecosystem recovery, and revitalizing communities for a greater quality of life for Pennsylvanians.”

The funding was awarded through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which has invested more than $700 million into reclaiming Pennsylvania’s abandoned mine lands since 2022.

In addition to planned projects, this funding also pays for emergency situations like subsidence and sinkholes that can endanger people and damage or destroy homes and property.

DEP prioritizes grant funding to address serious human health and safety problems resulting from abandoned coal mines, as well as treating AMD to continue watershed restoration efforts under the AMD Set-Aside Program and prevent the loss of restored streams.

Grants Awarded

Grant recipients will be reimbursed on project costs up to the limit specified below. The following projects will be awarded:

Clearfield County

-- BCI Municipal Authority - $1,831,220: Beccaria South – Waterline Extension - Construction of a water main extension in the Cross Roads Boulevard corridor in Beccaria Township to alleviate water quality and quantity issues of on-lot well systems as a result of abandoned mine land degradation.

Greene County

-- Natural Streams Foundation - $8,396,313.50: Crucible North – Remove approximately 212,500 cubic yards of coal refuse from an abandoned mine lands site and restore over six acres of land in Cumberland Township.

Indiana County

-- Stream Restoration Inc. - $241,989: Laurel Run #2 (Passive Treatment Redesign) – Complete project development and design work required to rehabilitate the Laurel Run #2 abandoned mine drainage passive treatment system in Brush Valley Township.

Lackawanna County:

-- Lackawanna County Commissioners – $6,716,080: Dickson City Pile Reclamation – Remove abandoned mine land spoil areas to reclaim land for future development in Dickson City and Blakely Boroughs.

Schuylkill County

-- Schuylkill Conservation District - $442,191.20: Gordon East Design – Project development and design to reclaim abandoned mine lands on State Game Land 326 in Butler Township.

-- Schuylkill Conservation District - $379,085: Oak Hill, Pine Knot and Repplier Treatment Study – Project work includes the analysis of the Pine Knot and Oak Hill boreholes and the Repplier mine discharges to develop a conceptual design of a future abandoned mine drainage treatment facility in Cass Township.

-- Woodlands for Wildlife - $658,890: Llewellyn South Design – Project development and design to reclaim 27 abandoned mine land features in Branch Township.

Tioga County

-- Trout Unlimited, Inc. - $974,612: Landrus – Maintenance of the Bear Run abandoned mine drainage passive treatment system in Bloss Township.

Pennsylvania has the largest inventory of abandoned coal mines in the nation, with a roughly $5 billion need for reclamation and stream restoration.

To date, Pennsylvania has rehabilitated more than 151,000 acres of the roughly 288,000 acres of abandoned coal mines across the Commonwealth, and with this federal funding, will be able to continue this vital work that protects the health and safety of our communities.

Click Here for the DEP announcement.

Visit DEP’s Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage Grant Program webpage to learn more about the program.  New grant rounds will be opening again in 2025.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website.  Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

(Photos: Little Conemaugh River in Cambria County before and after mine drainage treatment.)

Related Articles This Week:

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Veteran Reporter Ad Crable Wraps Up 4 Decades Of Environmental Journalism  [PaEN]

-- DEP Awards $19.6 Million To Support 8 Local Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Projects In 6 Counties  [PaEN]

-- PA State Conservation Commission Wins Natural Resource Education Champion Award  [PaEN]

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update Highlights Funding Opportunities, County Water Restoration Projects  [PaEN]

-- Ag Conservation Professionals! Get Your Passport To 2025 PA Farm Show, Enhance Your Conservation Skills Starting Jan. 4  [PaEN]

-- Conservation Pros: Join In Ag Literacy Week By Volunteering To Read ‘The Soil In Jackie’s Garden’ March 17-21  [PaEN]

-- Choose Clean Coalition Now Accepting Presentation Proposals For 2025 Conference On Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Issues, May 19-21 In Virginia  [PaEN]

-- Presentation Proposals Invited: 2025 Penn State Extension Dive Deeper Summit For Water Educators  [PaEN]

-- Federal Ohio River Protection Act Legislation Would Address Pressing Water Quality, Conservation Needs In Ohio River Watershed  [PaEN]

-- Now On Demand: Penn State Extension Webinar On PFAS 'Forever Chemicals' In Land-Applied Biosolids - Research Update  [PaEN]

-- Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture Now Accepting Proposals For Brook Trout Conservation Projects  [PaEN] 

-- US Fish And Wildlife & Service Seeks Public Comment On Proposed Listing Of Eastern Hellbender As Endangered; PA’s Clean Water Ambassador  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Conservation Cornerstone: Jan. 28 Webinar On Climate-Smart Ag Project (CARAT)   [PaEN] 

-- PA Organization For Watersheds & Rivers Hosts Jan. 16 Webinar On Winter Salting and Local Waterway Impacts: Opportunities To Work For Change  [PaEN]

-- Penn State Extension Jan. 16 Webinar On Forest Carbon Markets And Payment Programs Expert Panel  [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Scranton Times: Nearly $7 Million In Federal Funds Awarded To Reclaim Mine Land In Dickson City, Blakely

-- The Daily Item Guest Essay: Potential Cuts To Federal Funding For Abandoned Mine Cleanup - By Sophia Evans, Dickinson College Student  [PDF of article]

-- WNEP: Massive Mine Subsidence Swallows Schuylkill County Family’s Backyard Swimming Pool

 -- Republican Herald: Sinkhole Breaks Water Main In Mahanoy Twp., Schuylkill County; Possible Abandoned Mine Subsidence

-- Republican Herald: Sinkhole In Mahanoy Twp., Schuylkill County Linked To Abandoned Mines

-- WNEP: DEP Crews Working To Fill Mine Subsidence Sinkhole In Schuylkill County That Swallowed Swimming Pool

-- Post-Gazette: PA Farmers Turning To No-Till Farming Focusing On Bottom Line, Human Health 

-- E&E News/Politico: Congressional Lawmakers Push For Federal Focus On Ohio River Watershed Water Quality Woes

-- Delaware RiverKeeper Dec. 20 RiverWatch Video Report

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal - Ad Crable: Pennsylvania To Get Nearly $1 Billion In Federal Funds For Climate-Smart Ag Practices

-- WITF/StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Endangered Status Proposed For Eastern Hellbender

-- Williamsport Sun: Fish & Wildlife Service Seeks Public Comment On Proposed Listing Of Hellbender As Endangered

-- Lancaster Clean Water Partners Newsletter: Looking Back On 2024 And Looking Forward

-- Interfaith Partners For The Chesapeake Bay: Reflection On A Remarkable 2024

-- Middle Susquehanna RiverKeeper Blog: Young Mom Writes Children’s Book Inspired By Adventures With Daughter Along The River  [Donation From Sales Helps RiverKeeper]

-- Lancaster Farming: Environmental Groups Ask For Susquehanna River Pump Storage Hydro Permit Rehearing

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: This Dog Will Hunt For Rare Flowers In Bay Watershed

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation Moves Harrisburg Office To Wildwood Park Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center 

-- MCall: Plans For Warehouse Near Busy I-78 Intersection In Northampton County Move Forward

-- MCall: Easton Residents Denounce Plans For Massive Warehouse At Old Pfizer Plant Near Residential Area

[Posted: December 17, 2024]

12/23/2024