Members of the Chestnut Ridge Chapter of Trout Unlimited recently uncovered evidence of possible illegal discharges from a mining operation as they began designing a mine drainage treatment system on Jonathan Run in Fayette County.

While investigating the discharge as part of a Growing Greener Grant near the Watkiss Mine, Trout Unlimited members discovered two 4-inch pipes buried under the ground, discharging untreated mine water onto state game lands and into Jonathan Run.

“We believe Purco Coal officials buried these pipes to conceal their deliberate action of not fulfilling the legal requirement to treat any discharge from their mine site,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty. “Jonathan Run is polluted as a result.”

The Department of Environmental Protection this week charged Purco Coal Inc. with intentionally discharging untreated acid mine drainage to an “exceptional value” stream in Fayette County, and concealing the discharge to prevent DEP from discovering it.

In 1983, Purco Coal reported no flow from a seep that was identified previously as a deep mine discharge from the Watkiss Mine in Stewart Township, Fayette County. About the same time, though, Jonathan Run near the mine began to show signs of pollution.

The Watkiss Mine was closed in 1989. Repeated DEP inspections of the mine site and reclamation work there showed no discharges.

Based on these inspections, DEP returned the Purco Coal’s bond money in 1995. The company was required to post the bond in order to guarantee the site’s reclamation and that no acid mine discharge was coming from the former mine.

DEP has ordered Purco Coal to remove the underground pipes, construct an interim acid mine drainage treatment system, submit a plan for a permanent treatment system, and reimburse the Growing Greener program the $37,845 paid to Trout Unlimited.

DEP has also ordered the company to implement an interim treatment system, submit plans for a permanent system and reimburse the department for a grant associated with the work that uncovered the discharge.

NewsClip: State Accuses Coal Company of Polluting Fayette Stream

11/9/2007