Watershed groups across the state expressed concern this week about whether or not the Department of Environmental Protection will provide them with funding to cleanup abandoned mine drainage from the recently revitalized federal Abandoned Mine Lands Fund.

DEP Secretary Kathleen McGinty said in response the agency has not made a decision on the issue, but that they would continue to fund mine drainage abatement projects.

Watershed and environmental groups all over Pennsylvania fought, along with the Rendell Administration and Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation, to have the Fund reauthorized in December 2006. Included was a provision that increased the potential funding for abandoned mine drainage projects from 10 percent to 30 percent, much of which has gone to local watershed-sponsored projects in the past.

DEP held public meetings on how to use the new federal funds most effectively and heard presentations by watershed groups all over the state on how they could not only undertake more needed projects, but stretch the funds by bringing local matching funds to projects. (Summaries of the meetings are available online.)

About $8.4 million would be available for local mine drainage cleanup projects this year if the full 30 percent allocation was used.

DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty this week said reports stating that the Commonwealth has decided not to fund abandoned mine drainage projects were not accurate. The Secretary said these projects will continue to be funded through the department's abandoned mine reclamation program this year and beyond.

Secretary McGinty’s statement did not indicate whether watershed groups would receive funding or what percentage of the federal funds would be made available or when they would make these decisions.

"Reports that the department will not provide funding for acid mine drainage treatment projects are false," said Secretary McGinty. "The Governor remains firmly committed to using all available resources to restore our land and water that was damaged by mining before environmental laws were put in place to prevent this kind pollution,"

"What we are doing now, and have been doing for the past several months, is engaging the public to help us determine how we can best use our available resources and, in the years ahead, to reclaim abandoned mine lands and clean up acid mine tainted streams,” said Secretary McGinty. "We have held public hearings around the state and are continuing to meet with focus groups to help us make the best decisions on how to carry out this important environmental protection program in the long term. All Pennsylvanians should be assured we will fund abandoned mine reclamation and stream restoration projects as part of this effort."

NewsClip: Groups Push for Funding to Revive Polluted Waterways

DEP Mining Official Underscores Commitment to AMD Abatement

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2/15/2008