The Department of Environmental Protection announced this week it plans to direct the full amount allowed by the federal government to develop and operate mine drainage treatment systems that are needed to protect thousands of miles of streams, according to Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty.

Secretary McGinty also said the Commonwealth has already established an account dedicated to finance the permanent maintenance costs for these treatment facilities and will commit additional funds annually. The department has already deposited $2 million into the account and expects to contribute another $2 million this year.

Pennsylvania is expected to receive up to $1.5 billion over the next 15 years from the federal Abandoned Mine Lands Fund. That was reauthorized at the end of 2006. (12/18/06 Pa Environment Digest)

"Acid mine drainage impairs 4,600 miles of rivers and streams in Pennsylvania and is one of the most widespread and expensive water pollution challenges we face," said Secretary McGinty. "The reauthorization of the Abandoned Mine Lands fund will allow us to support the outstanding efforts of local watershed groups to build new treatment facilities that will bring dead streams back to life, and it will also ensure that we have sufficient resources to fund the long-term operation, maintenance and replacement of new and existing treatment facilities unless special circumstances prevent us from doing so."

Pennsylvania's long-term plans for addressing abandoned mine problems are outlined in a position paper DEP released with its announcement.

The paper details how the state will allocate the estimated $1.4 billion it expects to receive over the next 15 years as part of the 2006 reauthorization of the federal Abandoned Mine Lands fund. It also provides the framework for how the funds will be distributed through grants and construction contracts for the design, construction, operation, maintenance and replacement of facilities to treat mine discharges.

Under the reauthorization, Pennsylvania may commit up to 30 percent of its annual appropriation to treat abandoned mine drainage.

The process to decide the annual amount to be set aside for treatment of mine drainage will be open for public comment.

In preparing the paper, DEP conducted a series of town hall meetings with state and local elected officials, environmental and watershed groups, the mining industry, businesses, and economic development organizations to update the commonwealth's long-term mine reclamation goals to take full advantage of the anticipated funds.

"The need for continued funds to build mine drainage treatment facilities was a clear theme in the comments we received during our town hall meetings," said Secretary McGinty. "Beyond the obvious impacts on aquatic life, polluted streams cost the commonwealth millions of dollars in lost recreation and tourism opportunities and increase costs for industrial, commercial and residential water users.

"The reauthorization of the federal AML fund gives us a unique opportunity to ensure significant and long-term funding for the development, operation and replacement of mine drainage treatment facilities."

The Abandoned Mine Lands fund was created in 1977 and directs money to states to reclaim historic abandoned mines. The program is funded by a tax on the coal mining industry.

Pennsylvania is home to thousands of acidic discharges and seeps formed from a chemical reaction between air, water and coal in abandoned mines.

More than 250 passive treatment systems have been constructed with public funds to treat an estimated 36 billion gallons of acid mine drainage each year. Ongoing operation, maintenance and replacement costs vary depending on the volume of water and the severity of the chemical composition of each discharge.

However, Pennsylvania still has approximately 180,000 acres of unmarked mine openings, unstable cliffs, water-filled pits and abandoned equipment and buildings left over from when mining was largely unregulated prior to 1977.

More than 2 billion tons of waste coal sits in piles that dot the state's landscape, and some 4,600 miles of rivers and streams are polluted or degraded by acid mine drainage.

For more information, visit DEP’s Abandoned Mines webpage.

7/18/2008