AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection News

PA DEP Secretary Announces Abandoned Mine Reclamation Project in Beaver County

Project Will Eliminate Dangerous Highwalls, Replace Wetlands, Protect Streams

DARLINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa., March 13 PRNewswire-USNewswire — More than 5,000 feet of dangerous highwalls that scar an abandoned mine site in Beaver County will be removed under a reclamation project funded by the Department of Environmental Protection.

These highwalls, some of which are 80 feet in height, pose a threat to public safety, said DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty in announcing the $1.7 million project at the Darlington Lake Northwest site, which was abandoned around 1952.

"These highwalls are attractive to young people as places to ride motorcycles and ATVs and otherwise explore," said McGinty, noting that 18 people have died at abandoned mines and quarries in Pennsylvania since 2003. "Reclaiming this site will eliminate these highwalls and remove that threat."

"But beyond the public safety concerns, this project will also address environmental challenges and improve the aesthetics of the area. The work here will replace a wetland, control erosion, and turn a now-scarred patch of earth into a grass and tree covered landscape."

Approximately 107 acres of abandoned mine land will be planted with a mixture of tall fescue, red top, birdsfoot trefoil and perennial ryegrass on the shallow slopes. A mixture of tall fescue, crown vetch and perennial ryegrass will be planted on the steeper slopes.

Nearly 7,000 trees will be planted on the site, including black cherry, northern red oak, white ash, red maple and eastern white pine. The reclamation work also will replace a 0.6-acre wetland, and build a 2,100-foot permanent swale to handle stormwater runoff in the Little Beaver Creek watershed.

The watershed contains McCautry Run and the North Fork of Little Beaver Creek, both rated as high-quality cold water fisheries. The grasses and trees planted on this site will prevent erosion from damaging the streams.

"This combination of vegetation and trees will both restore the area's natural beauty and prevent erosion and runoff," said McGinty. "A major part of rural Pennsylvania's tourism industry depends on maintaining scenic countryside and preserving the availability of activities such as fishing. This project will restore natural beauty to 107 acres of land, while preserving two great fishing streams."

The Darlington Lake Northwest abandoned mine reclamation project is funded by $950,000 from the state's Growing Greener II program — a $625 million initiative put forth by Governor Edward G. Rendell that was approved by voters in 2005 with overwhelming support.

The remaining $750,000 comes from Pennsylvania's share of the federal Abandoned Mine Lands program. The program directs money to states that have abandoned mine lands to reclaim, and is funded by a tax on current mining activities.

Governor Rendell was instrumental in persuading Congress to reauthorize the Abandoned Mine Lands Fund for another 15 years. Pennsylvania will receive $27.6 million from the program for 2008, up to 30 percent of which can be used for treating abandoned mine drainage that makes streams uninhabitable for fish and other aquatic life.

Since 2003, Governor Rendell has committed more than $145 million to 240 abandoned mind land reclamation projects across Pennsylvania, reclaiming more than 6,100 acres.

Berner Construction Inc. of Lancaster County is the contractor on the reclamation project. Work is expected to be completed in about a year.

For more information, visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Mine Reclamation.

CONTACT: Ron Ruman

(717) 787-1323

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Send this news item to a friend.

Print This Page

Search Our News Using Google Search

Can't find what you want? Try using Google:

Google