Earlier this year, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation began treating 7 million gallons per day of abandoned mine drainage at a new treatment facility in the Blacklick Creek Watershed. Blacklick Creek is on the impaired waters list due to mine drainage causing unbalanced pH and high levels of some metals. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is a problem that affects approximately 5,500 miles of streams in the state.
The new treatment facility, sited on reclaimed land, removes dissolved metals from the water flowing from three abandoned mines. Treated water is returned to Blacklick Creek where the clean water is helping restore approximately 25 miles of the creek into a viable fishing area.
The new $27 million treatment facility was constructed and is now being operated with a combination of funding sources, including state Capital Budget funds; DEP funds; federal funds from the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act; and the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program. It is the twelfth AMD plant run or funded by DEP. Twelve additional facilities are in design or development. [Hanson]
