Turning off acid-mine drainage

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February 1, 2010

Anonymous The Tribune-Democrat Mon Feb 01, 2010, 10:25 AM EST

For generations, our region has been battling the negative effects of acid-mine drainage.

We’ve cleaned up many polluted waterways and reduced the runoff from old mine sites. We’ve removed boney piles of coal ash and we’ve improved the technology used in our mines and coal-burning plants.

That’s why we support a new program that would treat millions of gallons from three abandoned mines in the Cresson, Gallitzin and Tunnelhill areas.

The water from the mines would be treated and released into the West Branch watershed in the Susquehanna River system.

Local streams involved in the project would include Chest Creek and Clearfield Creek.

“It will be a tremendous benefit to the whole region,” said Earl Smithmyer, president of the Clearfield Creek Watershed Association.

The group is indicative of so many local organizations that have been working hard for years to improve local waterways – a mile at a time.

The watershed association’s efforts in conjunction with the state Department of Environmental Protection and other organizations has led to improved water quality along Clearfield Creek to the point that trout can now be stocked in some areas.

In DEP’s proposed new project, tainted water would be drawn from the three northern Cambria County mine sites, then stored and treated. The water would then be released periodically into the watershed.

The state agency is meeting with property owners, seeking permission to do test drilling in the planned cleanup area in order to have a clear understanding of how much polluted water is underground.

Ultimately, this local project will dovetail with efforts elsewhere to bring improvement across the Susquehanna River basin down to the Chesapeake Bay – which has broad recreational and economic impact potential.

That’s a worthwhile endeavor.

And we look forward to more opportunities to do our part here in the headwaters of that important water system.

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Turning off acid-mine drainage

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