ST. MICHAEL —
The proposed treatment of million of gallons of acid mine drainage spewing from a bore hole just outside the community has state environmental officials and the state’s most powerful environmental group working together toward permit standards that will allow the project while protecting the Little Conemaugh River.
At stake is a $14 million treatment plant behind the St. Michael fire hall, already under construction by Rosebud Mining Co. of Kittanning. It will remove 30 percent of the toxic iron, aluminum and manganese flowing into the river throughout the Little Conemaugh watershed.
Also at stake are precedent-setting permit standards that if not comprehensive enough could affect state rivers for years to come, according to PennFuture, the environmental watchdog group.
“PennFuture recognizes the substantial public benefit of the St. Michael project,” George Jugovic Jr., president and CEO, said in an email to The Tribune-Democrat. “But this is the first use of offsets – with more to come – and it’s important that the process be correct.”
Rosebud wants to pump and treat water from the former Maryland No. 1 mine shaft, reducing the depth of a massive underground mine pool. That also would allow access to a seam of high metallurgic coal.
Flowing at a rate of between 2,067 gallons per minute to 3,656 gallons per minute, the AMD will be pumped out of the mine pool and treated at the plant at a rate of 10,000 gallons per minute, according to Rosebud’s project scope.
In its application for a permit needed to release the treated water into the river, Rosebud is proposing using offset credits earned by treating drainage from other area AMD seeps to reduce overall pollution.
PennFuture has raised concerns that the state Department of Environmental Protection may “cut corners in a way that could, in the future, open the door for other bad or unlawful projects, as it has done in the past,” Jugovic said.
PennFuture also has concerns about a DEP advertisement for the permit that appeared in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.
PennFuture contends the ad did not reveal that offsets would be part of the permit.
“It is important that DEP be open and transparent when making deals with the industries it regulates,” Jugovic said.
DEP spokesman John Poister, in a statement, said the agency remains committed to making sure that this and other projects do not compromise the environment.
“DEP is encouraged that PennFuture recognizes the benefits to the public of the St. Michael project,” Poister said. “We are reviewing their comment letter as per our standard draft permit comment process and will address any technical issues as appropriate.
“DEP always works to ensure that projects of any nature meet the highest standard and do not compromise environmental protection,” he said.
DEP said public backing for the project has been overwhelming, with more than 450 people sending letters of support.
Additionally, support has come from environmentalists and public officials from across the state. The DEP said project supporters include U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and elected officials at the state level.
U.S. Rep. Mark Critz, D-Johnstown, reiterated his backing of the St. Michael project by sharing with The Tribune-Democrat a letter he wrote to DEP in late June urging prompt approval of the permit application.
Critz said the planned activity will dramatically improve the Little Conemaugh River watershed.
The Little Conemaugh’s headwaters cover about 190 square miles through 32 municipalities in Cambria and parts of Somerset, Blair and Bedford counties.
The main branch of the river is 29 miles long.
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