HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale, Thursday said two Clearfield County waterways have been approved for funding to abate acid-mine drainage.
“State and federal grants totaling more than $133,000 have been approved to address abandoned-mine drainage problems in Boggs and Pike townships,” George said. “The funding builds on efforts by the state Department of Environmental Protection, the local Conservation District and watershed groups to repair these waterways for the benefit of all.”
George, Democratic chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said a $43,000 state Growing Greener grant will be used to design a passive system to treat abandoned-mine drainage to Morgan Run in Boggs Township.
“The ultimate goal is to restore four miles of Morgan Run so it is once again a fishable stream,” said George, who noted that the stream is a tributary of Clearfield Creek and the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
The second grant, $90,061 from the federal Clean Water Act, will fund the design, permitting and construction of a limestone-drain, passive system to treat acid-mine discharge into Bilger Run in Pike Township.
“Bilger Run is a major tributary to Anderson Creek, and both are severely degraded by abandoned mine discharges,” George said. “The DEP notes that this project, combined with a chemical-treatment plant planned for the other discharges, will restore four miles of Bilger Run.”