HARRISBURG – Approximately 340 acres of dangerous abandoned mine lands containing steep cliffs, piles of waste coal that pollute streams, and exposed coal seams that can catch fire from burning trash will be cleaned up under 13 contracts awarded during the first four months of this year, according to Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger.
DEP awarded the contracts under programs that address the most dangerous mine sites and in some cases allow modern coal mining companies to clean up historic messes at no cost to state government.
“Acid mine drainage is one of the largest sources of water pollution in Pennsylvania, and our historic abandoned mine sites create public safety hazards that endanger lives, hurts property values and limits economic opportunities in many areas of the state,” Hanger said. “At Governor Rendell’s direction, we are using every available resource to find innovative and cost-effective ways to clean up these sites and return this land to useful condition.”
The largest source of funding for the reclamation of mine sites in Pennsylvania is the federal Abandoned Mine Lands Fund, which is overseen by the U. S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. The fund is supported by a fee on the modern mining industry and is distributed to states as annual grants to reclaim mine sites that were abandoned prior to passage of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.
DEP also operates innovative programs to encourage modern coal companies to reopen abandoned mines that still contain mineable coal reserves and complete reclamation at no cost to the taxpayers.
Other funding sources include Growing Greener grants, which often fund mine drainage projects through local watershed groups, and forfeitures of reclamation bonds that are posted by mining companies to cover the cost of reclaiming mine sites if the company is unable or unwilling to complete site restoration once mining is finished.
Gov. Edward G. Rendell was instrumental in working with Congress and other coal mining states to extend collection and distribution of abandoned mine funds for another 15 years. Pennsylvania received $30 million from the fund in 2009 and is projected to receive $1.1 billion by 2022.
Congress also authorized states to set aside up to 30 percent of each annual grant for the abatement and treatment of acid mine discharges. Pennsylvania will use those resources to fund construction and long-term operation and maintenance of hundreds of mine drainage treatment facilities statewide.
Pennsylvania has approximately 180,000 acres of abandoned mine lands dating back to when coal mining began in the state in the 1700s. There are more than two billion tons of waste coal piles across the state and an estimated 4,600 miles of rivers and streams are degraded by mine drainage. For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: Abandoned Mines.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a list of abandoned mine reclamation contracts awarded by DEP during the first four months of 2009 and the funding source for each project:
Blair and Cambria counties
Logan and Gallitzin Townships — Mill Run Watershed. Remove approximately 30,000 tons of coal refuse and reclaim four acres of ground beneath the refuse pile.
Contractor: Ridge Energy Company, Clymer, Indiana County
Estimated Reclamation Value: $40,780 (NC)
Cambria County
Adams Township — South Fork of Little Conemaugh River. Removal of two abandoned coal refuse piles totaling approximately 150,000 to 200,000 tons of coal refuse and reclamation of 17 acres of abandoned mine lands.
Contractor: Robindale Energy Services Inc., Armagh, Indiana County
Estimated Reclamation Value: $55,691.58 (NC)
West Carroll Township — Fox Run. Land. Grade 88,300 cubic yards of on-site spoil, plant grasses and 7,800 trees on 14.5 acres.
Contractor: Hutchison Excavating, Armagh, Indiana County
Project Cost: $206,001.23 (OSMRE)
Clearfield County
Bigler Township — Alyssa site. Expose and remove remaining coal reserves from 23 acres of underground mine workings that were abandoned in the 1940s, add alkaline material to offset acidity at a rate of 425 tons per acre, grade and establish vegetation on 22.4 acres of surface lands.
Contractor: Hilltop Coal Company, Houtzdale, Clearfield County
Estimated Reclamation Value: $150,000 (NC)
Bradford Township — Kovalick site. Reclamation of 12 acres of abandoned mine lands, removal of 1,800 linear feet of highwall, addition of 6,125 tons of alkaline material to counteract acidity, and removal of approximately 12,000 tons of remaining coal reserves.
Contractor: Sky Haven Coal Inc., Penfield, Clearfield County
Estimated Reclamation Value: $115,000 (NC)
Lawrence Township — Siebenrock site. Reclaim 23.6 acres of abandoned mine lands, remove 2,600 linear feet of highwall, add 2,600 tons of alkaline material to counteract acidity.
Contractor: Swisher Contracting Inc., Clearfield
Estimated Reclamation Value: $94,500 (NC)
Elk County
Fox Township — Tyler Run. Grade 506,239 cubic yards of on-site material, add 2,520 tons of alkaline material to offset acidity and establish vegetation on 42.4 acres.
Contractor: Earthmovers Unlimited Inc., Kylertown, Clearfield County
Project Cost: $597,319 (OSMRE)
Fayette County
Lower Tyrone Township — Murphy site. Expose and remove remaining coal reserves from 12.1 acres of abandoned Pittsburgh Seam deep mine, reclaim and vegetate surface, re-establish surface flow to a dry stream channel where the stream has been diverted into the abandoned underground mine workings.
Contractor: Tedco Inc., Connellsville, Fayette County
Estimated Reclamation Value: $152,000 (NC)
Nicholson Township — Georges Creek Watershed. Expose and remove remaining coal reserves from nine acres of abandoned Pittsburgh Seam underground mine workings; remove subsidence features and reclaim site.
Contractor: Patterson Coal Company, Smithfield, Fayette County
Estimated Reclamation Value: $49,000 (NC)
Indiana County
Young Township — Kiskiminitas River Watershed. Expose and remove remaining coal reserves from 3.2 acres of abandoned Pittsburgh Seam underground mine workings; remove 1,100 linear feet of highwall and reclaim 12 acres of abandoned mine lands.
Contractor: Simpson Coal Company, Saltsburg, Indiana County
Estimated Reclamation Value: $58,333 (NC)
Lackawanna County
Taylor Borough – Taylor South Main. Grade 650,200 cubic yards of on-site material; 16,400 cubic yards of drainage excavation; 22,500 square yards of rock lining for drainage structures; backfill the Taylor Main Shaft; remove and dispose of structural debris; and establish vegetation on 85 acres
Contractor: Berner Construction Inc., Gap, Lancaster County
Project Cost: $1,458,977 (OSMRE)
Lawrence County
Wayne Township — Duckrun East. Grade 26,000 cubic yards of on-site material, 500 cubic yards of ditch excavation, 700 square yards of high velocity erosion control blanket, 200 square yards of seeding, implementation of erosion and sediment pollution control plan, and reclamation of 7 acres.
Contractor: Morgan’s Excavating, Mount Union, Huntingdon County
Project Cost: $69,750 (OSMRE)
Sullivan County
Cherry Township — Forfeited Bernice Mining and Contracting Co. sites. Backfill two pit areas, remove four ponds; grade and establish vegetation on 80 acres of mine lands; establish erosion and sedimentation controls; demolish structures; and remove 60 tons of trash and tires.
Contractor: Berner Construction Inc., Gap, Lancaster County
Project Cost: $719,417.77 (BF)