DUBOIS – Williams Companies Inc. recently presented a $20,000 contribution for Clarion River watershed acid rain projects to the Headwaters Charitable Trust through their Headwaters Conservation Partnership (HCP) program.
The trust was awarded two Growing Greener grants in February from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which provided a total of $354,000 for two acid rain remediation projects. These are using passive treatment approaches to improve 17 miles of stream and 150 acres of lake.
Janie French, executive director, stated: “We greatly appreciate Williams’ support for this innovative project that is expected to result in significant water quality improvements in the Clarion River, an important western Pennsylvania watershed and a major tributary to the Allegheny River.
“We now have the opportunity to significantly reverse the impact of decades of acid rain pollution that resulted in many degraded waterways that may look good on the surface, but due to the acid conditions have trouble supporting aquatic life and impact drinking water supplies.”
She said it is always a challenge to find the required matching funds for large environmental projects. Fortunately for Headwaters and the future of the Clarion River, she said numerous corporations stepped up to the plate to help fund the initiative and move the project forward.
“We also like to emphasize that projects like this not only improve our environment, but also directly support the local economy through the utilization of local engineering, construction and supply firms, and the value created by improved natural resources that support recreation and tourism,” added Trust Chairman Jonathon Rockey.
Williams is one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North American. Established in1908, Williams’ corporate headquarters is in Tulsa, Okla. and has regional headquarters in Houston, Denver, Salt Lake City, Calgary and Pittsburgh.
Williams’ Transco Pipeline has been active in the northeastern United States for more than 50 years. Williams’ focus is gathering, processing and transporting of hydrocarbons, such as natural gas and NGL’s through its mid-stream and interstate natural gas pipelines.
Their main Pennsylvania office is located in Pittsburgh, and the company currently employs more than 500 people with its Marcellus operations. “Williams and its employees are committed to environmental stewardship at local, regional and national levels, as well as having a lengthy history of volunteering and contributing to local social, health and education programs in the communities within which we work”, stated Scott Carney, strategic outreach business partner.
In 2012, Williams provided nearly a million dollars of community support in Pennsylvania and the West Virginia panhandle. “The Headwaters organization has a track record that spans decades of managing important regional conservation projects, and we are proud to partner with them in this effort” said Carney.
Other corporate partners on the acid rain projects include Shell Appalachia, Atlas Resources, the EADS Group and Gannett Fleming Inc. More information about assisting with regional conservation projects through Headwaters is available on its Web site at www.headwaterspa.org.