HARRISBURG – Several western Pennsylvania communities, including Decatur Township in Clearfield County, will soon be enjoying safer, cleaner streams for improved public health and recreational uses.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded $1.6 million in grants for local projects to remove acid mine drainage (AMD).
The Clearfield County Conservation District received $249,500 to improve the recreational use of Little Beaver Run in Decatur Township.
Plans currently include designing and building an AMD treatment system, including a pond, wetland and limestone bed, to reduce acidity.
However, a total of seven projects will help restore more than 20 miles of streams in four counties and at the Flight 93 National Memorial site.
“Pennsylvania continues to chip away at the immense challenge of restoring streams impaired before the creation of environmental regulations,” said DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell.
“These projects bring together the best resources in planning, design, construction and maintenance to help bring streams back to life.”
The grants come from the state Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act Fund and a state AML Set Aside fund supported by the federal Abandoned Mine Land Program.