Tribune-Review
Courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection secretary Patrick McDonnell speaks at the dedication of the Gladden Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Plant in South Fayette.
Courtesy of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Millers Run as pictured in 2008 with the acid mine drainage, and after the project was completed in 2021.
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The water in South Fayette is running clear thanks to a recently completed acid mine drainage treatment plant.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection secretary Patrick McDonnell joined with project partners and stakeholders to commemorate the completion and acknowledge the results of the South Fayette Conservation Group’s Gladden treatment plant.
Illegally dumped tires catch fire in Pa. coal mine
Updated Apr 29, 2021;
TREVORTON – A fire in an abandoned mine near Trevorton in Northumberland County might have spread from illegally dumped tires and trash to coal.
That is the speculation because sulphur odors have been detected along with those from burning rubber and plastic, Stephen Jeffrey, county public safety director, said Thursday.
The Trevorton Fire Co. was dispatched Saturday for a reported brush fire but discovered smoke coming out of the ground, he said.
The mine, which reportedly has not been operated since the 1970s, is on county-owned land that is leased to the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area.
Editor s Note
This is the second article in a two-part series on the dramatic and lasting impact of unregulated coal mining that once took place in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Restoration efforts began 40 years ago and have a long way to go. But funding to restore abandoned mine land is largely tied to fees paid by existing coal mining operations. In an odd twist, we need coal in order to clean up coal. As the nation moves away from coal-generated energy, what will fund the work that lies ahead?
Part 1, Orange water, dirty air, looked at how we got here. Part 2 explores restoration strategies, success stories and what it will take to get the job done.