FOX TOWNSHIP, Pa., April 5, 2002 -- On behalf of Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary David E. Hess today joined the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the Toby Creek Watershed Association and Congressman John Peterson (R-5) to tour a mine drainage treatment system on Kyler Run.
The system, made possible through the Growing Greener program, will eliminate the last major discharge of acid mine drainage to the Toby Creek watershed.
"The recovery of the Toby Creek watershed is one Pennsylvania's greatest watershed success stories," Secretary Hess said. "Through a variety of treatment techniques such as active and passive mine drainage systems and re-mining efforts in the region, almost the entire watershed will be cleaned of acid mine drainage. The partnership working in this watershed is a model for other groups to follow throughout the state -- and is another real-life example of how Growing Greener is working for Pennsylvania."
Congressman Peterson said, "Years ago, clean water in the Toby Creek watershed seemed impossible. It is extremely gratifying to see these improvements first-hand. The many partners who are working in the watershed should be commended for leaving a cleaner environment for our children."
DEP awarded a nearly $1.3 million Growing Greener grant to the Toby Creek Watershed Association through Headwaters Charitable Trust to construct a passive treatment system to handle a 1,200-gallon-per-minute discharge from the abandoned deep mine. When completed in 2003, the project will treat the last major discharge of acid mine drainage in the watershed. The project has received additional funding through the Natural Resource Conservation Service P.L. 566 program, a federal grant program for watershed restoration.
"This project is a great use of federal and state dollars, and is a prime example of what can be accomplished when we couple the financial resources of federal and state government with the hard work of dedicated volunteers," said NRCS District Conservationist Gary Swope.
The discharge will be treated using a series of Successive Alkaline Producing Systems (SAPS), anoxic limestone drains, settling basins and wetlands. The system will cover six acres, using 4.4 miles of plastic pipe and nearly 27,000 tons of limestone.
"As a lifelong resident of the area, it gives me great pleasure to be part of a project to almost completely rid the watershed of acid mine drainage," Toby Creek Watershed Association President Bill Sabatose said. "It's been a 30-year effort, but I'm proud to say that working together, we're winning the battle."
The Growing Greener program is the state's largest-ever environmental investment. A total of $650 million over six years is dedicated to protect and restore watersheds; reclaim abandoned mines; plug abandoned oil and gas wells; preserve farmland; fund recreational activities like parks and trails; help communities address land use; and provide new and upgraded water and sewer systems.
For more information on Growing Greener, visit DEP through the PA PowerPort at http://www.state.pa.us/, PA Keyword: "Growing Greener."
