15 AUGUST 2024 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Millions in Grants for Abandoned Mine Lands Adapted from Information by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) To prioritize serious human health and safety problems as a result of abandoned coal mines, Pennsylvania’s Shapiro Administration awarded $101.1 million in grants for environmental restoration projects. The millions in funding will reclaim Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) to improve water quality and revitalize communities, “Reclaiming AML is a crucial endeavor, restoring both the environment and communities in our commonwealth,” said DEP Interim Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “These grants recipients are taking on projects that pave the way for meaningful efforts that improve water quality, foster ecosystems recovery, and revitalize communities for a greater quality of life for Pennsylvanians.” The funding for 16 environmental restoration projects will focus on reclaiming abandoned mine lands, decreasing Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), or treating AMD through the construction, operation, and/or maintenance of an AMD treatment facility. This watershed restoration will prevent the loss of restored streams and create significant water quality improvements. Here are a few of the projects selected for the AML and AMD Grant Program: j Ernest-Fulton Run (Crooked Creek) will use more than $24.1 million, to construct an active AMD treatment system which will treat the Fulton Run Shaft and Ernest 2 and 3 discharges. j Lower South Valley Energy Park will be using roughly $1.35 million in grant money for engineering and permitting work to reclaim approximately 3000 acres of AML for construction of the Lower South Valley Energy Park. j Morris Run Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Plant (Tioga River) will include constructing a treatment plant to improve the Tioga Reservoir and 20 miles of stream including the Tioga River, Morris Run, Coal Creek, and Fall Brook. This project will be the largest grant around $68.25 million by the Susquehanna River Basin Commission. Funding under the Abandoned Mine Land Economic and Revitalization program has recommended additional AML projects, totaling nearly $21 million, to be funded by the federal U.S. Department of Treasury. The Stineman Refuse Project in Cambria County, was awarded funds in 2021. ENV
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDk4Mzk=