Millions in Funding to Reclaim Abandoned Mine Lands: Cleaning Waterways, Creating Jobs, and Enhancing Community Safety by Removing Hazards Beneath Homes and Businesses
Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded $19,640,380 for the environmental restoration of eight abandoned mine lands (AML) projects as part of the Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage Grant Program.
Pennsylvania has the largest inventory of abandoned coal mines in the nation, with a roughly $5 billion need for reclamation and stream restoration. To date, Pennsylvania has rehabilitated more than 151,000 acres of the roughly 288,000 acres of abandoned coal mines across the Commonwealth, and with this federal funding, will be able to continue this vital work that protects the health and safety of our communities.
“Reclaiming abandoned mine land is a crucial endeavor, restoring both the environment and communities in the Commonwealth, while simultaneously creating jobs and bolstering the economy in both the short- and long-term,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “These grant recipients are taking on projects to pave the way for meaningful efforts in improving water quality, fostering ecosystem recovery, and revitalizing communities for a greater quality of life for Pennsylvanians.”
The funding was awarded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, also known as the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act, which has invested more than $700 million into reclaiming Pennsylvania’s abandoned mine lands since 2022. In addition to planned projects, this funding also pays for emergency situations like subsidence and sinkholes that can endanger people and damage or destroy homes and property.
DEP prioritizes grant funding to address serious human health and safety problems resulting from abandoned coal mines, as well as treating AMD to continue watershed restoration efforts under the AMD Set-Aside Program and prevent the loss of restored streams.
Grant recipients will be reimbursed on project costs up to the limit specified below.
The following projects will be awarded:
Clearfield County:
BCI Municipal Authority – $1,831,220.00
- Beccaria South – Waterline Extension – Construction of a water main extension in the Cross Roads Boulevard corridor in Beccaria Township to alleviate water quality and quantity issues of on lot well systems as a result of abandoned mine land degradation.
Greene County:
Natural Streams Foundation – $8,396,313.50
- Crucible North – Remove approximately 212,500 cubic yards of coal refuse from an abandoned mine lands site and restore over six acres of land in Cumberland Township.
Indiana County:
Stream Restoration Inc. – $241,989.00
- Laurel Run #2 (Passive Treatment Redesign) – Complete project development and design work required to rehabilitate the Laurel Run #2 abandoned mine drainage passive treatment system in Brush Valley Township.
Lackawanna County:
Lackawanna County Commissioners – $6,716,080.00
- Dickson City Pile Reclamation – Remove abandoned mine land spoil areas to reclaim land for future development in Dickson City and Blakely Boroughs.
Schuylkill County:
Schuylkill Conservation District – $442,191.20
- Gordon East Design – Project development and design to reclaim abandoned mine lands on State Game Land 326 in Butler Township.
Schuylkill Conservation District – $379,085.00
- Oak Hill, Pine Knot and Repplier Treatment Study – Project work includes the analysis of the Pine Knot and Oak Hill boreholes and the Repplier mine discharges to develop a conceptual design of a future abandoned mine drainage treatment facility in Cass Township.
Woodlands for Wildlife – $658,890.00
- Llewellyn South Design – Project development and design to reclaim 27 abandoned mine land features in Branch Township.
Tioga County:
Trout Unlimited, Inc. – $974,612.00
- Landrus – Maintenance of the Bear Run abandoned mine drainage passive treatment system in Bloss Township.