On Monday, August 27, 2012, representatives from the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts (PACD), the State Conservation Commission (SCC), the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), the Lackawanna River Corridor Association (LRCA), both the Lackawanna and Luzerne Conservation Districts, and the Earth Conservancy (EC) toured several abandoned mine sites throughout the Lackawanna and Luzerne Counties.
These regional environmental leaders toured the Northern Anthracite Coal Fields to get a closer look at abandoned mine drainage (AMD) impacts on the region and the collective efforts to design and construct AMD treatment systems that remove the iron oxide from the Lackawanna and Susquehanna Rivers since the 1960s.
“We appreciate the effort EPCAMR put into scheduling this event for us,” said Robert Maiden, PACD Executive Director. “Today’s tour gave a direct account of AMD discharges and reclamation work in the area and its meaning for the surrounding communities in the region. We’re definitely excited to see headway being made on mitigating stream discharge and increasing the counties’ economic vitality.”
“The tour provided a great opportunity to see conservation practices installed by local conservation districts and their partners. These best management practices have effectively reduced the impact of mine drainage on the area’s streams and drastically improved local water quality,” said Karl Brown, SCC Executive Secretary. “This was a great time to celebrate these successes and discuss how we can continue to support the efforts of the Districts and Coalition.”
The following sites were visited throughout the tour: Old Forge AMD Borehole, Duryea AMD Outfall, Solomon Creek AMD Boreholes, Espy Run AMD Treatment System within the Nanticoke Creek Watershed, and Newport Lake, an AMD water-filled stripping pit.
“The sites visited have connection to Pennsylvania’s major waterways. The Old Forge AMD Borehole discharges directly into the Lackawanna River, a major tributary to the Susquehanna River,” said Robert Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director. “Today’s tour allowed us to showcase the great work being done in Lackawanna and Luzerne County.”
“As we all work together on a daily basis to protect the environment and our waterways throughout Pennsylvania, this was a great time for us to continue the dialogue about what more we can do to preserve the state’s natural resources,” Maiden added.To learn more the organizations involved in the tour, you can visit their respective websites:
