Transforming the Little Conemaugh: A Victory Over Acid Mine Discharge

For over half a century, the Little Conemaugh River in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, bore the brunt of relentless acid mine discharge, turning its waters a disheartening shade of orange and rendering them lifeless.

In a groundbreaking initiative, a collaborative effort between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has successfully halted a massive 3,000-gallon-per-minute acid mine discharge from the abandoned St. Michael mine shaft.

This discharge had been a significant source of pollution since the early 1960s.

The transformation was swift and remarkable.

Once murky and tainted, the river's waters now flow clear, signaling a new era for the local ecosystem.

In 2012, Rosebud Mining Company received a pioneering permit to pump and treat water from the mine pool, aiming to access underlying coal reserves.

This permit mandated the company to demonstrate tangible improvements in water quality.

By 2013, Rosebud had constructed a $15 million wastewater treatment facility adjacent to the St. Michael shaft.

Additionally, the company committed to annual contributions to a trust fund, ensuring the plant's operation and maintenance long after mining activities cease.

The impact of this project is profound.

The DEP estimated that the St. Michael discharge was responsible for approximately 3,700 tons of acid mine drainage annually, accounting for nearly a third of the pollution affecting the Little Conemaugh River.

With the new treatment measures in place, iron loads are anticipated to decrease by 98%, aluminum by 100%, and manganese by over 50%.

Joel Koricich, District Mining Manager at DEP’s California District Mining Office, expressed his enthusiasm: "It was really quite exciting to see a 3,000-gallon-a-minute discharge dry up almost instantaneously after almost 50 years of flowing and polluting the streams."

He added, "Hopefully, this builds momentum to where other major discharges in the area are taken care of similarly. We took care of the biggest one first."

Building on this success, the DEP, in collaboration with the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, is exploring plans to construct additional mine water treatment plants.

These facilities aim to address other significant sources of acid mine drainage into the Little Conemaugh, potentially restoring both cold and warm water fisheries along sections of the river.

In a related development, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement awarded $150,000 to the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation in October 2023.

This grant supports the Victor #10 Abandoned Mine Discharge Pipeline Construction Project in West Carroll Township, Cambria County.

The project involves constructing an underground pipeline to transport abandoned mine discharge to an existing treatment plant, aiming to improve water quality in approximately one mile of stream.

These concerted efforts underscore a broader commitment to revitalizing Pennsylvania's waterways.

By addressing the legacy of acid mine drainage, communities are witnessing tangible environmental improvements, fostering a renewed sense of hope and pride in their natural surroundings.

As these projects progress, the vision of a fully restored Little Conemaugh River becomes increasingly attainable, promising a healthier ecosystem and enhanced quality of life for residents and wildlife alike.