After debate, the U.S. Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed the federal infrastructure legislation into law on Nov. 15. The bill aims to revitalize the nation’s roads, bridges, waterways and public transit.
As part of the bill, the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) was reauthorized to allow for extractive fees to continue to be used to reclaim abandoned mine areas and to treat abandoned mine drainage (AMD) that pollutes our local waterways such as the Stonycreek and Little Conemaugh rivers.
These national expenditures are really an operation and maintenance plan that shifts more federal funding toward waterway infrastructure.
Notice that the bill mentions “waterways” – which not only provide transportation, but also recreation as well as industrial and drinking water.
Our public thrives when infrastructure is built and maintained.
The need for infrastructure is not new. Remember the Erie Canal and the Horseshoe Curve, which brought the trains across the mighty Alleghenies.
U.S. Rep. John Murtha understood this need when he created the Stonycreek- Conemaugh River Improvement Project (SCRIP) in 1991.
He charged it with making Johnstown’s rivers swimmable, fishable and drinkable by 2000.
Although the task has been daunting and is ongoing, local progress has occurred as witnessed by community facilities such as Greenhouse Park, events such as the Stonycreek Rendezvous and businesses such as Coal Tubin’.
The historic improvement of water quality in the Stonycreek River was accomplished by means of water treatment infrastructure, such as the Oven Run AMD passive treatment systems that prevent 433,620,000 gallons a year of AMD-laden water from reaching our rivers, provides clean water for industry and homes, and has restored more than 20 miles of fishery.
The resulting eco-tourism finds a network of cycling and hiking trails along our waterways – which are being revived, in part, via these infrastructure projects.
The newest project is the active mine drainage treatment plant to address the legacy deep mines along the Little Conemaugh River.
The successful completion of this large infrastructure project, in the headwaters near Portage, will further clean up rivers all the way to Pittsburgh and beyond.
Like treatment of drinking water, our network of AMD treatment facilities is a vital component of the national infrastructure. AMD water treatment facilities represent an investment that must be maintained similar to bridges, roads and buses.
The benefit of clean water adds a marked improvement to the quality of life around our region and to the pride that we take in our outdoor mecca of fishing, kayaking, biking and scenic splendor.
For more information on projects, upcoming events and how to get involved, visit the Stonycreek-Conemaugh River Improvement Project website.
SCRIP is a coalition of grassroots groups and local resource agencies drawing in sportsmen, environmental groups, municipalities, businesses, coal operators, schools, and citizens.
SCRIP was created with assistance from the late U.S. Congressman John Murtha in conjunction with the Somerset and Cambria County Conservation Districts to address water quality problems in the Upper Conemaugh Basin.
The basin includes the Stonycreek River and Little Conemaugh River, which meet in Johnstown to form the Conemaugh River. The Conemaugh’s confluence with Loyalhanna Creek creates the Kiskiminetas River, which flows into the Allegheny River.
With the grassroots involvement and political support, SCRIP has succeeded in establishing public-private partnerships with many agencies such as the PA Department of Environmental Protection, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Geological Survey, US Office of Surface Mining and the Army Corps of Engineers.
(Photos: Little Conemaugh River before and after major abandoned mine discharge cleanup projects.)
Related Articles:
-- The Allegheny Front: New Documentary Chronicles The Rebirth Of The Little Conemaugh River
-- Study Shows 150% Return On Investment For Cleaning Up Little Conemaugh Watershed, Cambria County
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[Posted: December 6, 2021] PA Environment Digest
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