One of the challenges of Acid Mine Drainage remediation in the Upper Conemaugh Basin is to continue to form new partnerships and secure new resources for the cleanup of over 400 discharges on the Stony Creek and Little Conemaugh Rivers. A project under development in the village of St. Michael, Adams Township, Cambria County presented such an opportunity.

Paul C. Rizzo Associates of Monroeville PA. is a developer of hydroelectric projects. They became interested in the St. Michael area because of a 2500 gpm plus supply of water from an abandoned mine shaft and surrounding topography that would allow the utilization of a pump storage system to generate electricity during peak demand times. The St. Michael mine shaft is the single worst source of pollution in the Little Conemaugh River Basin and responsible for almost 30% of the pollutant load in the watershed. The discharge overwhelms and renders the South Fork of the Little Conemaugh River toxic to all forms of aquatic life. Topper Run a small tributary to the South Fork, above the St. Michael shaft.

Given the existing pollution, diversion of water from the shaft to the hydroelectric project has the potential to improve water quality in the South Fork. Plans worked out in a Memorandum of Understanding between the developer and the Authority will require the developer to treat all water from the shaft and discharge treated water that is not needed for makeup within the system. The Authority hopes to be able to join AMD metals reclamation efforts of the Southern Alleghenies Conservancy with the hydro project's proposed water treatment plant to save disposal costs and create a salable product.

A feasibility study has been completed on the project and the next step is to evaluate the environmental conditions at the site which may have been impacted by the abandoned mining facility. Pennsylvania's new Brownfields Legislation encourages industrial reuse of previously contaminated sites and the PA Department of Community & Economic Development's Industrial Site Reuse Program has provided a $200,000.00 grant which will have a 25% match from the developer for Phase I, II & III Environmental Site Assessments (ESA).

The main discharge, shown here contributes more than 2500 gpm of acidic water with high concentrations of dissolved aluminum and iron. Besides the mine discharges themselves, the site previously contained an electric substation, machine shop and other coal preparation areas. These areas have the potential to impact the environment and will be investigated during the Phase II ESA.

	All that remains of the main entry shaft is the concrete seal. This is a secondary discharge. Water escapes from a point in the shaft just below the concrete plug. Brownfields legislation adopted during the special legislative session called by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge on taking office in January 1995 provides real incentives to reuse these old abandoned industrial sites.

The Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority is excited about this project. The private development plan presents the opportunity for cleanup of a water resource and will create employment and economic opportunities at the same time. If succesful, we could accomplish 30% of our remediation goals in as little as 5 years. The scope of the AMD problem in the Upper Conemaugh River will take decades of patient work. This project presents a real opportunity to surpass our initial goals for the remediation schedule on the little Conemaugh River. The opportunity to solve environmental problems and and increase business infrastructure is a goal everyone can embrace.

For more information about the St. Michael Pump Storage / Water Treatment Project,
Contact :

Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority Home Page