Open House Scheduled to Discuss Dunkard Creek Plans

Washington PA Observer Reporter
1 September 2010

Dana Mining and AMD Reclamation Inc. will hold a community open house Thursday to provide information about a plan to mitigate total dissolved solids in Dunkard Creek. The meeting will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Mt. Morris fire hall.

The plan calls for constructing a new pipeline to convey water from the abandoned Shannopin Mine, now being treated at AMDRI's Steele Shaft treatment plant in Dunkard Township, to the Monongahela River.

The project is the third phase of a partnership between Dana Mining and the state Department of Environmental Protection begun in 2003 to prevent an imminent breakout of mine water from the Shannopin Mine and to mitigate acid mine drainage impacts.

The proposed plan also includes formation of a trust fund for the perpetual treatment of Shannopin Mine water and additional reclamation of orphan acid mine drainage seep sites that now pollute the creek.

Dana Mining President James Laurita Jr. invites residents to attend the open house and talk with company representatives about the project.