COMPLETION DATE:
Major construction completed October 2001; Water Quality Monitoring ongoing by PA DEP, Knox DMO

Site History: A 40+ acre surface coal mining operation was previously conducted by the Bowie Coal Company in the 1940's. The site was only partially reclaimed by planting trees on the spoil piles, which was successful, but much of the site including about 15 acres of water-filled open pits and 1300 linear feet of 50 foot highwalls were left unreclaimed. Two of the larger water-filled pits were located dangerously close to Courtney Mill Road, a public road. One of the pits and associated highwall was located only about 250 feet from a historic farmhouse.

PROJECT SUMMARY: 

• Pumped and treated over 7 million gallons of degraded water from 4 large abandoned pits;
• Incorporated 580 tons of alkaline material (Reclime) to neutralize existing acid-producing spoils during backfilling of ~15 acres of open pits with 1300 linear feet of highwalls, with a maximum highwall height of ~60 feet;
• Restored ~43 acres of abandoned mine lands to productive farmland, which was characterized by spoil piles, dangerous highwalls and water-filled pits with degraded drainage for 50+ years;
• Planted 51 trees (Blue Spruce and Norway Spruce) around the historic farm house (2nd oldest dwelling in Mercer Co.) to serve as a windbreak;
• Planted ~3000 wetland plants with adjudicated youth from George Junior Republic to provide wildlife habitat.

FUNDING SOURCE: 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania "Growing Greener program; contributions from project partners