We All Live Downstream...

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1 We All Live... fold Champion s of Restoration The For more information or to receive a digital copy of this report with more detailed technical information, please contact: John Dawes R.D. 1, Box 152 Alexandria, PA (814) phone (814) fax rjdawes@aol.com A report of The

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome Friedline Kolb Lowber Monastery Run Sagamore Wilson Run Yellow A report of The in partnership with WATERSHED ASSISTANCE CENTER 3

3 Restoring the worst of the worst and Preserving the best of the best of Pennsylvania s unique watersheds and ecosystems WELCOME The Western Pennsylvania Program (WPWP) is a champion of our state s tremendous water resources and watersheds, providing financial support, matching funds, and guidance to local watershed and volunteer-based organizations. The program has granted over $2 million and leveraged over $22 million in funding sources for over 1 recipients truly making a difference in the Commonwealth. As public support grows and partnerships with local, state and federal organizations expand, the future looks clearer than ever for Pennsylvania s waterways. Due to Pennsylvania s coal heritage and unregulated mining activity before 1977, over 2,8 miles of streams are completely void of life and unable to support fish or macroinvertebrates. The WPWP supports programs that work to restore watersheds to their original, natural state. Support often includes matching funds to projects designed to remediate the negative impacts of various non-point pollution types, such as sediment deposition due to erosion and abandoned mine drainage (AMD). The program provides funding for a variety of projects, such as construction of agricultural best management practices, riparian area enhancement, AMD treatment and new AMD treatment technology including resource recovery. Critical to the success of any restoration project is continual, long-term monitoring and evaluation. This practice enables project teams to acquire sound data, ensure that potential problems or threats are discovered, and make any project modifications along the way. Monitoring and evaluation practices are also important in leveraging funding, assisting with future restoration projects, and building public awareness and support. They may also contribute to taking advantage of new technologies that can make a system more efficient and effective. In fall 22, the Western Pennsylvania Program engaged the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy s Assistance Center to develop a basic monitoring protocol and monitor the effectiveness of seven selected AMD restoration projects funded by the program. The WPWP also partnered with the Conservancy to create this report, and profile these seven leading projects.the Conservancy provided technical assistance and support to project leaders on a number of projects highlighted in this report and has a track record of protocol development and project monitoring through its successful Riparian Restoration. Many restoration projects on the ground in Pennsylvania lack the critical information that describes their challenges and accomplishments. With the development of this publication, we hope to provide sound protocols for restoration project monitoring and work to incorporate them into future activities in the Commonwealth. The projects highlighted in the report include: Friedline Loyalhanna County Kolb Blacklegs Indiana County Lowber Sewickley County Monastery Run Loyalhanna County Sagamore Indian Fayette County Wilson Run Sewickley County Yellow Blacklick Indiana County 5

4 In Friedline Yearly Averages Flow (GPM) ph Acidity (mg/l) Alkalinity (mg/l) Total Fe (mg/l) Ferrous Fe (mg/l) Aluminum (mg/l) results were excellent with all acidity being neutralized and water meeting state effluent standards for active mine discharges. Loyalhanna Year Friedline November 22 FRIEDLINE The Friedline Mine was a small-scale, hand-dug house coal mine in operation from the early to mid 19s, serving the energy needs of local residences. Several mine entries were dug along the hillside at the coal seam outcrop, but the primary entryway, now the area occupied by the initial treatment pond, is the main source of the abandoned mine discharge. In the mid 196s, the Friedline site was the location of what was perhaps the first passive AMD treatment system in Pennsylvania. A deep pond was built to collect the primary discharge, and once the pond reached its holding capacity, it was drained into an area that allowed the water to seep through the on-site soils. It was believed that the bio-remediation properties of the soils would remove the metals from the water. This early system failed to achieve the desired results, mainly due to the very acidic nature of the discharge and the inability of the soils to generate enough alkalinity to neutralize the mine water. Maintenance was also an issue due to harsh winters preventing careful monitoring of the pond. In 1994, the Loyalhanna Association received a $41,98 grant from the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation to construct a Successive Alkalinity Producing System (SAPS) at the Friedline Mine. The grant was matched with $78,685 needed to complete the project by various project partners. The design called for two SAPS to neutralize the acidity in the water and a series of settling ponds and wetlands to remove the metals. A drain was placed in the main entryway to control the water entering the first SAPS, which lowered the water level in the mine and initially reduced acid levels by one third. Several construction problems arose due to the lack of experience in constructing such treatment systems by the low-bid contractor as well as wet site conditions during construction. However, initial Fayette Agostinone Mushrooms AmeriCorps Amerikohl Mining, Inc. Audubon Society of Western PA Carnegie Museum of Natural History Damariscotta Inc. Ecological Restoration Inc. Gibson Engineering Heinz Endowments Kinneer Lumber Company Latrobe Construction Company Laurel Foundation Loyalhanna Association PA Department of Environmental Protection Penn s Corner Resource Conservation and Development Council Powdermill Nature Reserve Skelly and Loy, Inc. Skyview Laboratory, Inc. Thomas H. Nimick Jr. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service U.S. Office of Surface Mining Waste Management Inc. Western PA Conservancy Western PA Program Conservation District Wetland Supply Company Somerset Pond Discharge ph Alkalinity (mg/l) Acidity (mg/l) Ferrous Fe (mg/l) Friedline Pollutin Tolerance Index Good Good Friedline of Treated Discharge 65% 29% 6% Friedline of Treated Discharge Kolb of Treated Discharge 3% 68% 2% <.2 <.2.86 The overall physical condition of the system is good and all treatment cells are intact with no evidence of short-circuiting. It appears that the first treatment cell is functioning beyond design expectations based on water quality data, and the subsequent polishing wetlands are well vegetated, providing an adequate filtering system. A challenge to the existing design is seasonal fluctuations in acidity and metal levels. Sulfates (mg/l) Total Fe (mg/l).9 < Total Al (mg/l) Total Mn (mg/l).39 < The original system was completed in 1997, but problems arose within two years of construction. Seepage areas began forming at the base of some treatment cells and SAPS 1 exhibited low permeability. In 21, remedial action included adding a limestone french drain to capture and treat seepage, installing an emergency spillway and aluminum capture and recycling system, replacing compost and limestone in both SAPS cells and replacing piping network in SAPS 1. After the remedial work was finished, an operation and maintenance plan for the treatment system was developed. Operation and maintenance occurs four times per year with winter shutdown occurring in November to prevent pipe freezing. Normal maintenance currently consists of three phases, which serve the purpose of flushing aluminum precipitates from pore spaces in the limestone. Winter shutdown flushes the aluminum capture tank and redirects aluminum sludge to a drying bed. Dried sludge is then sent to an aluminum recycling facility. In a meeting between Loyalhanna Association and project partners, it was suggested that a limestone channel be constructed from the last output pond to Laurel Run, further buffering the mine water before it enters the stream. It was also suggested that a fountain mechanism on the outflow pipe of SAPS 1 and 2 be built to further oxygenate the water, and an open Anoxic Limestone Drain (ALD) be built at the location of the lower seep, which flows directly into Laurel Run. Additionally, the installation of a holding tank at the mine outflow would allow iron to precipitate before entering SAPS 1. Finally, Limestone sand could be utilized on Laurel Run above the treatment system to add alkalinity to the stream. Another recommendation is to flush the on-site aluminum recovery system and both SAPS cells monthly, as opposed to quarterly. Personnel should be trained to ensure proper flushing of the system. Another strategy is to fill the mine voids with fly ash or other alkaline material that may ultimately eliminate the discharge. 6 7

5 KOLB The Kolb discharge was created in the late 192s by an extensive room and pillar deep mine. Local residents who worked in the mine believe that the discharge drains several square miles of southern Indiana County. It is the first major source of AMD entering the Blacklegs watershed, and before treatment, it saturated almost three miles of streambed with iron oxide precipitates. The project is a simple, passive treatment system that is designed to remove iron from a net alkaline discharge, approximately 1, gallons per minute, that enters Blacklegs. Because the discharge is net alkaline and the only pollutant is iron, the discharge is treated by passively aerating the water using the force of the flow and an aeration basket. By aerating the water, the majority of the iron precipitates enter a large holding pond with any remaining iron collected by a polishing wetland. Through the leadership of the Blacklegs Association, the project was constructed in 2 with initial funding for $65,5 from the PA Department of Environmental Protection Growing Greener Program. Two follow-up grants totaling $17,457 were received from the to complete the project and improve its effectiveness. The land needed to construct the project, valued at $1,, was donated to the Blacklegs Association by Consol Energy (formerly Rochester and Pittsburgh Coal Company). In addition, Grguric Excavating provided approximately $1, in the form of in-kind services to the project. Armstrong Blacklegs Association Consol Energy Environmental Alliance for Senior Involvement Grguric Excavation Indiana County Conservation District Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team KMP Associates Nowrytown Sportsman s Club PA Department of Environmental Protection Saltsburg Sportsman s Club Skelly and Loy, Inc. Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation Western PA Conservancy Western PA Program Blacklegs Indiana Year Kolb Yearly Averages % ph Alkalinity (mg/l) Acidity (mg/l) Ferrous Fe (mg/l) Sulfates (mg/l) Total Fe (mg/l) Al (mg/l) Mn (mg/l) 18% Kolb December 22 Discharge Tributary % % Kolb Pollution Tolerance Index Kolb Tributary Excellent Excellent Excellent 13% 2% 13% Kolb of Treated Discharge 9% 39% 1% 54% 51% Kolb of Treated Discharge Tributary <.2 <.2 <.2 < Before construction of the system, a small, unnamed tributary to Blacklegs, the channel where the discharge flowed before treatment, was totally void of life. The same was true for several hundred feet downstream of where the discharge entered Blacklegs. A 22 macroinvertebrate study revealed that both the unnamed tributary and the areas downstream of the discharge on Blacklegs now support abundant and diverse aquatic life. Water chemistry sampling results indicate that the system has reduced iron levels from four parts per million to less than two parts per million. If the second treatment cell were more densely vegetated, it is reasonable to expect the system to achieve almost total iron removal. <.2 <.2 <.2 < <.2 <.2 <.2 < The treatment system was designed to hold between fifteen to twenty years of iron oxide precipitates from the discharge. The first treatment pond will likely require iron sludge removal by 215 according to accumulation estimates. Due to recent advancements in iron oxide removal technology and marketing of the material, it is not unreasonable to suggest that the sludge could be dried and marketed on site. Other maintenance issues may include trapping to ensure muskrat control and periodic cleaning of the aeration basket. The Blacklegs Association has already initiated improvement efforts for the system.two simple tasks will be undertaken in spring 23 to further increase the effectiveness of the treatment system, which include installing a baffle across the first treatment pond and lowering the water level in the polishing wetland. Due to significant wave action being created by the aeration device in the first treatment pond, some of the iron is remaining suspended and not precipitating. The installation of a baffle will eliminate most of the wave action, which will allow for iron precipitates to accumulate in the first pond as designed. Lowering the water level in the polishing wetland pond will allow for dense vegetation growth, ultimately improving its filtering ability

6 Lowber December 21 Consolidated Coal Iron Oxide Recovery, Inc. Menasha Corporation Foundation Allegheny Sewickly ph Alkalinity (mg/l) Total Fe (mg/l) Manganese (mg/l) Aluminum (mg/l) Hot Acidity (mg/l) Sulfates (mg/l) Flow (GPM) < < LOWBER The Lowber AMD Remediation is the first passive treatment system specifically designed for the recovery of iron oxide. The project site is located at the abandoned Marchand Mine and reclaimed coke oven complex near the town of Lowber, County. A large net alkaline discharge, about 1,8 gallons per minute, emanates from the old mine entry. It is the largest pollution source in the lower Sewickley watershed, severely degrading two miles of the stream and several miles of the Youghiogheny River. Over the years, several old settling ponds created during reclamation of the site filled to capacity with iron oxide precipitates, limiting proper treatment of the discharge. In 21, the Sewickley Association received Growing Greener funding to begin a phased approach to determine the feasibility of using the iron oxide within the existing pond as a commercial product. Phase I removed the iron oxide precipitates from the existing ponds and determined that it can be processed for industrial use. To properly treat the large discharge, a significantly larger treatment system must be constructed. Phase II is presently assessing site conditions to determine if the level of the discharge can be raised to keep construction costs down and determine the best design for resource recovery activities. Office of Congressman Murtha PA Department of Environmental Protection PA Game Commission Sewickley Association Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation Western PA Conservancy Western PA Protection Program Conservation District County Community College Fayette Lowber November 22 Pond Discharge Lowbar Pollution Tolerance Index 1% Poor Poor Lowbar of Treated Discharge Kolb of Treated Discharge Iron oxide precipitants are being removed from the existing ponds and successfully processed for use by industry. Because most of the materials from the coking operation are buried on site, removal of the material is very costly. Successful efforts have been made to raise the level of the discharge water and limit the amount of excavation necessary to build a new treatment system. Soil test pits have indicated that a good source of clay material exists on-site for construction of the treatment system s settling ponds and wetlands. Ample acreage exists to construct a system designed for the 1,8 gallons per minute flow rate and additional land is presently being secured by SCWA < This treatment project is operated as an iron oxide recovery system designed to efficiently remove and dry the iron oxide precipitate. Standard maintenance issues such as muskrat damage control and system function will necessitate periodic inspection. Additional considerations will be given to the areas within the system used for drying the iron sludge upon removal. Because the treatment system has yet to be constructed, some consideration should be given to reducing the berm heights based on deposition rates within similar systems such as Monastery Run. Mechanical aeration may improve treatment efficiency and significantly reduce the size of the treatment system. 1 11

7 Indiana Monastery Run Yearly Averages ph (GPM) Alkalinity (mg/l) Acidity (mg/l) Ferrous Iron (mg/l) Sulfates (mg/l) Total Fe (mg/l) Total Al (mg/l) MONASTERY RUN PROJECT HISTORY The Monastery Run AMD Treatment System consists of five separate projects located on the property of St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA. The original project sites were identified as the Beatty Road Subsidence Area, Wetland 1, Wetland 2, Wetland 3 and the Bubbler. The Bubbler is now a component of Wetlands 2 and 3. All phases of the project were completed through the efforts of the Loyalhanna Mine Drainage Coalition. The Monastery Run Treatment System was constructed in several phases due to the complexity of the project and the various locations of the discharges in relation to Four Mile Run, the receiving stream. Each wetland was built by employing various construction techniques based on available funding and site conditions. Because of such variations in design, construction and location, the wetlands function individually, but are considered collectively as one large system. In general, the AMD at the Monastery Run treatment site is net alkaline, allowing it to be treated by passive aeration and then retention in a series of ponds and wetlands. This system was designed to treat approximately 7 gallons per minute. During periods of high ground water, the additional discharges, which may be from additional unidentified boreholes, combine with the original discharge to produce nearly 2, gallons per minute. The high flows overwhelm the system, reducing treatment significantly. In an effort to improve treatment during the high flow conditions in Wetland 1, effluent from Wetland 1 is conveyed under Four Mile Run into Wetland 2. Wetland 2 was originally designed larger than necessary in order to accommodate times when Wetland 3 might flow at over-capacity. The over-design of Wetland 2 now functions to further treat water from Wetland 1 during high flows. Wetland 3, designed by USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, has been the most consistent in terms of treatment effectiveness. At a cost of $22,, Stoy Excavating completed Wetland 3 in August Water entering this system comes from a borehole purposely located to relieve pressure in the mine pool that was causing flooding in the basements of nearby dwellings. The water is piped upstream from the borehole to the first pond in the system using the hydraulic pressure present in the flooded mine. The system is designed to allow different flow patterns between cells and sufficient aeration and detention times to reduce iron concentrations. This wetland has significantly reduced the polluting metals in the discharge by over 9 percent. Allegheny Power Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania Hedin Environmental Katherine Mabis McKenna Foundation Loyalhanna Association PA Department of Environmental Protection Penn s Corner Resource Conservation and Development Council St. Vincent College USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Forest Service Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation Western PA Program Conservation District Monastery Run has been an ideal site to illustrate the fact that passive treatment does not mean building a treatment system and forgetting about it, counting on it to function perfectly thereafter. At Monastery Run, operation and maintenance has been ongoing since the systems were constructed. Fayette Loyalhanna Somerset C Year Monastery Run November 22 Pond Discharge One of the best examples has been the ongoing maintenance issue related to the population of muskrats using the wetland systems. Muskrats have dug holes in dikes and plugged pipes with cattails, requiring significant effort to control. In the case of Monastery Run, trapping has been the only reliable solution to date. Wetland 1, with its increased flows, has resulted in additional operational costs. With the redesign of water control structures to limit the collection of surface debris, the < conveyance of additional water into Wetland 2, and ensuing maintenance problems associated with iron collecting in pipes, it is evident that once a treatment system is built, operation and maintenance must be considered. Because of the support from agency personnel at Monastery Run, many of the operation and maintenance issues have been addressed. However, if other more active techniques are employed to reduce or eliminate the problems associated with proper treatment at high flow, increased maintenance efforts can be expected. When functioning at the designed levels, the Monastery Run AMD Treatment System has been very effective in reducing the metal pollution load entering Four Mile Run, and ultimately Monastery Run and Loyalhanna. Problems occur when flow conditions exceed design capacity, thereby allowing elevated levels of metals to exit the treatment system. Several strategies can be employed to improve the effectiveness of the individual wetland systems. The key to passive removal of iron from net alkaline mine drainage is oxidation and retention. When flows exceed the design capacity of treatment systems, possible solutions include the introduction of additional oxygen and lengthening retention time, i.e. building a larger treatment system. Since land is limited for expanding the current system, one solution is to inject air into the water to speed the oxidation process. Windmill aerators are now being used at a few treatment systems, but their effectiveness has yet to be quantified. The use of mechanical blowers has shown great promise, but their use requires additional operational costs and increased maintenance. In some instances, hydraulic pressure has been used to create aeration fountains. This method could be employed at Wetland 1 if enough hydraulic pressure is available at the new discharges encountered during construction. Investigation into the source of the discharges is necessary to determine its feasibility. In addition, muskrat damage to the dikes is extremely expensive to remediate. One recommendation to reduce costs is to line the dikes with fencing to restrict muskrat access Monastery Run Pollution Tolerance Index Poor Poor Monastery Run of Treated Discharge 1% Monastery Run of Treated Discharge 75% 25% 12 13

8 SAGAMORE The Sagamore AMD Treatment System is a unique project that began with the movement of 7, cubic yards of mine refuse, covering it with topsoil and seeding it at a nearby location. The newly vacated land area was then used to treat two discharges one alkaline, one acid. The mine refuse and discharges, remnants of the abandoned Sagamore Coal Company s Big Chief Mine, were significant pollution sources to Indian. The remediation effort was initiated and led by Mountain Association, one of Pennsylvania s most active and respected grassroots conservation organizations. Through a Comprehensive Restoration Plan developed by Mountain Association, the Sagamore project, now named the Max B. Nobel Mine Drainage Remediation (after the landowner), was the first restoration project identified. The PA Department of Environmental Protection s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provided input into the project, which began construction in September The passive treatment system involves the collection and treatment of the two discharges. The alkaline discharge has elevated iron, and flow rates ranging between 5 to 2 gallons per minute. The acidic discharge has low flow but elevated iron and aluminum. The system, designed by Skelly and Loy, Inc., called for treating the acidic discharge using an innovative self-flushing anoxic limestone drain and mixing the two discharges in an aerobic wetland. This provides further neutralization of the acidic discharge by using the excess alkalinity from the alkaline discharge. The wetlands are designed to retain the discharges long enough to permit precipitation of the metals so they can be contained in the ponds and no longer discharge into Indian. An innovative method for passively adding additional oxygen to the treatment cells is being utilized, which includes the installation of windmill aerators. The project was the first one to qualify for the Environmental Good Samaritan Act of 1999, a law that protects landowners and others working on mine drainage remediation from lawsuits. Fayette Indian Alice Meadow Allegheny Energy Babcock Lumber Company Bullskin Township Elementary School Catholic Campaign for Human Development Ecology Club of Laurel Highlands High School Fayette County Conservation District Joseph and Anna Gartner Foundation Mountain Association PA Department of Environmental Protection Representative Jess Stairs Saltlick Township Supervisors Sanford M. Nobel Skelly and Loy, Inc. The Baltimore Life Companies The Eberly Foundation U.S. Congressman Frank Mascara U.S. Congressman John P. Murtha U.S. Department of Interior Office of Surface Mining U.S. Environmental Protection Agency USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation District Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation Western PA Protection Program Somerset Sagamore December 21 ph Alkalinity (mg/l) Acidity (mg/l) Ferrous Fe (mg/l) Sulfates (mg/l) Total Fe (mg/l) Manganese (mg/l) 83% 75% Sagamore November 22 Pond Discharge Saglarge Sagsmall Sagout % 1% 15% Sagamore Pollution Tolerance Index Fair Fair Sagamore of Treated Discharge Sagamore of Treated Discharge The Sagamore AMD Treatment System has made significant reductions to the pollution loadings entering Indian. Although the system is functioning at a high level of efficiency, additional adjustments can provide even better treatment. Two windmill aerators have been installed at the site to improve oxidation of the iron in Saglarge: iron laden alkaline discharge into 1st pond Sagsmall: small acid discharge into the ponds Sagout: effluent into Indian the water and a study is being conducted to determine the most efficient placement. Due to efforts to maximize detention time by keeping pond levels high, wetland plant growth has been limited, reducing the additional benefits usually achieved by dense growth. < Although the anoxic limestone drain is designed to be self-flushing, the effluent must be closely monitored to assure proper function, and adjustments should be made to the flushing cycle based on water quality data. Visual inspection of conveyance pipes and other system components should be performed regularly. Chemical and biological monitoring should continue on a regular basis. Monitoring of the windmill aerators must continue to determine their best placement for maximum efficiency. Experiments with the pond levels to allow maximum wetland plant growth should also be initiated

9 WILSON RUN The Wilson Run AMD Treatment, in Mt. Pleasant Township, County, is Sewickley Association s (SCWA) first effort to remediate AMD in the watershed. Located adjacent to the Pennsylvania Turnpike near New Stanton, the bright orange, iron stained pond is clearly visible from the toll road. Since the mid 199s, this site has been used to demonstrate the treatment of large, net alkaline abandoned mine discharges using active aeration. U.S. Bureau of Mines research indicated that by adapting an aeration technology common in municipal sewage treatment, oxidation of the iron contained in net-alkaline discharges would occur quickly, and substantially reduce the time necessary for the iron to precipitate. By reducing this timeframe, discharges are treated in much smaller areas, construction costs are reduced and discharges considered too large for passive treatment are more feasible. The Wilson Run project has provided many benefits beyond the demonstration of aeration treatment technology. The project was the first site in Pennsylvania to use a floating baffle to improve retention time and maximize the treatment area. It was also the site of the first SCWA Field Day, where nearly 1 local residents learned about the treatment system technology and were given demonstrations on water testing techniques. The project has also received much interest from the proponents of resource recovery, serving as a host site for recovery demonstration. It was identified by Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, an international consulting firm, as a possible source for a new mineral recovery technology. Environmental Solutions Allegheny Hedin Environmental PA Department of Environmental Protection Sewickly Penn s Corner Resource Conservation and Development Council Sewickley Association Fayette U.S. Bureau of Mines USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service U.S. Office of Surface Mining Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation Western PA Conservancy Western PA Protection Program Conservation District County Community College Year Wilson Run Yearly Averages ph (GPM) Alkalinity (mg/l) Acidity (mg/l) Ferrous Iron (mg/l) Sulfates (mg/l) Total Fe (mg/l) Total Al (mg/l) Wilson Run November 22 Pond Discharge For several years, the Wilson Run AMD Remediation has been used to research the effects of artificially injecting oxygen into net-alkaline mine drainage to speed iron precipitation. Presently, a high-pressure, low-volume pump injects air through four small bubble diffusers located within an old mineshaft from which the water discharges. Upon exiting the mineshaft, the water flows down a wide channel, into a large pond and then into Wilson Run. Because of reduced retention time due to the limited capacity of the pond and an inefficient blower system, the present system only removes approximately 5 percent of the iron from the 12 gallon per minute discharge < This treatment system requires a higher level of operation and maintenance due to active aeration, blower maintenance, and a possible ten-fold increase in iron precipitation rates. In addition, as an iron oxide recovery site, operation and maintenance will be higher based on costs and activities usually associated with removing iron sludge from the ponds. Original research into the advantages of artificial aeration led to the testing of several different technologies, each one a commercially available product adapted for use in AMD treatment. All of these technologies, using a low-volume, high-pressure air pump, lost efficiency over time due to oxidized iron eventually clogging the devices. A recent technology suggests the use of a high-volume, low-pressure blower that could greatly improve the efficient transfer of oxygen into the water. Removal of iron oxide from the settling pond is necessary to provide additional capacity for iron oxide precipitates. Investigations are presently being conducted to determine if the quality of the iron is of commercial value. Once the iron is removed, additional detention time will improve iron removal efficiencies. An additional wetland complex may be necessary to reduce iron levels Wilson Run Pollution Tolerance Index Excellent Fair Wilson Run of Treated Discharge 56% 4% 4% Wilson Run of Treated Discharge 97% 3% 16 17

10 YELLOW CREEK The Yellow AMD Treatment System is a three-phase project designed to treat discharges entering Yellow, a major tributary and popular recreational fishery within the Blacklick watershed. The project was initiated through the leadership of the Blacklick Association, a leader in employing advanced AMD treatment technologies. All three phases, Yellow 1A, 1B and 1C, are successive alkalinity producing systems (SAPS), with phase 1C including a sulfate reducing bacteria cell. This recent technology avoids the precipitation of gibbsite, a form of aluminum that is prone to plugging treatment systems. When an aluminum bearing discharge is passed through a sulfate reducing bacteria cell, an unidentified alternative aluminum compound forms, which is less prone to plugging. The effluents from all phases of the project are discharged into a polishing wetland before being directed to Yellow. Phase one of the project was strongly encouraged by the PA Department of Environmental Protection due to the anticipated improvements to Yellow and the project site s high visibility to Route 954 in Indiana County. Phase one was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency s Section 319 Program and the Western Pennsylvania Program. Phases two and three were funded by the PA Department of Environmental Protection s Growing Greener Program. Blacklick Association Homer Center School District Indiana University of PA L. Robert Kimball and Associates, Inc. Melius and Hockenberry Environmental Services PA Department of Environmental Protection PA Fish and Boat Commission PA Game Commission USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Western PA Program Indiana Blacklick Cambria Yellow November 22 Discharge 1A & 1B Discharge 1C Phase 1A Phase 1B Yellow Phases 1A & 1B Fair Fair <.2 <.2 <.2 < <.4.14 FLow GPM ph Alkalinity (mg/l) Acidity (mg/l) Dissolved Fe (mg/l) Manganese (mg/l) Al (mg/l) Yellow Pollution Tolerance Index 2.95 <2 <2 <2 Yellow of Treated Discharge 25% 13% 62% Yellow of Treated Discharge 2% 4% < Sulfate (mg/l) Blacklick Association is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Yellow systems. Because of the aluminum found in the water, routine flushing and continued chemical and visual monitoring should be performed, as well as periodic removal of accumulated metals to ensure proper functioning of the constructed systems. Because of the use of living material, like bacteria found in compost, it is also essential to assure that the compost layer is functioning properly. The completed systems are relatively new and functioning properly. Continued monitoring may indicate future improvement strategies Prior to construction of the treatment system, areas downstream of the discharges where characterized as being dead. Now that the project is complete, Yellow, downstream of the discharges, is now a viable recreational fishery and supports abundant macroinvertebrate life