HARRISBURG — Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) and Rep. Tim Twardzik (R-123) announced that more than $220,000 in state funding was awarded to improve mine drainage treatment and water quality in East Norwegian Township.
The Schuylkill Conservation District received the funding to design a new mine drainage treatment system for the abandoned Pine Forest Shaft, which will help clean the Upper Schuylkill River. The funding will support updated water testing, engineering design and permitting work.
“The polluted rivers and streams left behind by long-gone companies drive home how important these cleanup efforts are,” Argall said. “We’ve made significant progress since I grew up near heavily polluted rivers in Port Carbon and Tamaqua. Many of our rivers and streams that were choked with pollution now run clean. However, much work remains to restore our land and protect our waters for future generations, so that our grandchildren and their children will only see the accounts of devastated landscapes and waterways in their history books, rather than from the windows of their homes.”
“This investment is an important step toward restoring the waterways that help define our communities,” Twardzik said. “Improving water quality in East Norwegian Township protects public health, strengthens our local environment and supports the long-term revitalization of the region. I appreciate the continued commitment of the Schuylkill Conservation District and all who work each day to safeguard our natural resources.”
Funding was awarded through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Nonpoint Source Management Program, which supports projects to restore impaired waterways across the state.
CONTACTS:
Seth Hubler (Argall)
William Jones (Twardzik)