We’re excited to announce we’ve received a grant in the amount of $123,543 for construction of a new abandoned mine drainage (AMD) treatment system, Rondell-Correal (Rondell). This grant is one of four rehabilitation grants provided through the Acid Mine Drainage Set Aside grant program. This program is funded through a fee on active mining per the federal Surface Mining Conservation and Reclamation Act.
Rondell is considered one of the worst mine drainage discharges in the entire state, having extremely degraded and contaminated water. The system we have planned is a passive treatment system (called a reactive channel treatment system) and has been designed specifically for this discharge. The AMD will be diverted into a channel in which the water will come in contact with a medium that will correct the pH imbalance, raise alkalinity and reduce metals. From there it will flow into a settling pond before flowing into the stream. Contamination from the Rondell site is currently flowing directly into the headwaters of Newmyer Run which is considered a dead stream as a result. Newmyer Run flows into Poplar Run which then flows into Indian Creek. With the installation of this new treatment system, we will be able to bring back life to Newmyer Run and restore 2.6 miles of stream as well as improve water quality downstream in Poplar Run and Indian Creek.