More than $220,000 in state funding has been allocated to improve mine drainage treatment and water quality in East Norwegian Township, according to an announcement from Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) and Rep. Tim Twardzik (R-123).
The Schuylkill Conservation District will use the funds to design a new mine drainage treatment system for the abandoned Pine Forest Shaft. The project aims to help clean the Upper Schuylkill River by supporting updated water testing, engineering design, and permitting work.
Sen. Argall commented on the significance of these efforts: “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.”
Rep. Twardzik added: “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.”
The funding comes from Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection’s Nonpoint Source Management Program, which backs projects focused on restoring impaired waterways throughout Pennsylvania.
