Plans are in the works to build a plant in Cresson to process and clean acid mine drainage.
Thursday, State Rep. Frank Burns,(D-Cambria), revealed details of the program organized by state Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mines Reclamation.
“This plant will create between 40 and 50 construction jobs, plus several permanent plant operator positions upon its completion,” said Burns, who has made economic development a top priority. “The plant will help restore 20 miles of streams, while also repurposing a coal refuse pile in Cresson Township, which takes advantage of otherwise useless land.”
The plant will process underground mine pools from three abandoned mines, Cresson No. 9, Gallitzin Shaft and Argyle Stone Bridge. The three mine pools drain into Trapp Run, Bradley Run and Sugar Run.
When operational, the plant will be able to process more than 6 million gallons of acid water per day, and will discharge the cleaned water into Trapp Run, which feeds Clearfield Creek.
DEP is accepting bids on the project through April 6 and construction is expected to take about 18 months to complete.