MWASeptember 2006 TERRITORY SeptemberPage 2006 HOME OF THE YOUGH RIVERKEEPER®

Protecting, preserving and restoring the Indian Creek watershed and surrounding areas.

Bike for Health Benefit to be held on October 7, 2006 MWA teams with Laurel Highlands Rotary Club

• Our new website should be up The Mountain Watershed Association has recently partnered with the and running within the next Donegal-Laurel Highlands Rotary Club to hold a fundraising bike ride on the month! Please check back with Indian Creek Valley Hike/Bike Trail. The ride, called Bike for Health, will raise us often: mtwatershed.com awareness of and funding for the work MWA is involved in regarding the health • Lottery calendars will be here effects of pollution, as well as Rotary's PolioPlus: Completing Our Promise pro- soon (see inside!). gram that seeks to wipe out polio worldwide. • 2007 entertainment books have The ride will take place on October 7, 2006, beginning at Pavilion #3 in arrived. Call today to C.W. Resh Park, Indian Head, PA. MWA will have environmental education purchase yours! activities set up along the trail for participants. The cost is $25 for the first registered family member and $5 for each additional family member, and the first 20 participants to register the morning of the ride will receive a free t-shirt INSIDE THIS ISSUE: courtesy of MWA. Registration begins at 9am. The Indian Creek Valley Hike/Bike Trail uses a former railroad right of 2 Kalp Project way and the mostly level surface is a perfect ride for families and small children. Groundbreaking A light lunch will be served after the ride by Rotarian volunteers, led by Paul Trimbur at the hot dog grill. A rain date has been scheduled for October 14, Falls Race A Success! 3 2006. The Benefit for Health ride is a great opportunity to start your day in the Indian Creek Stream 3 beautiful Laurel Highlands, see some great fall foliage, and support the Study Mountain Watershed Association and the Donegal-Laurel Highlands Rotary Club! We hope to see you there! For more information please call Kristy at Stocking Stuffers 4 MWA: 724.455.4200.

DIRECTIONS: From the Pennsylvania Turnpike, take Exit 91 (Donegal). Don't Abandon 5 Turn left on Route 31. Just before Sarnelli's, turn right on Rt. 711/381. Pennsylvania! Continue until you reach the town of Indian Head (approximately 7 miles) and turn left to cross Indian Creek. Turn left on Clarence Resh Lane, and follow the What the DEP Can (and 6 lane to the park and pavilion. Won't) Do VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: We are in need of 5-7 volunteers to man (or Trips for Kids Update 7 woman!) the crossings on the ICV trail during the ride. If you can donate 2-3 hours of your time on October 7th, you can earn next years membership for free! Please call us today at 724.455.4200 and let us know you are available! September 2006 Page 2 It Is Finally A Reality! Construction on Anna and Steve Gdosky Treatment System Has Begun! After several years of studies, iron, aluminum, and acid from another 2 years as the treatment water monitoring, design, and a price roughly 10.9 miles of Indian Creek.” system is built. Once the treatment tag of over $3.5 million, the Anna and Many people think that build- system is built, the water from the Steve Gdosky Indian Creek Restora- ing these treatment ponds only makes mine will be diverted into the ponds tion Project (also known as the Kalp the stream look better – that we are where the metals will fall to the discharge) is now under construction. only concerned with aesthetics,” bottom and not enter the stream. The Mountain Watershed Simko says. “However, in reality, The Kalp discharge is one of Association, Inc. received a $1.6 taking the iron, aluminum and acid 5 abandoned mine projects that MWA million dollar grant from the PA out of the stream will help the stream has worked on. “With only a few Department of Environmental recover to provide a great fishing and more mine drainage sites to tackle in Protection Growing Greener program recreational opportunity for the the coming years, we can restore the and over $500,000 from the USDA community. With the hike/bike trail Indian Creek watershed by 95%.” says Natural Resources Conservation along the stream, this allows access for Beverly Braverman, Executive Direc- Service to construct the treatment many people to fish and play in the tor of MWA. system. The contractor, Stoy Exca- stream.” She continues, “We extend a vating of Somerset, PA, has started sincere thank you to all of the land- work. Currently, the water in Indian Creek is an ugly orange color. The owners who have allowed us access, Phase I is to build an access orange color is iron that was dissolved given us easements and helped us road and a drain that will collect clean in the mine water. Even though this acquire land for these systems to be water and divert it around the site looks bad, the stream is actually built,” Braverman said. “Without the where the ponds will be built. Phase healthier. When the iron was not support and encouragement of these II is to build the treatment ponds and visible in the stream, the water was generous folks, who would have probably won’t start until after winter. very acidic. This acid was keeping the thought that Indian Creek would “This is a very large construction pro- iron dissolved. Since the amount of recover from mine drainage pollution ject happening right here in our area,” water in the mine has been lowered, in our lifetime? It is no longer a says Deb Simko, Project Coordinator the remaining water going into the dream – it is now a reality!" for MWA. “After the treatment creek has less acid in it and the iron is system is built, it will clean up the not dissolved. The water will continue to have the orange color for

MWA Hires New Youghiogheny Riverkeeper MWA recently hired a new full mental education. She is a certified to paddle. time employee. Krissy Kasserman teacher with a specialization in envi- MWA intends to have a began work in August and is now ronmental education. greater presence monitoring working on a study of water quality of Krissy comes to us from pollution in the Youghiogheny River the Youghiogheny and Monongahela Tri-State Citizens Mining Network in watershed as part of the Youghiog- Rivers. She will also be coordinating Washington, PA, where she worked as heny Riverkeeper Project. If you are our Trips for Kids project, as well as a community organizer. out paddling, hiking, or going for a working on various other MWA A whitewater kayaker, Krissy drive and see any water quality projects. is looking forward to working for problems in the watershed, please call A West Virginia native, greater protection of the Youghiog- the Mountain Watershed Association. Krissy's background is in environ- heny River, one of her favorite rivers We'd like to come out and take a look.

Update on Kalp Strip Mine All appeals are filed and we are ready to proceed. If you have any questions, please call us at the office! September 2006 Page 3 Indian Creek Stream Study Conducted By Shannon Bates

In August MWA staff sects not only live exclusively in clean system is desperately needed to conducted a macro invertebrate study water, but also are a very important restore the health of Indian Creek. on two sections of Indian Creek to food source for fish. A rainbow trout The Anna and Steve Gdosky determine stream health. The sites was spotted very near this sampling treatment system is predicted to clean were located above and below the site as well. up 40% of the existing pollution in Kalp mine discharge. The second site was Indian Creek. Once in place, the The first site, located about located approximately 1 mile down- treatment system should restore this 2-3 miles above the discharge, stream from the Kalp discharge. Not section of stream to an aquatic habitat appeared to be the picture of a healthy a single macro invertebrate was found for the first time in many years. We stream. Many good water quality indi- at this site, indicating that the water look forward to these great improve- cators were found including mayflies, quality is very poor, and proving that ments as we work toward a stoneflies, and caddis flies. These in- the Anna and Steve Gdosky treatment completely restored Indian Creek.

Public Hearing on Blasting Rule Changes Held at MWA's Request

On September 21 the will, if adopted, weaken the rules mony about the effects of blasting, Office of Surface Mining held a public governing blasting both on surface weakened regulations, and accessibility hearing at the request of the Mountain mines and in the creation of air shafts of information regarding the Watershed Association in Donegal, for deep mines. proposed changes. PA. MWA's request for a hearing was The hearing was attended by Thanks to those folks who in response to proposed changes that MWA members who offered testi- came out to testify!

Falls Race A Huge Success for MWA Get your YRK t-shirt before they sell out!

MWA recently attended the year that boaters are able to paddle Falls Race in Ohiopyle to over the falls, and many kayakers promote the Youghiogheny sign up. Riverkeeper project. The event was a Available for sale were our huge success with 20 new members new Youghiogheny Riverkeeper joining and significant funds being t-shirts and canvas grocery bags. raised. Made of organic and recycled Manning the booth were cotton, these t-shirts and bags MWA board member Ken feature the new MWA/YRK logo, Pictured are MWA board member Ken Gfro- Gfroerer and Yough Riverkeeper and are now available at the office erer and Youghiogheny Riverkeeper Krissy Krissy Kasserman. for $12.50 and $15, respectively. Kasserman. MWA has attended the Falls MWA wishes to extend a Race for the last three years. The warm welcome to our new Falls Race is the one weekend per members who joined at the Falls September 2006 Page 4 Do Your Holiday Shopping at the Mountain Watershed Association Office!

The 2007 Entertainment Books now available at our office for only $25! The Pittsburgh East Entertainment Books include many valuable discounts from LOCAL merchants where you shop! Includes discounts from: Pittsburgh Penguins ($85) Sheetz Lesley's Fine Dining ($25) Pennzoil Dairy Queen Linden Hall Golf Course Caddy Shack Pizza Hut Dick's Sporting Goods

Call us today at 724.455.4200 to reserve your copy!

2007 Lottery Calendars will be here soon! Mountain Watershed Association's lottery calendar is a good way to support the watershed while taking a chance at winning cash and other great prizes! The calendars offer a chance at a daily cash prize as well as special bonus prizes including a Wilderness Voyageurs River Package (value $150), a Seven Springs Golf Package (value $750) and Ski Package (value $530), and a Shear Indulgence Spa Package (value $125)!

The calendars are priced at $30 again this year, and feature photos of Indian Creek, Rasler Run, and wildflower photos from the Indian Creek Gorge.

Also Available:

Mountain Watershed Association's Indian Creek Notecards are available for $10. Each prepackaged set comes with 4 different designs including scenes from the Indian Creek Gorge and wildflowers photos.

Youghiogheny Riverkeeper organic cotton t-shirts and recycled cotton canvas logo grocery bags . T-shirts are only $12.50 and bags are $15. September 2006 Page 5 Don't Abandon Pennsylvania! Update on the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Fund Pennsylvania’s natural documented abandoned mine sites – with would be awarded more funds and use resources and labor have fueled Amer- more than 184,431 abandoned mine lands. them for other purposes. ica from the industrial age to the pre- These sites are often dangerous, Even with these flaws, an sent. The Commonwealth’s citizens with high walls and cliffs, flooded pits and AML bill was developed by Pennsyl- mined the coal, and manufactured the open mine mouths creating hazards that can vania’s U.S. senators which would bring steel, aluminum, glass and other prod- maim or kill. Until these are corrected, more than one billion dollars in guaran- ucts that made the rise of our nation as injuries and deaths as a result of children and teed cleanup funds to Pennsylvania. the global leader possible. Even today, adults playing near and in these sites will And there was great support for the Pennsylvania continues to provide fuel continue. In 2004, then U.S. Secretary of measure – passage of this legislation is for our nation’s electricity needs. Interior Gale Norton estimated that least 45 strongly supported by the Pennsylvania deaths and 19 injuries at abandoned mine But those contributions – AML Campaign, county commissioners sites have occurred just in the anthracite particularly from coal – have also left a and conservation districts across the mine region of Pennsylvania in the past 30 terrible legacy. Too often, coal compa- state, as well as groups in other historic years. nies, which were unregulated until 1977, coal production states. failed to clean up the pollution they This contaminated water takes a caused or failed to provide for future toll on citizens’ lives. Contaminated local But the AML bill was killed by problems caused by their work, simply water supplies mean that southwestern the Senate in early August after being leaving the damages behind, with no Pennsylvania coalfield resident Bill Gdosky bundled by the leadership of the House law to force clean up. As a result, Penn- and his neighbors draw well water that is of Representatives into legislation sylvania is scarred with abandoned mine unfit for washing, much less for drinking. including other very controversial bills land. These abandoned lands not only The problem is growing. In southwestern with provisions such as estate tax and create hazardous and biologically counties along the Monongahela River, minimum wage. Other bills supported degraded scars on our land; the pollu- orphaned mines are filling with highly by Pennsylvania’s senators were passed tion destroys many of our streams and polluted acid water, which will soon break easily, but the AML legislation was rivers, and also prevents Pennsylvania out and discharge into the river and its hijacked and held ransom through this from competing for 21st Century jobs tributaries. It will damage fishing, drinking tactic. There is ample evidence, though, and investment. water supplies and general water quality on that the AML provisions would have the Mon, to the Ohio River and beyond. passed had they been considered alone; The Abandoned Mine Recla- And with the Port of Pittsburgh serving as indeed, the senate’s minority leader mation Fund, an interest-accruing the busiest inland port in the nation, efforts offered to sponsor a stand-alone AML account held by the Office of Surface to showcase Pittsburgh will be undercut by bill. Mining of the US Department of the reality of the pollution seen at the Port. Interior, was created in 1977 to fund It’s Time for Real Leadership Although Pennsylvania leads the clean up of these old abandoned sites. nation in developing and implementing new Income to the fund comes from a fee Pennsylvania municipalities strategies to clean up abandoned mine lands, on current coal operations, and the and counties, public health and the enormity of the problem is staggering. If money is funneled back to coal mining environmental leaders and economic funding continues to remain flat and clean states to support abandoned mine clean development groups are all calling for up continues at the current rate, it will take up. The Fund expired in 2004, but has our members of Congress to demand more than 60 years to eliminate just the continued to operate under laws passed that Congressional leaders work to high-priority hazardous sites. on a year-to-year basis. Reauthorization ensure passage of AML legislation in Pennsylvania’s clean up costs are at of the Fund and proper allocation of this session of Congress . least $1.5 billion, not accounting for inflation the money are necessary to protect or increased damage from newly discovered The health, environment and Pennsylvania’s public health, sites. economy of Pennsylvanians are on the environment and economy. line, and the fund must be reauthorized How Bad is the Problem ? What’s the Problem in Washington ? now, with increases in both the collections generally and in the At a time of record coal industry allocation to Pennsylvania specifically 1.4 million Pennsylvanians live profits, Congress has insisted that a included. It is essential to Pennsyl- within a mile of an abandoned mine reauthorized AML Program decrease both vania’s economic well-being to clean up land site. At least 44 of the 67 counties the amount of money collected from the the coal industry’s dangerous and in Pennsylvania are affected by coal industry and the AML funds allocated polluting legacy and keep future dam- abandoned coal mines. As of March to Pennsylvania. States with active coal age from occurring. 2002, Pennsylvania had 5,172 mining but little legacy of abandoned mines September 2006 Page 6 What the DEP Can (And Won't) Do Comments about Limited Authority of the Department of Environmental By Beverly Braverman The Mountain Watershed limitations are through local zoning concerns on public roads must be Association recently received a restrictions.” directed to PennDot, Pennsylvania comment/response document for a “The Department does not State Police, or township strip mine proposal. In this require property line surveys.” authorities.” document, the Department states “Undeveloped springs are “Bonds posted for permit what it has authority over and what it not developed for water supplies for issuance are for reclamation only.” does not. human consumption, agriculture, In response to questions The Department is commercial use, or industrial use and about assessment of health issues supposed to require a Cumulative do not fall under the definitions of a near mine sites, “There are no Hydrologic Impact Assessment. We water source to be protected from provisions for the Department to believe this should be a being diminished in quantity.” require this.” cumulative assessment of the “The Department inspects Further, in the Technical watershed, not just a cumulative active mine sites at a minimum of Guidance Document for the assessment of the site proposed to be once a month. Often, a Mine Inspec- Department, Title “Blasting stripped. The Department stated: tor will inspect an active site more Complaint Protocol”, it is stated “This assessment includes an frequently based on mining activity “The Department has no authority evaluation of the receiving streams, an levels.” to require repair of or compensation overburden analysis summary, and a It should be noted that MWA for the damage. Repair and com- water quality spreadsheet calculation is required to have an on-site inspec- pensation are strictly a civil matter which generates effluent limits for the tor every day when we are building a between the property owner and the treatment pond discharges. These mine drainage treatment system. The operator.” effluent limits are based on pre-mining disruption to the surface and to the There is a statement in one water quality data.” How is this subsurface during strip mining is tre- application, “These areas will not be cumulative? mendous compared to the disruption affected, as mining activities will not In addition, throughout the at one of our sites yet inspection takes occur within 300 feet of any struc- document, the Department sets forth place much less frequently. tures.” We know that blasting and its limitations: “The Department has no mining activities affect these areas. “The Department has no regulatory regulatory authority or control over Dust, blasting damage, noise all authority to control hours of opera- traffic, except on the site. Any traffic occur far beyond 300 feet of any tion on a mine site. Any such structure.

DEEP MINE PROPOSAL------AGAIN!!

Amerikohl Mining Company’s consultant is approaching members of our community to take water samples in their homes to collect water supply information for a proposed underground mine.

You should ask for identification. MAKE THEM TAKE SAMPLES OF ALL WELLS AND SPRINGS . M AKE THEM TAKE FLOW MEASUREMENTS . This is only step one. As of Sept. 21, they still did not have an application submitted to the department of environmental protection.

IF YOU DO NOT PERMIT THE COMPANY TO TAKE THE SAMPLES OR PROVIDE BASELINE INFORMA- TION ON YOUR WATER SUPPLY, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR PRESUMPTION UNDER THE LAW THAT PRO- VIDES: IF THE MINING TAKES YOUR WATER, THE COMPANY IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO REPLACE IT.

THIS COULD BE A VERY CRITICAL PART OF YOUR DEFENSE IF YOUR WATER DISAPPEARS.

KEEP TRACK OF ANY WATER SAMPLE RESULTS YOU ACQUIRE. KEEP A JOURNAL OF ANY CON- TACTS YOU HAVE WITH EITHER THE MINING COMPANY, THEIR REPRESENTATIVES, or the Pa DEP. September 2006 Page 7

Trips for Kids Update

Krissy Kasserman will now meet in Indian Head near Resh Park. Ecology and Enviroment educational be coordinating our Trips for Kids We have 10 mountain bikes and standards. During the trip Program. As fall approaches, we are helmets available for participants to participants can see and learn about still recruiting for additional Trips for use while riding with us, and we the Sagamore treatment site and Kids rides. If you know of a youth supply each participant with a Clif experience hands-on environmental group, class or scouting troop that energy bar and a bottle of water. activities as they pedal along on the trail. would be interested in taking a ride Our Trips for Kids with us, please give us a call at the programs include an environmental Schedule a trip for your group office or share our contact informa- education lesson focusing on our local today. It's a perfect opportunity to tion. water resources. This lesson is written experience a fun-filled bicycling trip as The majority of our trips now in accordance with the Pennsylvania well as learn a valuable lesson about water quality!

MWA Hosts Bike Aid for Fourth Consecutive Year

On August 8 and 9, MWA as well as some trail maintenance on Aid participants prepared to pedal the employees and volunteers hosted Bike the Donegal extension. The Bike Aid rest of the way to Washington, DC, Aid, a group of young people cycling participants were a huge help where they planned to meet with their across the country. Their goal, as they during these projects. We truly appre- congressional representatives to relay travel, is to become more aware of the ciated all of the time that they donated experiences from their travels. Based many issues affecting communities to our organization, especially after on the photo sent to us from a Bike and people around the country and pedaling 2/3 of the way across the Aid participant (below), it seems that the world. As they pedal across the country! at least one person heard our message country, the Bike Aid participants After leaving Melcroft, Bike and can relate! overnight with organizations working for positive change in their communi- ties, and we were pleased that they chose to spend another year with us here in Melcroft! Upon arriving at their campsite, generously donated by the Mountain Pines Resort, the bikers were greeted with a hot meal prepared by MWA board members, employees Left: The sign on and supporters. We thank them very this bike belonging to a Bike Aid much for their work and dedication! participant says, "I The following day, MWA live in a mining organized a trail and roadside clean up town. Ash clouds rain on me and I drink contaminated water." September 2006 Non-ProfitPage 8Org. U.S. POSTAGE PAID Melcroft, PA Permit No. 002

P.O. Box 408 Melcroft PA 15462

Phone: 724 455-4200

Fax: 724 455-4201 www.mtwatershed.com

WE ARE ON THE WEB POSTAL PATRON WWW.MTWATERSHED.COM

Please Invest in the Future of the Mountains By Becoming a Member of the Mountain Watershed Association Name: ______Address: ______Protecting, preserving, ______Phone: ______and E-mail: ______Types of Membership restoring the _____Basic ($5 or 1 hour verified volunteer effort) _____Family ($7) Number of people in family ______Group ($15) Number of people in group ______Indian Creek _____MWA Donor ($20) _____Stream Friend ($45) Watershed and _____Stream Hero ($90) _____Lifetime Member ($500) surrounding areas. _____Donations (are tax deductible). I can volunteer to help when needed: yes____ no_____ Please make checks payable to: Mountain Watershed Association Send to: 1414B Indian Creek Valley Rd., P.O. Box 408, Melcroft, PA 15462