Legislators tour abandoned mine reclamation site near Branchdale
SUBMITTED PHOTO - Robert Hendricks, president of Woodlands for Wildlife; Sen. Dave Argall; Rep. Tim Twardzik; and Brad Shultz, senior civil engineer at Kleinfelder, visit the site of an ongoing abandoned mine land reclamation project in Branch Township.
BRANCHDALE – Senator Dave Argall (R-Schuylkill) and Rep. Tim Twardzik (R-Schuylkill) visited an ongoing abandoned mine reclamation project near Branchdale Friday.
“Seeing the black wastelands and polluted rivers and streams left behind by long-gone coal companies always drives home how important supporting these efforts is,” Argall said. “We’ve made significant progress since I grew up near abandoned coal pits in Tamaqua’s east end. However, much work remains to restore our land and protect our natural resources for future generations, so that our grandchildren and their children will only see the accounts of devastated landscapes in their history books, rather than from the windows of their homes.”
The project is spearheaded by nonprofit Woodlands for Wildlife and received a $550,361 state grand from the Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage grant program earlier this year.
“Seeing the scope of this abandoned mine land site in person underscores just how important this reclamation work is,” Twardzik said. “These projects don’t just heal the land, they protect nearby homes, improve water quality and help keep our communities safe. I’m grateful to see such strong partnerships focused on restoring Schuylkill County’s natural environment.”
The grant funds engineering work to address up to 100-foot tall rock walls created by strip mining at a site in Branch Township near Branchdale. It will also improve water quality and enhance the health of the Schuylkill River Watershed, the legislators said.
Argall said that while existing mining companies are responsible for reclaiming their properties, many abandoned sites remain across the state.
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