Objectives: to rehabilitate the maiden passive system in order to continue treatment of the abandoned mine discharge and restoration of dunkard creek

Project description: the maiden passive treatment system (maiden PTS) in dunkard township, greene county was originally installed on private property in 2006 to address two abandoned mine discharges including one of the largest sources of acidic AMD in the dunkard creek watershed. The project was completed as part of a vast public-private partnership effort to restore dunkard creek which was being impacted by old, abandoned coal mines. This partnership included watershed and nonprofit organizations, government entities, private companies and local citizens. About one year after completion, the landowner revoked all permissions to enter the property which prevented monitoring and maintenance of the system. Stream restoration incorporated and various project partners spent several years and thousands of dollars attempting to a new agreement and at one point even tried to purchase the property without success. The treatment system was thought to be lost. Then in 2015, mepco, LLC specifically purchased the property for the purpose of providing SRI access to operate, maintain, monitor, rehabilitate and improve the maiden PTS. After almost 10 years of treating highly acidic and metal laden water with no maintenance, the system was found to be in very poor condition. The AMD was essentially bypassing most of the treatment components. Funding was pulled together from multiple sources to restore the functionality of the existing components as feasible. This initial phase was completed in 2016. While significant improvements in water quality were achieved, additional maintenance and improvements are needed including expanding existing treatment capability. Work to be completed includes cleaning of limestone, adding additional treatment media, and converting the existing horizontal flow limestone bed to a mixed media jenningsstyle vertical flow pond. Combined with the efforts of mepco, LLC these proposed efforts are expected to significantly improve dunkard creek. Environmental benefits: this project is expected to rehabilitate the maiden passive treatment system. Once completed the system is expected to treat an estimated 150 million gallons of AMD per year resulting in the neutralization of more than 100,000 LB year of acidity and the prevention of more than 25,000 LB year of iron and 20,000 LB year of aluminum from entering dunkard creek. Restoring the treatment system will help to maintain the improvement gains to the water quality and aquatic life of dunkard creek. Project partners: biomost, INC. Mepco, LLC pennsylvania department of environmental protection stream restoration incorporated