Lower Lackawanna Watershed Assessment and Restoration Plan

Lower Lackawanna Watershed Restoration and Assessment Plan

The Lower Lackawanna Watershed Stakeholders Group MeetingAugust 21, 2012 at Council Chambers Duryea Borough

Lower Lackawanna River Mine Drainage Impairment

• Old Forge Borehole – Union Street

• ~100 CFS (~45,000 GPM)

• ~15 mg/l of iron (4 tons/day)

• net (-) acidity

• no other major pollution constituents

• Duryea Breach

• ~24 CFS (11,000 GPM)

• ~20 mg/l of iron (1ton/day)

• net (-) acidity

• no other major pollution constituents

Lackawanna/Susquehanna Confluence

EPCAMR’s Mine Pool Maps and Old Forge Borehole Schematics

Duryea Breach

Past Studies

• Historical studies researched

– Dodge (1904)

– Ash (1940s-1950s)

– Gannet Fleming (1967)

– PADEP TMDL (2005) exceeds maximum load by 1000%

– SRBC (2011) Old Forge and Duryea contribute 25% of iron loading to the Susquehanna River.

Old Forge Flow Monitoring

Old Forge Water Quality Trend

Duryea Breach Water Quality Trend

Old Forge/Duryea Quality and Loading

• Since highly (-) net acidic, no alkaline (lime) cost.

• Large flows could be harnessed for electrical needs.

• Since no alkaline material needed, iron sludge should be attractive to business/industry.

Discharge Ave Flow CFS

Ave Femg/l

Ave Mnmg/l

Ave Almg/l

Ave Net Acidmg/l

Ave Fe Loadtons/day

Ave Mn Loadtons/day

Ave Al Loadtons/day

Ave Net Acid Loadtons/day

Old Forge 100 15.0 2.0 0.1 -69.0 4.0 0.5 ~0.0 -18.6

Duryea 24 17.0 2.3 0.1 -60.0 1.1 0.7 ~0.0 -3.9

Combined OF&D 124 5.1 1.2 ~0.0 -22.5

Lancashire #15 11 200.0 na 40 na (pH 2.7) 5.9 na 1.2 na (24 tons/day hydrated lime)

LLR-WRAP Purpose

• To promote the development of an AMD treatment plant to treat both the OFBH and Duryea Breach.

• To engender a community stakeholder’s partnership to advance the treatment plant development.

• To advance a comprehensive plan for the larger 2000 acre confluence area in parts of Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties in Duryea and Old Forge Boroughs, the City of Pittston and Ransom Township.

SMCRA Reauthorization

• Reauthorized in 2007

• PA could receive >$2 billion in restoration funding. Up to 30% of treat AMD.

• Fund will expire in 2022

• Funds administered by PADEP Bureau of Conservation and Restoration.

• Need Qualified Hydrologic Unit Plan to be eligible for funding.

LLR-WRAP Goal

• Completion of QHUP by LRCA, EPCAMR and SRBC.

• PADEP BC&R approve QHUP.

• Initiate AMD treatment plant feasibility study.

• If feasibly, construction of system.

• Stakeholders collaborate to create an entity to fund and operate the Lower Lackawanna AMD treatment facility on a perpetual basis.

Lower Lackawanna Abandoned Industrial Sites

Industrial Site Potential

• Service facilities to help manage Marcellus Industry.• Investment sites for a variety of sustainable and/or

“green” industries.– Geothermal– Hydroelectric– Fe Hydroxide Sludge Reprocessing– Passive solar– Wind turbines

• Large buffer areas of wetlands and natural habitats that could be managed for conservation and recreation surrounding industrial and commercial sites.

• Good railroad access

Susquehanna River Consumptive Use Mitigation

Other LLR-WRAP Issues

• Flood Control

• Transportation planning and expansion to support Confluence site development

• Water quality as related to MS4 and CSOsystems

• Stream corridor management related to water loss to the mine pool and degraded habitats

• Upland surface mine reclamation needs

Lets Revitalize the Lackawanna Valley!

LRCA, EPCAMR and SRBC are asking the community to join with us as the “Lower

Lackawanna Coalition” to ADVANCE this plan to restore the Lower Lackawanna River Confluence

area and develop a mine drainage treatment plant and create opportunities for additional

public and private investment for commercial, industrial, conservation and

residential uses of the lands and waters of the Confluence area.

Outcomes

• PA DEP is requested to advance the OFBH and Duryea Breach QHUPs through the approval process, initiate feasibility studies and develop construction and operations and management program for a treatment plant.

• Duryea Borough, Old Forge Borough, Ransom Township and the City of Pittston will consider collaboration on a comprehensive plan to address the Confluence area and the river corridor up through Old Forge.

• This planning work will examine the need for and interest in the establishment of a Lower Lackawanna Development entity as a public or private agency with a long term mission to develop industrial commercial and residential opportunities and manage a mine drainage facility.

• Duryea Borough, West Pittston Borough, County, State and Federal agencies will consider multiple objectives and the needs of Mine Drainage treatment and conservation management at the confluence with the design and development of new flood control programs.

• Conservation and protection and appropriate management of the confluence areas natural and cultural resources will be integrated into all future planning and development programs.

• Recreation and public open space management will be integrated into all planning and development programs in the Confluence area.

What are your recommendations, ideas, questions and concerns?

Please direct your comments to

Bernie McGurl, Executive Director,

Lackawanna River Corridor Association

at 570-347-6311 or to [email protected]

Funding Acknowledgements

• Lackawanna County LECOR Program

• Willary Foundation

• SRBC

• Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds