Plans to clean up coal's orange legacy

Northeastern Pennsylvania’s anthracite heritage is clearly (and brightly) evident throughout the region with orange streams and creeks being commonplace.  Some spots are so brightly colored you can even see them on Google Earth. 

The Old Forge borehole was drilled in 1962 to alleviate high water tables and drainage issues among abandoned mines. It worked, but created another problem: 60 million gallons of acid mine drainage (AMD) containing 7,700 pounds of iron oxide pour out of the borehole into the Lackawanna River every day before making their way to the Susquehanna River. It has been anecdotally referred to as the most visible source of pollution in the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed.

A Pennsylvania-based corporation is hoping to clean up the mess. Susquehanna Mining Solutions LLC (which has no website at this time) was awarded a $1 million grant from the Marcellus Legacy Fund to ultimately build a treatment facility capable of treating the AMD.

This new, patented technology, if it works as intended, will remove the iron oxide particles from the water. The iron oxide can then be used in paints, as pigments in cosmetics, and as additives for water treatment facilities. If all goes as planned, the treated water's constant 60- to 65-degree temperature makes it a candidate for possible geothermal energy production, and there are plans to use the treated water for aquaculture and hydroponics.

Ultimately, the hope is that the Lackawanna will be a “live” river again with healthy populations of fish and other aquatic life, and that the next generation of Pennsylvanians can build memories around clean (and clear) water.


















Jen Quinn is PennFuture's central Pennsylvania outreach coordinator and works out of our Harrisburg office. Her focus is on water quality issues.