Conemaugh Valley Conservancy received a $17,875 award to complete a localized watershed assessment to determine eligibility of abandoned mine drainage seeps and abandoned mine land features for future development work. The assessment will include a thorough monitoring program, archived mine mapping reviews, and an updated biological survey along Kimberly Run in Somerset Township.
In 2023, the Shapiro Administration announced Corrugated Partners Group would invest $52.7 million to build a new manufacturing operation and will create at least 80 new good-paying jobs within the next three years. The company received a funding proposal from DCED for a $400,000 Pennsylvania First grant and a $160,000 workforce development grant to train workers.
Mayfield Borough received a $14.9 million award to remove spoil piles, backfill pits, excavate highwalls and over excavate the Clark deep mine followed by structural backfill to design finished surface grade to support the development/construction of the Century Logistics Center.
The Municipal Authority of Buffalo Township received a $742,947 grant from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority to replace approximately 133 lead service lines throughout the Borough of Freeport in April 2023
The Leo and Bernard Corl Farm received $582,152 in state funds from the Department of Agriculture through the Farmland Preservation Program to protect the farm from commercial or residential development.
The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Orwigsburg received a $2,087,500 grant from the Pennsylvania Investment Authority to replace 5,575 feet of sanitary sewer main, manholes, laterals, and cleanouts. The project will address inflow and infiltration within the system.
The Northumberland County Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area Authority received a $2.9 million award to construct a waterline to provide adequate water quantity and quality to AOAA. The first well on the site was immediately abandoned and the current well is producing water from the mine pool.
The Gary E. and Christine K. Biddle Farm, The Neil C. and Heather J Darhower Farm, and The Morgan E. Constance Farm received $1,090,994 in state funding from the Department of Agriculture for protection from future development.
Heritage House received a $29,800 Senior Community grant from the Department of Aging for capital improvements & renovation.
Margaret I. Harris Farm #2, Sandra S. Sanders Family Protection Trust, and the Danielle D.J. Stewart and David Knox Farm received $328,320 in state funding from the Department of Agriculture to protect them from future residential or commercial development.
In 2023, the Shapiro Administration announced Pratt Industries will invest $500 million and create hundreds of jobs over the next ten years.
The Matthew S. Balliet Farm received a $191,498 investment from the Department of Agriculture for protection from future development on April 14, 2023.
In June 2023, the Shapiro Administration announced EAM-Mosca Corp. will invest $20.6 million to expand its manufacturing operation in Luzerne County, creating at least 50 new good-paying jobs within the next three years. The company received a funding proposal including a $250,000 Pennsylvania First grant. EAM-Mosca completed it's expansion project by May 2024.
Cecil Township received a $177,510 award to create a reclamation design and required permitting of a 26-acre abandoned mine land site in Cecil Township. Once designed, a future phase of the Project includes the reclamation and development of the property for commercial use in order to provide new jobs in the local and surrounding community.
Conemaugh Valley Conservancy received a $116,920 award to create a reclamation design of four abandoned mine land (AML) features, located along the access road to Johnstown Inclined Plane and the proposed Sliver Park area. The future reclamation of the AML features will allow for public access to existing and proposed recreational trails as well as access for maintenance of the Johnstown Inclined Plane.
The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Bedford received a $6,325,000 loan and a $4,275,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority to replace approximately 29,940 feet of cast iron water distribution main, 455 leaded gooseneck lines, 28 fire hydrants, valves and other necessary appurtenances.
An initial assessment, data collection, and conceptual reclamation design of up to 16 miles of affected streams in the Redstone Creek Watershed will be completed. The objective of the Project is to characterize baseline contaminant loading and physical controls of the associated source mine pool(s) and identify candidate sites and conceptual design for the future construction of an active abandoned mine drainage (AMD) treatment plant that would eliminate over 4,000 gallons per minute of AMD into Redstone Creek and Rankin Run, both tributaries of the Monongahela River.
Tesla received a conditional $254,826 National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure award to expand access to and reliability of electric vehicle charging by building a charging station at the Tesla Charging Hub in Breezewood.
The Schuylkill Conservation District received a $1.8 million award to provide continued treatment of the Tomhicken and Catawissa Creek Watersheds to include treating 4,000 gallons per minute of acid mine drainage emitting from the Oneida #3 discharge. The continued treatment of these Watersheds will help to remove over two miles of stream from the “impaired waters list.”
The Venango County Commissioners received a $112,479 award to develop an implementation plan to guide future remediation project proposals in the Scrubgrass Creek and South Sandy Creek Watersheds. The result of the Project will guide the Venango County Commissioners and their conservation partners in facilitating future AML and AMD reclamation and remediations efforts.
The City of Lebanon Authority received a $22,250,000 loan from the Pennsylvania Investment Authority to enhance and/or replace the primary distribution chamber mixing system, sludge pump station, and clarifier components. The project will address components reaching the end of their useful life and will improve efficiency of the facility.
The Finishing Trades Institute of Western PA (FTI WPA) received $296,722 from DCED to expand apprenticeship opportunities for the construction industry in Western Pennsylvania. Through this funding, FTI WPA planned to add approximately 20 new apprenticeships across more than 10 employers over the next three years.
Trout Unlimited received a $772,797 award for routine maintenance of the Swamp Area passive treatment system will be performed to assure proper function of the system and continued treatment the Two-mile Run, a Class A Trout Stream. The maintenance will include improvements to the access road, cleaning the collection and conveyance methods, replacing limestone in the drainable limestone beds, replacing and or patching liners and organic material in three vertical flow ponds (VFP), cleaning and deepening the treatment wetlands, clearing unwanted vegetation, and post-construction monitoring.
The Borough of Ambridge received a $15,000 grant from The Department of Environmental Protection for two electric pickup trucks for the police department on February 28, 2023.
The Borough of Greenville received a $899,298 loan from the Pennsylvania Investment Authority to construct and rehabilitate approximately 1,305 feet of storm sewer system. The project will address impacts to railways, roadway damage, flooding, and erosion.
The Soloman Asser and Gabriela Hodara Farm received $816,000 in state funding from the Department of Agriculture to protect the farm from future residential or commercial development.
Raceway Management Company received a conditional $841,547 million National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure award to expand access to and reliability of electric vehicle charging by building a charging station at the Onvo Travel Plaza in Blakeslee.
Lehigh County Authority received a $1,555,508 loan and a $3,383,892 grant from the Pennsylvania Investment Authority to replace 149 private and 1 public lead and/or galvanized service lines in the City of Allentown. The project will contribute to the eliminated risk of potential lead exposure to adults and children.
Cambria County Conservation District received a $191,061 award for the design and permit the removal and reclamation of a large refuse pile and haul road, demolition of five abandoned structures, reclaim two clogged stream areas caused by a pre-1930s era mining operation.
Earth Conservancy received a $17.5 million award for nearly 15,000 linear feet of channel will be reclaimed through grading, reestablishing the channel, installing channel lining, replacing or repairing crossing, removing obstructions, and removing a dam/silt impoundment. Natural stream design best management practices will be used. The project design is complete and permitting is under final review.
Allegheny Land Trust (ALT) received a $114,475 award to treat the abandoned mine drainage (AMD) discharge that is impacting Chalfant Run and the first step in a broader scope of plans to restore the Chalfant Run Watershed. Upon completion of the Project, the AMD discharge will be treated prior to entering the stream and act as a central point for visitors to the greenspace and will allow ALT to move on their plans of streambank stabilization and restoration of three miles of Chalfant Run before entering the tributaries of Thompson Run and Turtle Creek.
TA Operating received a conditional $1.1 million National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure award to expand access to and reliability of electric vehicle charging by building a charging station in Greencastle.
The Elizabeth LaFrenz Farm received $10,519 in state funding from the Department of Agriculture for future development.
Clearfield County Conservation District received a $1.3 million award to provide maintenance to the Morgan Run 8 passive treatment system necessary to continue effectively treating acid mine drainage (AMD) and to construct Morgan Run 7, currently an experimental passive treatment system, treating a partial flow of MR-7A, the primary AMD source. Construction of a full-scale system will be completed as a part of the Project to fully treat four separate AMD discharges impacting Morgan Run.
Borough of Freeland Municipal Authority received a $1,509,000 loan from the Pennsylvania Investment Authority to replace the existing dewatering system with a new screw press, a liquid polymer metering system, an incline screw conveyor, associated controls needed to operate these system components, and a new steel access platform for the new system. The upgraded system will reduce processing costs and improve the efficiency of operations.
The Richard L. Jr. and Michelle L. Ober Farm received a $153,176 investment from the Department of Agriculture for protection from future development.
The Linda M. Longenecker Farm received $128,578 in state funding from the Department of Agriculture to protect them from future residential or commercial development.
The BCI Municipal Authority received a $149,000 award to design a water main extension for 13 residential homes in Beccaria Township. The extension has been requested by Beccaria Township residents due to concerns of onsite well degradation and poor water quality caused by abandoned mine lands. The water main will be extended along Cross Roads Boulevard for approximately three miles and along Utahville Road for approximately one-half mile.
The Foundations for PA Watershed received a $2.8 million award to implement Phase I of the Portage AMD active treatment facility and implements recommendations in the Super 7 Report and the Little Conemaugh HUP. The Sonman and Hughes, pre-1977, Discharges will be addressed in Phase 1.
In 2023, the Shapiro Administration announced Schless Bottles will relocate from New Jersey to Allentown, Pennsylvania and invest more than $7.5 million in a manufacturing facility for premium plastic jars and bottles. The investment will create 98 full-time, new manufacturing jobs within three years. The company received a $300,000 Pennsylvania First Grant and a $196,000 grant to train new workers.
The Lyons Run Watershed Association received a $1.5 million award for the construction of a passive abandoned mine drainage treatment system to collect three acidic, high iron and aluminum contaminated discharges. As a result of the construction, the ecosystems in the upper portion of Lyons Run will be recovered and ecological function and aesthetics will improve in the Lyons Run and larger Turtle Creek watershed.
The Floyd M. and Marian D. Farabaugh Farm #3 received a $229,876 investment from the Department of Agriculture for protection from future development on April 14, 2023.
Elk County Conservation District received a $418,507 award for three years of continued operation and maintenance of two lime silos treating two acid mine drainage discharges impacting Dents Run. The operation of the silos has helped restore six miles of Dents Run from Porcupine Hollow to the Bennett Branch Sinnemahoning Creek. Dents Run is now labeled a Stocked Trout Water and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has been stocking the stream since 2019. Discontinuing operation and maintenance of the silos will result in losing the environmental improvements to Dents Run and a loss of $280,620 per year in recreational use as reported by the PFBC.
TH Minit Markets received a conditional $798,869 National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure award to expand access to and reliability of electric vehicle charging by building a charging station in Allentown.
The Shade Creek Watershed Association received a $174,974 award to complete an Active Treatment Plant (ATP) Development Plan for five AMD discharges impacting Shade Creek. This project will include collection of historical water quality and flows, mine pool mapping, mine pool drilling and monitoring, ATP site selection, discharge conveyance plan, ATP conceptual, estimated design and construction costs, and a sludge disposal plan.
Loyalhanna Watershed Association received a $382,909 award to complete an additional and more comprehensive study of the Crabtree Discharge. The information gained will be used to issue a final report to thoroughly vet the most promising treatment options and locations to access and treat the discharges. Successful treatment of the Crabtree and Jacks Run Discharges will have a direct impact on over 9 miles of stream, over 8 acres of the Loyalhanna Reservoir, and the Jacks Run/Sewickley Creek Watershed to the south.
The Mountain Watershed Association received a $98,000 award to complete a redesign of the existing Melcroft passive treatment system (PTS). The Melcroft PTS was originally constructed, as part of a larger project, to lower the associated deep mine pool for safety reasons and treat the discharge before allowing it to flow to Champion and Indian Creeks. The PTS has been successfully treating the discharge for nearly 12 years but is recently declining in effectiveness due to the inability to effectively rehabilitate the system. The redesign will incorporate newer technologies successful in passively treating mine drainage to continue to effectively treat one mile of Champion and Indian Creeks.
Electrify America received a conditional $741,290 National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure award to expand access to and reliability of electric vehicle charging by building a charging station at the Sheetz in Bethel.
The McKean County Conservation District received a $164,181 award to fund an updated assessment and implementation/restoration plan by McKean County Conservation District of up to 520 acres of abandoned mine land and abandoned mine drainage features that will be the basis for future reclamation and water treatment projects for over 16 miles of affected watershed and a cumulative 1,800 linear feet of existing dangerous highwalls in Norwich Township.
The Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority received a $3.2 million award for the Ghost Town Trail Loop Completion & Gob Pile Removal Project includes the removal of a half-acre gob pile in Nanty Glo Borough and the construction of nearly 8,000 linear feet of rails-to-trails to connect the existing Ghost Town Trail from Beulah Road (Cambria Township) to Church Street (Blacklick Township). Completing this portion of the trail will complete a 36-mile loop of the Ghost Town Trail from Blacklick to Ebensburg.