Board of Public Works approves funding for clean water and water conservation

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jay Apperson

410-537-3003

jay.apperson@maryland.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS APPROVES FUNDING FOR CLEAN WATER AND WATER CONSERVATION
Grants to support cleanup of Western Maryland rivers affected by “acid mine drainage,” replacement of pipes in leak-prone water system

BALTIMORE, MD (Sept. 3, 2014) – The Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $850,000 in funding today for projects to clean up Western Maryland rivers affected by drainage from abandoned mines and to replace pipes and equipment in an aging, leaking water system. The Board is composed of Governor Martin O’Malley, Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp and Comptroller Peter Franchot.

“Projects such as these are an important part of our effort to improve Maryland waterways and to conserve water and energy,” said Governor O’Malley. “These projects reduce pollution and protect the environment and public health while creating jobs for more Marylanders.”

The following funding was approved today:

Savage Raw Water and Energy Conservation Phase II project – City of Frostburg
A $112,500 grant in the form of loan forgiveness and a $337,500 loan, both from the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund, to the City of Frostburg will help fund the Savage Raw Water and Energy Conservation Phase II project. The project entails the replacement of pipes and other equipment to enhance the performance of the City of Frostburg’s raw drinking water collection system in the Savage River basin. The current system is aging and deteriorating and experiences a substantial amount of leakage. The project is designed to allow the City to conserve water and reduce energy consumption.

Winebrenner Run Acid Mine Drainage Remediation project – Allegany County
A $273,052 Mining Remediation Program grant to the Allegany Soil Conservation District will help fund the Winebrenner Run Acid Mine Drainage Remediation project. The project will address the effects of acidic and metal-laden water draining from an abandoned mine along a coal outcrop in the community of Midlothian. The untreated acid mine drainage affects the water quality and living resources of Winebrenner Run and Georges Creek and drains onto the properties of several homes. The project will redirect the water off-site for treatment by a lime doser downstream to reduce the impact of the drainage on the town and improve the quality of the two waterways.

Jennings Run Acid Mine Drainage Assessment project – Allegany County
A $98,450 Mining Remediation Program grant to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Studies Appalachian Laboratory will help fund a watershed-wide chemical and biological assessment of Jennings Run to help select future projects designed to restore the water quality of Jennings Run, whose water quality and living resources are affected by untreated acid mine drainage from abandoned mines. The Jennings Run Leachbed Remediation project is the first of what is expected to be several projects to clean up the effects of acid mine drainage. Jennings Run is a tributary of Wills Creek and the Potomac River.

Jennings Run Leachbed Remediation project – Allegany County
A $35,000 Mining Remediation Program grant to the Allegany Soil Conservation District will help fund the Jennings Run Leachbed Remediation project and help to address the negative effects of acid mine drainage from numerous abandoned mine discharges into Jennings Run. A limestone leach bed – a limestone-filled pond that is designed to temporarily retain and treat the acid mine drainage waters – will be built on private property adjacent to the Allegheny Highlands Bike Trail just south of the Bordon Tunnel, near Frostburg. This project is the first of what is expected to be several projects associated with the Jennings Run Acid Mine Drainage Assessment project.

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