March 20, 2025 - Vintondale, PA
Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley celebrated the grand opening of the Blacklick Treatment Facility, the newest Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) Treatment Facility today during an open house event. Local community members and elected officials toured the facility and learned how it will eliminate uncontrolled discharges of untreated mine water into Blacklick Creek. The new facility will improve roughly 25 stream miles in the Blacklick Creek and Conemaugh River in Indiana and Cambria counties."Many communities like Vintondale or my hometown of McKeesport feel forgotten or left behind by leaders in Washington and Harrisburg," said Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. "I'm here today to say that Governor Shapiro and I will never leave any community behind. We're going to keep showing up, and we're going to keep investing in places like the Blacklick Creek Watershed.""Abandoned Mine Drainage is a serious problem and affects approximately 5,500 miles of streams in Pennsylvania, and pretty soon we can scratch another 25 miles off that list," said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. "People in this community are all too familiar with its effects, as Blacklick Creek's orange color offers a daily reminder of the damage this water is doing to the creek. This new facility will not only change the chemistry and color of the water but the lives of the people who will now be able to enjoy it."Speaker list:Jessica Shirley, DEP Acting SecretaryLt. Governor Austin DavisSherene Hess, Indiana County CommissionerTom Chernisky, Cambria County CommissionerJon Fredley, Senior Project Manager, HRIJanis Long, Blacklick Watershed Association
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