Before Reclamation:

Reservoir discharge

Stream Discharge

Amerikohl purchased the 800 acre Huskins Run reserve in 1996 from the Rochester & Pittsburgh Coal Mining, Co (R&P). The area was extensively deep mined in the late 1800s and early 1900s. R&P surface mined 15 acres in the early 1960s and left these areas un-reclaimed.

After Reclamation:

Huskins Run area after reclamation

As part of the mining process, Amerikohl reclaimed the 2400 feet of abandoned Upper Freeport highwall, and returned the area to productive forestland. Two abandoned deep mine discharges were encountered during the operation. They were degrading the water quality of Huskins Run, a tributary to Cowanshannock Creek, a cold water fishery. The result of our remediation work on these discharges is:

• Lowered the mine pool via installation of drains in the old works
• Reduced acid loading by 237% (3139 lb./year)
• Reduced Iron loading by 358% (453 lb./year)
• Increased alkalinity loading by 2800% (1423 lb./year)

• Increased alkalinity by 38% (1900 lb./year)
• Reduced iron loading by 80% (1450 lb./year)

We were able to improve these discharges without chemical treatment, through sound mining and engineering practices.

Amerikohl will be donating 5 acres of property and a large building currently used to house the municipal water facilities for the town of Margaret, to the water authority. The water supplies for the town and the building are located on property owned by Amerikohl.