On Wednesday, May 21, 2003, 55 people braved chilly and blustery conditions to attend the Dedication Ceremony for the completion of the initial phase of the Rattler Mountain Reclamation Project. Sponsored by the Schuylkill County Conservation District, the Babb Creek Watershed Association, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission, the ceremony recognized some of the many individuals and organizations that contributed to the success of the project, which was conducted on State Game Lands north of the village of Morris in Tioga County.
The land underwent a successful revegetation effort to remediate a serious acid mine drainage problem and improve water quality in local streams. With the exception of some stunted evergreen trees, the mined acreage on Rattler Mountain was barren with virtually no herbaceous ground cover. WMPI, based in Pottsville, arranged for biosolids to be delivered and land-applied by Kyler Environmental. Fertilizing with biosolids created an environment suitable for the growth of clover, winter wheat, rye and warm season grasses. Establishing ground cover has dramatically minimized acidic runoff to the streams and enhanced the habitat for wildlife.
The Dedication Ceremony began with comments from several participants in the project, beginning with Dennis Dusza, North Central Regional Director for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, who thanked everyone for coming. He introduced Steve Gehringer, the Game Commissions Land Management Supervisor for Potter and Tioga Counties, who commented on the proliferation of turkeys and deer returning to the area and credited the Arnie Hayden Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation for their $5,000 contribution to the project. Doug Saylor, of the PADEP District Mining Office, acknowledged the support of Dennis Dusza for the use of biosolids in game land reclamation, and noted that the scope of the project grew from 10 acres to nearly 80. He thanked his crew who, he said, put their heart and soul into the project. Cory Cram, of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protections (PADEPs) Hawk Run Office, works with Watershed Associations to try to improve the environment, and he pointed out that transforming the surface of abandoned mineland transforms the local water. He singled out the Babb Creek Watershed Association for their financial contribution to help make up an unanticipated shortfall.
Diane Garvey read a statement on behalf of Joe Brennan, Operations Manager for WMPI, thanking everyone involved for their commitment to rejuvenating mine lands and restoring natural environments through recycling biosolids. The statement expressed the appreciation of WMPI for being chosen to help execute the vision of the many individuals and organizations involved in the effort to return the land to its natural state.
Bill Toffey of the City of Philadelphia Water Department noted that the City contributed 14,000 tons of biosolids to the Rattler Mountain Project, a project, he said, whose success was a product of Courage, Trust, and Unstoppability. WMPI, a company that had never done business with the City before, agreed to the project on faith because everyone knew this was the right thing to do.
Greg Barchey, Land Application Manager for Kyler Environmental, said, I think what youll see here today is a prime example of Public and Private industry when they put their minds to it, they can work together to perform a very valuable service, not only to the gamelands, to the wildlife, but also to the citizens of the Commonwealth. Deals, he said, made with a handshake, worked out extremely well, and you can count your blessings that you had one project like this in a lifetime.
The Dedication Ceremony concluded with a guided tour of the project area. |
