Apr 4, 2002 By Nikki Stiles 2 min read

WASHINGTON TWP. – In an effort to clean up pollutants in local watersheds, Greater Redstone Clearwater Initiative (GRCI) will conduct another physical assessment of specific areas along Little Redstone Creek and Downer’s Run on Saturday. Concerned individuals who wanted to clean up pollutants in Redstone Creek, Little Redstone Creek and Downer’s Run formed the GRCI two years ago. Volunteers with the group, along with Skelly and Loy watershed technicians, have done physical assessments and cleanups of these waterways.

John Piwowar, a Uniontown dairy farmer and president of GRCI, said this most recent assessment would be targeted at specific areas identified by Skelly and Loy as abandoned mine drainage sites.

Mine drainage can contain heavy metals such as iron, aluminum and magnesium that can be toxic to wildlife.

Piwowar said the group has applied for a $292,000 state Growing Greener grant for the designing and permitting of a mine drainage discharge in Phillips, North Union Township, which disperses 6,000 gallons of runoff a minute.

He said the group also has applied for a $35,000 Growing Greener grant for designing and permitting for a series of mine drainage discharges on Rankin Run. However, Piwowar said the group would not know if they have been approved for the grants until July, and then they must apply for more grants to clean up the discharges.

“If those two discharges are cleaned up, then that will take 95 percent of the abandoned mine drainage out of Redstone Creek,” Piwowar said.

He said GRCI will meet from 8 to 9 a.m. Saturday at the Washington Township Municipal Building before conducting the assessment. He said the group is always looking for volunteers, and those interested can contact him at 724-438-8631 or e-mail at begin vmdairy@usaor.net vmdairy@usaor.net end

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