The Indiana County Commissioners entered into an agreement to sell some land to the PA Department of Environmental Protection.
The land in question is near Vintondale, on the Blacklick Creek, near dischuarge pools for the Red Mill and Vinton number 6 mines and the Wehrum Shaft. The land will be part of an abandoned mine reclamation project. Dave Leifort of the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation said the department will design the treatment plant for those three areas that will help clean the acid mine drainage that has turned Blacklick Creek into a highly polluted area. By pumping and treating the water, they hope to make the creek clean enough for fish to once again live in it. The commissioners unanimously approved the sale of the three acres of land. Construction could start in the next 18-24 months.
In other business, the commissioners approved eleven applications from various boroughs and townships in the county for liquid fuels funding, including one for Center Township for $31,819 to partially offset eligible project costs for the Six Flat Road paving project. The commissioners also approved the courthouse’s participation in the Indiana Downtown Improvement Area.
