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Cumberland Times-News, Cumberland, Maryland, United States of America

Class focuses on hazards to North Branch

SAM SHAWVER
Times-News Staff Writer

FROSTBURG ‹ Ken Baxter's environmental science class from Beall High School learned a few things about acid mine drainage and its effect on the North Branch last week. Several students accompanied Baxter to Frostburg State University October 25 to hear about efforts to clean up the river and learn some of the region's mining history during the North Branch of the Potomac River Symposium. "These kids are seeing that we can solve our environmental problems," said Baxter, who has developed his environmental science class with funding obtained from an Environmental Protection Agency grant. "This year we're focusing on acid mine drainage," he said.

"I like the doser effects, I wasn't aware of that," said Kristin Winebrenner, referring to facilities stationed at key locations along streams that periodically inject "doses" of lime into the water, neutralizing the acid content. A total of six dosers have been installed on the North Branch and feeder streams since 1992, according to Joe Mills, a natural resources manager for the Maryland Department of the Environment. Mills said the doser project has definitely proven itself.

"In 1994, as a result of the success of the doser project, the North Branch above Jennings Randolph Dam was stocked with trout for the first time ever," said Mills. "The annual stocking of trout has continued and is a boon for the local economy."

Beall High student Candice Whetstone was shocked to find out how much acid has leaked into the North Branch. "We learned that at one time the equivalent of four truckloads of acid was being dumped into the river each day," she said. Mills noted that mine acid also costs taxpayers and businesses lots of money. "The damage done to road culverts and concrete embankments by the acid results in millions of dollars in repair and replacement costs in the U.S. annually," he said. "Industry not only has to deal with the corrosive nature of acid mine drainage, but also with the clogging effects of metals as they precipitate. Any industry located on an acid mine drainage impacted stream will have higher maintenance costs." Julie Palardy said she liked the presentation on the local history of mining by Al Feldstein, regional planner and Appalachian Regional Commission program manager. Feldstein gave an overview of the North Branch coal towns and their development.

"I learned a lot," said Palardy. "We need to learn about our local history. It should be taught more." The symposium, which ran through October 27, brought more than 20 representatives from federal, state and local government, business and industry together to focus attention on cleaning up the North Branch. John Carey, director of the Maryland Bureau of Mines, said he would like to see similar, but less formal meetings held annually to keep people informed on progress being made on the river cleanup.

"We wanted to bring all these agencies together to help solidify and focus our efforts," he said. "This symposium is doing exactly what we intended."