The Marianna Project
Marianna Borough, West Bethlehem Township,
Washington, Pennsylvania
This Project is Sponsored by the Department of Environmental Protection OSM63(5028).101.1
Reclaiming and Reviving
But as the coal industry declined in the 1980s, so did development in Marianna. What was once a thriving mine that drew thousands of workers now holds hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of coal refuse.
For now.
Natural Streams Foundation, in cooperation with West Bethlehem Township, will reclaim and rehabilitate 26.6 acres of the abandoned Marianna refuse pile thanks to a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Today, the refuse pile encapsulates more than 26 acres of land. The build up of coal waste reaches almost 70 feet in height in some areas. A safety hazard for the community and environment, the site features steep slopes, sliding refuse, eroded gullies and poor erosion and sediment control. The nature of the site attracts frequent all-terrain vehicles and motorcyclists, leaving trails and tracks that further damage the area.
Initial steps will eliminate that safety hazard while creating jobs in Washington County. The foundation will facilitate relocating more than 824,000 cubic yards of coal waste to a permitted coal refuse disposal site. The waste will provide natural fill material which will help avoid disturbing unused nearby land.
Throughout the process of moving the waste, Natural Streams Foundation and its partners will construct erosion and sediment controls to minimize any impact to the nearby Ten Mile Creek. That includes the installation of ditches and berms to control runoff, construction of sumps and discharge locations and the addition of a lime supplement and mulch or hydroseed to restore a vegetative ground cover in the area. Measures also will be in place to ensure that roads remain clean, and a scale and truck wash will be in place to enforce weight restrictions.
Fresh ideas and
open minds.
Separate from this project, West Bethlehem Township has committed to adding a basketball court, five pickleball courts, a dek hockey rink, a playground and pavilions.
By the end of the 2020s, the site will be transformed into a recreation and wellness area that attracts people from surrounding communities.
Building A Better Future
acres
Reclaimed and rehabilitate land of the abandoned Marianna refuse pile
cubic yards
of coal waste relocated to an approved refuse disposal site
recreational areas
including new soccer, baseball, and basketball fields, a dog park and a hiking trail to provide access to Ten Mile Creek
The Marianna Project will:
- Fully reclaim an AML site that meets the Office of Surface Mining criteria for a Priority 2 Dangerous Pile or Embankment
- Create economic benefits for the community of West Bethlehem Township by developing soccer and baseball fields on the reclaimed AML site
- Provide natural fill material for an approved coal refuse disposal site, which will reduce the need for borrow areas and avoid the disturbance of virgin land.
Project Gallery
News and Information
Natural Streams Foundation announces an RFP to manage coal refuse removal
The Natural Streams Foundation (NSF) is pleased to announce a Request for Proposal (RFP) for qualified disposal and processing facilities to manage coal refuse removal as part of the Marianna Project in Washington County, PA.
Let’s Restore Something Together!
For more information or media inquiries on Natural Streams Foundation or the Marianna Project, please fill out the form. Someone will get back to you shortly!