Consol Energy planning to build pipeline through Plum to carry mine water to Allegheny River

Consol Energy is preparing to build a nearly 4-mile pipeline to carry treated water from the former Renton Mine through Plum to the Allegheny River.

According to Consol, the Renton Mine water treatment facility on Old Mine Road has been in operation for more than 30 years. It prevents an uncontrolled release of water from the former mine.

The treatment plant is behind the borough’s salt shed off Renton Road, with a settling pond stretching along Old Mine Road to behind the borough’s public works garage, where water is released into Little Plum Creek.

Because of a change in permit requirements, Consol is changing where the water is released from the creek to the Allegheny River through a 3.6-mile pipeline.

Health officials once regarded Little Plum Creek as one of the most polluted streams in Allegheny County, with a history of sewage and mine discharges since the 1950s.

Surveys found the creek to be high in fecal content and low in oxygen because of raw sewage, and acidic because of untreated mine water. People dumped garbage in it.

“Consistent with Consol Energy’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, the project could support improvements to the Plum Creek watershed while fulfilling the company’s compliance responsibilities,” Consol spokesperson Erica Fisher said.

As part of preparations for the project, Plum Council recently approved variances for the pipeline to cross Old Mine, Ross Hollow, Harris and Barking roads.

Fisher said Consol has submitted applications for all permits required for construction of the line to the state Department of Environmental Protection, and approval is pending.

The DEP’s California District Mining Office accepted Consol’s application to build the pipeline in June, spokesman Jamar Thrasher said.

“The facilities on the permit are for the water treatment of the refuse facility and mine pool associated with the Renton Mine only,” he said. “There is no active mining or refuse disposal proposed on the existing permit or proposed application.”

More stringent requirements affecting Little Plum Creek took effect in 2018, and Consol was given five years to comply.

Thrasher said the facility needs to comply with the more stringent limit by Dec. 31.

Consol’s application is under technical review, Thrasher said.

Thrasher said the application proposes to discharge 1,000 gallons per minute on an average flow rate of 1.44 million gallons per day, and a daily maximum of 2.16 million gallons per day on a maximum of 120 days per year.

Thrasher said Consol runs the treatment facility intermittently, about 90 to 120 days per year, at those rates to maintain the elevation in the mine pool.