Dark Shade, Pennsylvania, 

Lights the Way to the Reuse of 

Mine-scarred Land 

Dark Shade, Pennsylvania 

Many mining communities face a unique set of environmental and 

economic complications. 

which includes the Borough of Central City and Shade Township, is using 

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Program 

as a platform to innovatively address the challenges of reusing minescarred land. 

Central City Brownfields Pilot, expressed, "People of the Dark Shade 

watershed, who witnessed the decline of their environment, have learned 

that they don't have to live with orange streams and mounds of coal 

refuse." 

"watershed approach" to brownfields revitalization. 

community, mining companies, the U.S. Department of Interior's, Office of 

Surface Mining (OSM), and other key organizations, the Borough of 

Central City Pilot is making the cleanup and redevelopment of the Dark 

Shade watershed a reality. 

Before World War II, the Appalachian region of the United States provided 

the primary resources to fuel growing industry throughout the nation, but 

when the demand for coal eventually decreased, so did the economic and 

environmental conditions of mining communities. 

country" faces are numerous and collectively distinct: 

severely distressed local economies, and real or perceived environmental 

contamination. 

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), which is caused from runoff water building 

up in abandoned deep mines and from filtering through coal refuse piles 

(boney piles) that were left by coal companies. 

with high levels of acidity and heavy metals. 

shut down, local economies like Central City's also began to decline. 

have become scarce and poverty levels have reached well above national 

statistics. Walter, the Project Consultant, there 

were more than 20,000 mining jobs in the Dark Shade region in 1950, but 

by 1995 that number had decreased to 1,500. 

organization focused on creative and artful approaches to the cleanup of 

AMD, partnered with the communities of Central City and Shade 

Township, to explore innovative ways of cleaning up Dark Shade. 

result of this partnership was the creation of a "watershed approach" that 

focused on the designation of the entire Dark Shade watershed as one 

contaminated and targeted property. 

this approach to earn the first EPA Brownfields Assessment Pilot award to 

address mine-scarred land. 

While no exception, the Dark Shade watershed, 

Melissa Shull, AmeriCorps volunteer for the Borough of 

Problems like these have been addressed by using an innovative 

By involving the 

The obstacles that "coal 

mine-scarred land, 

Additionally, many of these communities are impacted by 

The result is runoff water 

After mining operations were 

Jobs 

According to Deborah 

AMD & ART, a non-profit 

The 

The partnership successfully used 

JUST THE FACTS:


•	 Before World War II, the Appalachian 

region of the U.S. provided the primary 

resources to fuel growing industry 

throughout the nation, but when the 

demand for coal eventually decreased, 

so did the economic and environmental 

conditions of mining communities. 

•	 The obstacles that "coal country" faces 

are distinct: mine-scarred land, severely 

distressed local economies, and real or 

perceived environmental contamination. 

Many affected communities are also 

impacted by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), 

caused from runoff water building up in 

mines and filtering through coal refuse 

piles. 

•	 ART, a non-profit organization focused 

on approaches to the cleanup of AMD, 

partnered with the communities of 

Central City and Shade Township to 

explore innovative ways of cleaning up 

Dark Shade, leading to the first EPA 

Brownfields Assessment Pilot award to 

address mine-scarred land. 

"People of the Dark Shade 

watershed, who witnessed the 

decline of their environment, have 

learned that they don't have to live with 

orange streams and mounds of coal refuse." 

—Melissa Shull, AmeriCorps volunteer for the 

Borough of Central City Brownfields Pilot 

"The EPA Brownfields grant empowered the 

people of Central City to bring about change, 

and realize their vision of a clean watershed." 

—Deborah Walter, Dark Shade Watershed 

Project Consultant 

continued �
CONTACTS: 

For more information contact 

U.S. EPA-REGION 3 

(800) 438-2474 

Visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: 

http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/ 

The watershed approach to mine-scarred land cleanup is the main tool being used to leverage funding 

for Central City and, in some cases, other mining-related brownfields. 

effectiveness is based on the fact that entire watersheds become 

contaminated with mining wastes through AMD. 

are catastrophic, as this contamination eventually destroys the aquatic 

ecosystem. 

and designated the entire Dark Shade watershed, 34 square miles, as 

one brownfields site. 

watershed approach "is the vehicle mining communities must use to 

achieve the same redevelopment levels that have been realized in 

highly urbanized areas." 

The watershed approach and the EPA Brownfields Pilot award enabled 

the communities of Central City and Shade Township to work with OSM, 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Pennsylvania Department of 

Community Economic Development, AMD & ART, and coal companies on 

the cleanup and redevelopment of sites in the project area. 

has leveraged more than $95,000 in redevelopment funding and $51,086 in 

cleanup funding from these organizations. 

assistance of many federal, state, and local organizations, the refuse piles are diminishing and the AMDimpacted streams are starting to improve, creating a more pleasant living environment." 

One of the major barriers that the Pilot faced was redevelopment. 

watershed and tap the region's aesthetic values for rural redevelopment. 

a part of the Appalachian Mountains, giving it significant ecotourism value and lending itself to hiking, 

white water rafting, hunting, and fishing. 

white water rafting park, the restoration and expansion of hiking trails, and the revival of prime fishing 

and game land following the treatment of AMD. 

Another barrier faced by Brownfields Pilots addressing mine-scarred land is a cultural one. 

carries with it a proud history of a strong work ethic and tradition, hence, involving the community and 

soliciting feedback regarding redevelopment plans is essential for success. 

success in redeveloping sites with community interests in mind. 

Association (SCWA), an organization comprising local residents, was formed due to the outreach and 

educational efforts of the Dark Shade Pilot. WA has assumed the role of community outreach 

and has also been tasked with continuos stream sampling in the watershed. 

community involvement effort is the targeted Gahagan coal refuse pile. 

were removed and sold, and the profits used for the construction of a community-suggested recreation 

area. 

to bring about change, and realize their vision of a clean watershed." 

to use newsletters, articles, and flyers describing redevelopment plans to motivate its local communities 

to become involved. 

The Borough of Central City Brownfields Pilot has pioneered the use of the watershed approach as a 

tool for leveraging funding and recognition from numerous federal and state environmental and economic 

redevelopment programs. 

using the watershed approach for the Kelly's Creek Watershed and Coal Creek Watershed, respectively, 

as tools for the cleanup and redevelopment of their mining communities. 

The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act signed by the President in 

January 2002 specifically cites mine-scarred lands within the definition of a brownfield. 

definition creates opportunities for mine-scarred watersheds like Dark Shade to gain federal brownfields 

resources and begin on the path to economic and environmental recovery. 

Its 

The ecological impacts 

The Pilot realized the extent of contamination due to AMD 

According to Dr. Allan Comp of OSM, the 

To date, the Pilot 

Sharon Harkcom, Project Manager, explained, "With the 

Again, the Pilot decided to use the 

The Dark Shade watershed is 

The Pilot made plans for the eventual creation of a competitive 

Mining 

Dark Shade has had great 

The Shade Creek Watershed 

The SC

Another example of this 

The coal refuse piles on the site 

As Deborah Walter explains, "The EPA Brownfields grant empowered the people of Central City 

The Pilot has used and continues 

Pilots like Anderson County, Tennessee, and Kanawha, West Virginia, are 

This updated 

Brownfields Success Story Solid Waste EPA 500-F-00-254 

Dark Shade, Pennsylvania and Emergency March 2004 

Response (5105) www.epa.gov/brownfields/