Hazle Township, PA - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) and Congressman Tim Holden (PA-8) today announced they had obtained federal funding to restore the Sugarloaf Creek, which runs through parts of southern Luzerne County and northern Schuylkill County. The Sugarloaf Creek flows into the Tomhicken Creek, which flows into the Catawissa Creek, which flows into the Susquehanna River near Catawissa, Columbia County.

Congressman Kanjorski remarked, "This project will eliminate one of the five acid mine discharges that cause the pollution of Catawissa Creek. Further steps need to be taken before the revitalization of Catawissa Creek is complete, but the project we are announcing today is a great start. Today's announcement is also an example of the value of our area's designation as an American Heritage River. The Clinton-Gore Administration has been very clear that these funds are coming to our region as a direct result of this designation." Congressman Kanjorski's district includes Luzerne and Columbia counties.

Congressman Holden said, "I am very pleased to be able to announce today the acquisition of these federal funds. Cleaning our rivers and streams will improve the quality of life in Northeastern Pennsylvania and make the area more attractive to economic development." Congressman Holden's district includes Schuylkill County.

The sole source of acid mine drainage to Sugarloaf Creek is the Oneida Number 1 Mine Tunnel. Eliminating the acid mine drainage discharge at the Oneida Number 1 Drainage Tunnel will restore the quality of Sugarloaf Creek, and should also improve the quality of the waters into which Sugarloaf Creek flows - the Tomhicken and Catawissa Creeks. The Catawissa Creek has lacked recreation, fish, and aquatic life for over 80 years due to damage in its headwater tributaries caused by acid mine drainage.

The reclamation work will be undertaken by the Catawissa Creek Restoration Association, the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, members of the Eagle Rock Homeowner's Association, and the Schuylkill County and Columbia County Conservation Districts, in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation, the Office of Surface Mining, the National Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Double Diamond Development Corporation, the owners of the property at the project site. Restoring Sugarloaf Creek is expected to cost $205,000, with the funding coming from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (through funds administered by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection), and other federal sources.

Sugarloaf Creek originates in Hazle Township, Luzerne County, about 5.7 miles west of the City of Hazleton. The stream is 5.5 miles long and flows southwest through Hazle and Black Creek Townships in Luzerne County and East Union and North Union Townships in Schuylkill County.

The American Heritage Rivers initiative is a comprehensive effort to assist and promote rivers that have important cultural, historical, economic, and environmental value and needs. President Clinton and Vice President Gore have directed federal agencies to give top priority to funding projects located in the fourteen areas across the nation that received the American Heritage River designation. In 1997, Congressman Kanjorski and the Economic Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania spearheaded the region's efforts to obtain this designation for the Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna Watershed, which stretches north from Northumberland County to include parts of Montour, Columbia, Sullivan, Schuylkill, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wayne, and Susquehanna counties.