Mining Threatens Tom’s Creek

Tom’s Creek is a small trout stream with headwaters in the Michaux State Forest, providing drinking water to the town of Fairfield, PA. Tom’s Creek is designated by the State as a High Quality stream. This high-quality stream is under a threat by a potential expansion of the Specialties Granules Incorporated (SGI) mining operation. SGI mines a green colored mineral called basalt, which is used as the surface material of shingles used in home construction. An expansion of the mining operation would discharge basalt stormwater into Tom’s Creek. The High-Quality designation has protections but does allow variances if there is an economic need.

Status Update: We are working with a local watershed group, Friends of Tom’s Creek, to file a petition to upgrade the stream from High Quality to Exceptional Value using macro-invertebrate sampling and other unique qualities for justification. The Petition is filed with the State and ruled on by the PA Environmental Quality Board. Sampling was conducted in 2016 and additional sampling is scheduled for 2017 before a petition is drafted and submitted.

 

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Upper Potomac Riverkeeper Leads Fight Against Mining Permit in Pennsylvania

Posted: February 14, 2019

Upper Potomac Riverkeeper Brent Walls joined Friends of Tom’s Creek (FOTC) to oppose the expansion of operations for Specialty Granules, Inc (SGI) on Tom’s Creek in Fairfield, PA. Brent’s goal is to convince Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection to deny a permit for SGI, which, if granted, will allow stormwater from the mining expansion to […]

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Join Us for A Public Hearing Against a Mining Permit in Pennsylvania

Posted: January 27, 2019

On Wednesday, January 30, support us, Friends of Tom’s Creek (FOTC), and other local residents at the public hearing by Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection(DEP) on a mining permit for Specialty Granules, Inc., (SGI). Time is 6:30 p.m. and place is the Fire and EMS Hall, 106 Steelman St., Fairfield, PA 17320. We need to convince DEP […]