The Vintondale refuse pile was located adjacent to the South Branch Blacklick Creek just east of Vintondale Borough and along the Ghost Town Trail. Toxic leachate from the refuse pile seeped directly into the stream. In addition to polluting the stream with leachate, the pile contaminated the stream by eroding directly into it, contributing to siltation and smothering substrate habitat. The Vintondale pile was not only a significant polluter of the South Branch, but it is also an eyesore for users of the nearby trail. The pile contained approximately 310,000 tons of refuse and red dog (burned refuse) and covered about 11 acres. The quality of the pile precluded removal for profit by the waste coal industry so, The Pennsylvania DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) entered into a contract with Robindale Energy Services to fund removal of the pile. Excavation began in spring of 2022 and was completed in the fall of 2023. The project also included construction of fish habitat improvement structures in the South Branch Blacklick Creek adjacent to and downstream of the pile location. These structures will enhance the success of trout stocking that individuals from the town of Vintondale have been carrying out for the past few years. Now that reclamation of the pile is complete, the location will be developed into a recreational area that will complement the adjacent trail, possibly including a campground. That final phase of the project will be completed by the Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority. More details concerning the project may be found at:
Blacklick Creek Watershed Association 