Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan - Western ...

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Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Plan(http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/pamap/index.aspx.g. W 35-Summary groundwater resources of AlleghenyCounty, Pa.h. W-36-Summary groundwater resources of Butler County,Pa.i. W-39-Summary groundwater resources of Beaver County,Pa.j. M 89- Coal resources of Allegheny County Pa.—Part 1, Coalcrop lines, mined-out areas, and structure contours-hasapplicability to mine subsidence and AMD discussions.k. M-90-Coal resources of Butler County, Pa.—Part 1, Coalcrop lines, mined-out areas, and structure contours-hasapplicability to mine subsidence and AMD discussions.Chapter one, page three discussion of topography might beworthwhile to include physiographic section and ecoregionmaps, with the watershed outlined.Although it is implied by the discussion of both physiographicsections and ecoregions in the topography section, it would beuseful to discuss that ecoregions, although also based on floraand fauna, almost exactly coincide with physiographicsections, because the geology is a major control of the floraand fauna.PA Bureau of Forestry has developed a Pennsylvaniaecoregions map. Your discussion of ecoregions shouldprobably use the names and boundaries designated on thatmap.Comment noted. Because only onewatershed is located in one physiographicsection the map was not includedClarification addedDiscuss the data available from PA Geological Survey through Comment notedPAMAP.Chapter two discusses geology, but never addresses why Clarification addedknowing the geology is important. The soils are derived fromthe rocks. Different plants live on different geologic units.Groundwater, and therefore surface water, is controlled by thegeology-both quantity and natural quality. Geology controlstopography. Different units respond differently todevelopment. Geology is the base of the ecological pyramid.That is why ecoregion boundaries largely coincide withphysiographic section boundaries.On page 2-1 and figure 2-1, the legend on the geologic mapand the discussion of the geology have the stratigraphic unitsin the wrong order. Traditionally, units are discussed and listedin order that they occur, and not alphabetically. The Alleghenyis located immediately above the Pottsville, and should bereflected as such on the map’s legend. They also should bediscussed in the proper order in the text.Discuss what characteristics of the geologic units are that makethem distinguishable from each other. You mention that theyhave distinct characteristics but you do not mention what theyare.Soil Associations-As part of the descriptions of the soilassociations, include the parent material. For most, it will beComment noted. Ecoregions used are thoseof the U.S. Forest ServiceFigure and text updated and correctedSection expandedStatement added to the text referringinterested readers to the Soil Surveys forAppendix J. Public Comments Page 6 of 12
Connoquenessing Creek Watershed Conservation Planeducational to see that soil characteristics are depended on the specific soils identified in the soilgeologic source material from which they are derived. associationsPage 2-11, under oil and gas exploration, the Drake well was Correcteddrilled not dug.A map of the oil and gas fields and pools would be useful to Figure addedsee what parts of the watershed have or had production. Oursubsurface geology section can provide you with the field data.You mention that the number of oil and gas permits increased Figure 2-6 was added indicating where oil32.4 percent from 2004 to 2005, but that the watershed has and gas wells are locatedseen a decline in permits. You might mention the currentexploration trends (geologically and geographically) to showwhere they are relative to the watershed. Again, our subsurfacegeology section can help provide the information.On page 2-12 under mining, note which formations are thecoal-bearing formations. The PA Geological Survey has aseries of county coal reports in the mineral resource series (M89 [Allegheny County] and M 90 [Butler County]-http://www/dcnr.stat.pa.us/topogeopub/mineral.aspx), which show coal crop lines, mined outareas, and geologic structure. These reports are also applicableto the discussion on page 2-14 about mine subsidence. Also, acoal availability study for the Saxonburg 71/2’ quad(http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/pub/openfile/of05_02.aspx) evaluates coal resources, and theenvironmental, cultural, and technological restriction to theirmining.Two additional critical areas (starting on page 2-12) thatshould be discussed are groundwater recharge areas and areasfor potential future natural resource extraction.On page 2-13, under landslide, in the explanation of a slump,‘weight rotation” does not make sense. I think that you arereferring to the mass of material sliding and rotating on anarcuate failure surface.In Table 2-3, is Soose Auto Wrecking in the Connoquenessingwatershed or the Slippery Rock watershed?Page 2-18, do the two active landfills within the watershedaccept out-of-state waste?On page 2-19, under Abandoned Mines, you mention that thesoutheast corner of the watershed is completely free of coalmining. You should mention that it will likely remain so,because the Casselman and Glenshaw Formations do notgenerally contain economic coals. Past and future coal miningwill largely be confined to the outcrop areas of the AlleghenyFormation, which, with some exception, is the only one in thewatershed with economic coals.Do you know the acreage of the inactive and abandoned coalmines in the watershed?Information about geologic formationsadded to the mining sectionAddedExplanation changed and expandedSite was verified and salvage yard namewas changed and is located within theproject areaSeneca – verified, yes currently only withintheir service area. Brunner –verified doesnot accept out of state wasteSection expandedComment noted. Information on the acreageof inactive and abandoned mine lands couldnot be calculatedAppendix J. Public Comments Page 7 of 12
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