Grants Awarded from Norfolk Southern Derailment Settlement

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has announced more than $1.36 million in grants to develop and implement projects that benefit fishing, boating, and aquatic resources within the Sinnemahoning Creek Watershed in McKean, Cameron, Elk and Potter counties.

The funding comes from a 2007 settlement with Norfolk Southern as restitution for environmental damages from a June 30, 2006, train derailment in near Gardeau.

The accident spilled 42,000 of lye into Sinnemahoning-Portage Creek, Big Fill Run and the Driftwood Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek, causing millions of dollars worth of damage and killing more than 100,000 fish.



Under the settlement, Norfolk Southern agreed to pay $7.35 million for environmental damages.

As for the money awarded today, $315,400 will go to the McKean County Conservation District to provide project management support, complete 24 stabilization/habitat improvement projects on various waters, and improve public access to the Allegheny River and Potato Creek.

For a list of more projects, go to the Fish & Boat Commission Web site. PDF

For information on what other money is being used for, see one of our previous stories.

photo provided by the state attorney general's office

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