Consol will replace area dam spillways
Notice: Undefined variable: article_ad_placement3 in /usr/web/cs-washington.ogdennews.com/wp-content/themes/News_Core_2023_WashCluster/single.php on line 128
Consol Energy will spend $8.4 million over the next two years to replace spillways at two former public water reservoirs it owns in North Franklin Township.
Rich Perin, the Southpointe-based company’s director of construction project, said Tuesday the former Pennsylvania American Water lakes were well built in the early 1900s and have breastworks that will not need to be repaired.
“The spillways are deficient,” Perin said at a North Franklin Township supervisors’ meeting. “They’re out of compliance.”
The spring-fed dams on both sides of Scenic Drive are part of a 1,000-acre site purchased in 2011 for $9.1 million by CNX Land Resources Inc., a Consol subsidiary. CNX and other companies involved in the booming Marcellus Shale natural gas industry in Washington County have since been using the dam water for drilling purposes.
Consol indicated it intends to develop the property, but it has yet to say what those plans involve.
Perin said the new labyrinth-style spillways will resemble accordions. Construction is expected to begin in February on what is known as Dam No. 3.
“We’re trying to do the right thing,” he said.
“It’s nice to know the breastworks are well built,” North Franklin supervisor Ron Junko said.