Congresswoman Summer Lee presented Westmoreland County leaders with a ceremonial check for $1.07 million Tuesday in Irwin and North Huntingdon.
The federal funding is designated to treat drainage from the abandoned Biddle Mine and restore the Turtle Creek watershed.
The money was secured as a Community Project Funding request in the Fiscal Year 2026 federal spending package. The project aims to reduce mine pollution flowing into Tinkers Run and Brush Creek, which feed into the broader Turtle Creek watershed.
“When you can stand next to a creek and quite literally see the water turning orange from mine pollution, you don’t need anybody to explain why this investment matters,” Lee said. “For generations, communities across Western Pennsylvania have lived with the environmental consequences left behind by industries that built enormous wealth off our region, impacting their health, quality of living and cleanup costs. That’s why I fought to bring home more than $1 million for this project, so we can clean up these waterways, protect the Turtle Creek watershed and invest in a healthier future for the people who live here.”
Westmoreland County Commissioners Ted Kopas, Sean Kertes and Doug Chew joined Lee for the tour and presentation.
“As a Biddle native this area often served as a playground for me and my friends,” Kopas said. “Our children today and in the future deserve better. This is a really important project for our environment and our community. And I am so grateful for all of the project partners, including Congresswoman Lee for the federal support.”
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