A $1.7 million abandoned mine reclamation project at the Darlington Lake Northwest site in Beaver County will remove more than 5,000 feet of dangerous highwalls, some of which are 80 feet high and a threat to public safety.

State Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen McGinty announced the project yesterday while visiting the 107-acre surface mining site that was abandoned in 1952.

"These highwalls are attractive to young people as places to ride motorcycles and ATVs and otherwise explore," said Ms. McGinty, who noted that 18 people have died at abandoned mines and quarries in Pennsylvania since 2003. "Reclaiming this site will eliminate these highwalls and remove that threat."

Grasses, shrubs and 7,000 trees will be planted on the mine land which lies in the Little Beaver Creek watershed and contains two high-quality cold water fisheries, McCautry Run and the North Fork of Little Beaver Creek.

The reclamation work will be paid for with $950,000 from the 2005 state $625 million bond issue known as the Growing Greener II program, and $750,000 from the state's allocation from the federal Abandoned Mine Lands Fund, which collects royalties on current coal mine tonnage.