Rep. Summer Lee Delivers $1+ Million for Biddle Mine Cleanup and Turtle Creek Watershed Restoration

August 25, 2026

PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 25, 2026 — Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) joined Westmoreland County leaders in Irwin and North Huntingdon to celebrate $1,075,000 in federal Community Project Funding she secured to address abandoned mine drainage from the Biddle Mine and help restore the Turtle Creek watershed.

Congresswoman Lee toured Tinkers Run and Brush Creek, where pollution from the Biddle Mine continues to visibly impact local waterways, including stretches of creek turned orange by mine runoff. She also visited the future site of a treatment facility that will help clean polluted water before it reaches the surrounding watershed.

Following the tour, Congresswoman Lee presented Westmoreland County Commissioners with a ceremonial $1+ million check representing the federal investment she helped bring home for the project.

“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,” said Rep. Lee. “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.”

“As a Biddle native this area often served as a playground for me and my friends. 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 Summer Lee for the federal support,” said Westmoreland County Commissioner Ted Kopas.

The project will support efforts to remediate mine drainage associated with the Biddle Mine and reduce pollution entering Tinkers Run, Brush Creek, and the broader Turtle Creek watershed.

Congresswoman Lee was joined by Westmoreland County Commissioners Ted Kopas, Sean Kertes, and Doug Chew, along with local officials and community partners involved in the remediation effort.

The $1,075,000 investment was included in the Fiscal Year 2026 federal funding package as a Community Project Funding request secured by Congresswoman Lee.

Through her Community Project Funding efforts, Rep. Lee has secured direct investments for community-based organizations, including a $1 million CPF award to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, $450,000 to the Trade Institute of Pittsburgh, over $1.5 million in federal support for the Tree of Life rebuilding and healing initiatives, $1 million in Community Project Funding for historic renovations at the Carnegie Library of Homestead, more than $1 million in federal funding to combat blight and revitalize housing in North Braddock, and $1 million to help turn vacant office space into affordable homes, create good-paying jobs, and bring new life to downtown Pittsburgh.

These projects are part of more than $24.9 million in Community Project Funding secured during her time in Congress. Rep. Lee’s office has consistently directed federal dollars to historically overlooked communities to ensure equitable access to opportunities and long-term regional growth and stability.

Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Judiciary and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.