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Donate Your Time, Talent or Treasures
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Please enter "EPCAMR" as your charity.
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AMD Sampling for O&M; of Treatment Systems
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Record Sampling Data @
Monitoring Assistance @
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Mine Subsidence Insurance
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact Robert Hughes-EPCAMR Executive Director
570-371-3523 or [email protected]
Planners for the 13th Annual PA Conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation Seek Presenters
The Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), acting as the host for the 13th Annual PA Conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Coal Mine Heritage is seeking presenters to talk at this year’s Conference. EPCAMR will again join forces with the PA Conference Planning Committee to coordinate efforts in the Anthracite Region on August 4-6th, 2011 at the Best Western Genetti Inn & Suites, Hazleton, PA. This year’s conference will focus around the theme of showcasing coalitions “Working Together for Innovation and Success”.
The presentations will begin on Friday morning, run through the evening, and again on Saturday morning through lunch. 22 competitive presentations are planned for this year’s Conference and will be divided into two simultaneous tracks. The presentations and abstracts that we are looking for in 2011 should be related to the following topics:
• Marcellus “Gas Rush” and ties to AMD / Mine Pool Use
• Land Reclamation and Brownfields Redevelopment Projects on AML
• PA Coal Mining History and Coal Mine Heritage
• Innovative AMD Treatment System Designs
• Watershed Implementation Projects utilizing Landscape Architecture Designs
• Developing Qualified Hydrologic Unit Plans for AMD Impacted Watersheds
• Sustainable Alternative Energy Initiatives
• Showcases of Successes in AMD Treatment
• Partnerships between Watershed Groups and Industry
• Geothermal Projects utilizing Underground Mine Pools
• Operation, Maintenance, & Repairs (OM + R) of AMD Treatment systems
• Status of State funds for maintaining existing AMD Treatment systems
• Future Coal Market Predictions in PA.
Professional development hours will be offered and certificates will be available, upon request, with an authorized signature by members of the PA AMR Conference Planning Committee for approval. Presenters are eligible to receive additional credits beyond attending sessions presented throughout the Conference.
Please submit to Robert E. Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director, a one page Abstract of your presentation, with your Name, Title, Work Affiliation, Presentation Title, and Brief Biography by April 30th, 2011. PowerPoint Presentations are acceptable. There are no specific text or font size limitations on your submission to simplify the submission process. Presenters selected will be expected to pay the Conference Registration Fee which will be very reasonably priced for all to attend.
If your presentation is not selected, due to the competitive nature, you will have an opportunity to it in a poster presentation format as a secondary option.
See more details as they become available on the www.treatminewater.com website.
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Press Releases: 13th Annual PA Conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation to be held August 4-6th
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact Robert Hughes-EPCAMR Executive Director
570-371-3523 or [email protected]
13th Annual PA Conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation to Showcase Coalitions Working Together on Innovations and Success in the Anthracite Region
The Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), acting as the host for the 13th Annual PA Conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Coal Mine Heritage will again join forces with the State-wide Conference Planning Committee to coordinate efforts in the Anthracite Region on August 4-6th, 2011 at the Best Western Genetti Inn & Suites, Hazleton, PA. This year’s conference will focus around the theme of showcasing coalitions “Working Together for Innovation and Success”.
This year’s Conference, will also coincide with celebrating EPCAMR’s 15th Anniversary, as a State-wide leading environmental organization committed to reclaiming PA’s abandoned mine lands, restoring streams impacted by abandoned mine drainage, building coalitions and partnerships to address water quality problems in PA associated with mining, and educating PA’s youth and communities inherently impacted by past mining practices on ways in which they can become an active part of restoration of their watersheds. A Dinner/Fundraiser Event being held on the Thursday evening August 4th, prior to the start of the Conference, on Friday morning, August 5th to mark this special occasion. Artwork commissioned by local artists and created utilizing recovered iron oxides harvested, collected, and processed by the EPCAMR Staff will be auctioned off and several awards and certificates of recognition will be presented to partners and long-term Board Members. The EPCAMR Staff will present highlights of EPCAMR’s success and growth over the last decade and half.
Discounted block room rates are available at the Best Western Genetti Inn & Suites, Hazleton, PA for $70 plus taxes until June 30, 2011. A Conference Pre-Tour is planned for the early arrivers including a boxed lunch, on Thursday afternoon prior to the EPCAMR Anniversary celebration that will bring folks to various reclamation and abandoned mine drainage (AMD) treatment systems that are both innovative and successfully treating polluted water from the underground mines within the Anthracite Region. Tentative stops will take tour attendees to AMD sites, possibly Eckley Miner’s Village, and treatment systems in the Catawissa Creek, Nescopeck Creek, and Schuylkill River Watershed led by volunteers and community leaders from the Schuylkill Headwaters Association, Friends of the Nescopeck, Schuylkill County Conservation District, the Catawissa Creek Restoration Association, and the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation.
The presentations will begin on Friday morning, run through the evening, and again on Saturday morning through lunch. Invited to attend will be the PA Department of Environmental Protections’ newly appointed Secretary of Mineral Resource Management-Michael Krancer, the Director of the Federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement- Joe Pizarchik, and Renew Growing Greener’s Executive Director-Andrew Heath. 22 presentations will be divided into two tracks and two ½-day workshops on Grant Writing and Seeking Community Foundations for Support will run concurrently with the Conference.
The presentations will vary from topics such as the Marcellus “Gas Rush” and ties to AMD / Mine Pool Use, Successful TMDL Implementation, PA Coal Mining History, Watershed Implementation Projects utilizing Landscape Architecture, Developing Qualified Hydrologic Unit Plans, Coal Mine Heritage, Mine Pool Mapping, Sustainable Alternative Energy Initiatives, Showcases of Successes in AMD Treatment, Partnerships between Watershed Groups and Industry, Geothermal Projects utilizing underground Mine Pools, Operation, Maintenance, & Repairs (OM + R) of AMD Treatment systems, the status of State funds for maintaining existing AMD Treatment systems, and Future Coal Market Predictions in PA.
Professional development hours will be offered and certificates will be presented by EPCAMR Staff and members of the PA AMR Conference Planning Committee for authorized signature approval. Presenters at the Conference are eligible to receive additional credits beyond attending sessions presented throughout the Conference.
Travel scholarships, to be reimbursed for vehicle mileage only, will be offered to members of non-profit and community watershed organizations, historic preservation, and conservancy groups. Please be aware that financial assistance will only be granted as a reimbursement basis, as funding allows. In certain instances, discounted registration prices will be provided to groups that can show need, to be determined by the EPCAMR and the AMR Conference Planning Committee.
Friday evening, August 5th, as a part of the 13th Annual AMR Conference, there will be a formal dinner where the Annual Mayfly Award will be presented to this year’s yet to be announced winner. The Mayfly Award is presented to those individuals who exhibit long-term efforts in addressing mine drainage remediation projects in PA and has contributed greatly towards cleaning up PA’s environment from abandoned mine drainage impacts.
EPCAMR is actively looking for sponsorship of this year’s Conference at the following levels: Platinum ($2000+), Gold ($1000+), and Silver ($500+). Details of the benefits of each of the levels of Sponsorship will be posted on the www.treatminewater.com website shortly as will other Conference materials. A sponsorship wish list is being created to assist with covering costs of the Conference expenses such as the Pre-Conference Tour, Meals, Breaks, Box Lunches, Entertainment, and Travel Scholarships. Exhibitors can set up at the Conference at a cost of ($250) for a space near the hustle and bustle of the Conference happenings in the major hallways and within the large banquet room and a complimentary Conference registration. Non-profit, community groups, student poster presentations, historic preservation groups, and watershed groups will be allowed to exhibit for free, however, will not have access to electricity.
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An Insiders Guide to the 2010 Joint Mining Reclamation Conference
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by Anne Daymut, WPCAMR Watershed Coordinator
The 12th Annual PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation (AMR) Conference has joined forces with the 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation (ASMR) and the 4th Annual Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) Mined Land Reforestation Conference. The 2010 Joint Mining Reclamation Conference, to be held June 5 - 10, with a post conference site tour on June 11, at the Radisson in Greentree, PA , will interest participants on national, regional, and local levels and we encourage everyone in Pennsylvania's AMR community to attend this very unique event. In case you are wondering how your watershed and reclamation efforts fit into this large-scale conference, we thought it might be helpful show you some of the highlights and give you some tips to reduce the cost of your trip. Here is how to make the most of your 2010 Conference experience.
Have Fun While Networking. This year, we are offering networking opportunities like never before. On the evening of Tuesday, June 8 the Three Rivers Boat Cruise will depart from Station Square, Pittsburgh, upon which the PA AMR Conference's coveted Mayfly Award will be presented. For a mere $60, enjoy the live music of Mike Gallagher and Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team, Reckner will address the key successes of the watershed movement in Pennsylvania and the importance of partnerships with science and industry in the progression of the movement. On an individual level, you can interact with industry, other watershed groups, and environmental professionals throughout the conference to build lasting partnerships.
Learn Something New. With such a wide variety of topics offered this year you may find it difficult to decide which presentations and discussions are right for you. Those who typically attend the PA AMR Conference will most likely be interested in the Science, Community, and Reclamation (SCR) Track. The vast array of informative topics that will be covered in this track include building watershed group capacity, returning trout and mussels to AMD impacted streams, constructing successful AMD treatment systems, remembering our regions coal history, and lots more. Don't be afraid, however, to sit in on a presentation from one of the other tracks, including a panel discussion on AMD treatment options and getting the most out of your AMD treatment system. The full schedule will be posted at http://www.pghminingreclamationconf.com/ by the end of the week. Check back daily.
Reduce the Cost of Your Trip. We have several suggestions to help make your attendance more affordable.
* Register for the Full Conference and Register Early. How can spending money also save you money you ask? Well, each day of the conference costs $100 but the full conference rate is only $270 before May 10 (a savings of $130). Students and non-profits get a reduced rate of $135 (a savings of $265, that is 66% off regular registration). After May 10 the daily rate will be $125 and full registration will be $325. There is no deadline for the reduced non-profit rate.
* Book your room early. This is one of the most expensive areas in the Pittsburgh area. Fortunately, the Radisson Conference Center is offering a special room rate until May 22. See details below.
* Many meals are included in the registration fee. Full registration includes the Sunday evening reception; breakfast, lunch, poster session with beverages, and the ASMR awards banquet on Monday; breakfast and lunch on Tuesday; and breakfast and lunch on Wednesday.
* Find a Roommate. Maybe you have a friend that is attending that might enjoy saving some money. Or maybe you would like to make a new friend. WPCAMR staff might be able to hook you up with registrants who would be willing to share a room.
* Carpool. Chances are someone from your area or along your route is attending. WPCAMR staff can hook you up with other registrants who are willing to carpool. What a great way to do more networking!
* Apply for a Scholarship. If after you have made all of the above considerations and you find that you still need financial help to attend, scholarships will be made on a reimbursement basis to Pennsylvania non-profit representatives and Conservation District employees. The amount of reimbursement will be based on need and amount of requests received. A scholarship application will be available in a few days at www.treatminewater.com/scholarship10.htm.
Now that we have your interest, here's what you need to do so you won't miss out:
* Go to or conference website www.PghMiningReclamationConf.com to register, get the most up-to-date schedules, and other details to plan your trip
* Financial assistance to attend the conference is available to those in need. Please be aware that financial assistance will only be granted as a reimbursement to Pennsylvania non-profit and Conservation District representatives. You must first pay for the conference and then ask for reimbursement.
* You don't have to attend the Conference to go on the Boat Cruise and you may pay separately the day of the event.
* Special conference room rate of $108.00 per night plus tax ($15.12) will be offered until May 22. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel at 1-800-395-7046. Be sure to mention the Joint Mining Reclamation Conference to secure the Conference rate.
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Posted by admin on Wednesday, 05 May 2010 (16:23:02) CDT (502 reads)
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Saturday, May 1, 2010
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Ramada Inn Conference Center
State College, PA
Please join the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, the PA Department of Environmental Protection, and the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University in promoting the health and future of Pennsylvania’s waterways on Saturday, May 1, 2010.
Citizens from all walks of Pennsylvania’s watershed community will have the opportunity to share their expertise and wisdom, as well as learn from peers. Participants will include community watershed organizations, Trout Unlimited chapters, and sportsmen’s groups, along with environmental professionals from conservation districts, government agencies, academia, and consulting firms.
On Saturday, May 1, the Summit will begin at 8:20 a.m., with one of our keynote speakers. There will be eight breakout sessions, each of which will be offered twice during the morning and will focus on the areas of organizational development and technical assistance.
The Organizational Track will cover topics relating to board development, community engagement, and financial opportunities and diversity. The Technical Track will offer information on Datashed, volunteer monitoring, available resources for community watershed organizations, and the current issues surrounding Marcellus Shale gas well drilling.
Our second keynote speaker will present after lunch. Attendees will then work together to prioritize their expectations for the incoming Governor of Pennsylvania and meet the newest allies in the efforts to renew Growing Greener.
Please come early to enjoy our Friday evening reception featuring appetizers, a cash bar, and opportunities to network with colleagues and other professionals in the display area.
For more information and registration please visit
http://pawatershedsummit2010.wordpress.com/
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Press Releases: EPCAMR Staff Makes GIS Presentation at 19th Annual ARIPPA Technical Convention
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact:
Robert E. Hughes, Executive Director for details-570-371-3523
EPCAMR Staff Makes GIS Presentation on Waste Coal and Anthracite Abandoned Mine Pools Study at 19th Annual ARIPPA Technical Convention in Harrisburg
(Harrisburg-PA)
The EPCAMR Staff, consisting of a two-man road show and jack of all mining trades when it comes to abandoned mine reclamation and mine drainage remediation in Eastern PA, Robert E. Hughes-Executive Director, and Michael A. Hewitt-Program Manager were invited to the ARIPPA’s 19th Annual Technical Convention, in Harrisburg on August 25th, 2009 and they made the best of their opportunity to present. They appeared before the Independent Power Producers Association Board of Directors, who are a state-wide trade association of Co-Generation Facility Operations, product companies, and service providers to that industry that are utilizing waste coal piles to generate electricity that is being sold back to the National Power Grid system, and are reclaiming abandoned mine lands, and helping to remediate future mine drainage problems at sites across the Commonwealth, where these operations are located.
EPCAMR was asked by Jeff A. McNelly, Executive Director, of ARIPPA, and board member of EPCAMR, representing the ARIPPA Co-Generation Industry, to make their highly requested Geographic Information System (GIS) Mapping Tool presentation, called RAMLIS (the Reclaimed Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System) to the Board of Directors, who largely consisted of General Managers from the Co-Generation Facilities across the State, on possible ways that EPCAMR could assist the ARIPPA Plants in the future through possible seasonal water quality monitoring associated with their circulating-fluidized bed boiler ash projects on abandoned mine sites where it is being used as a beneficial use by-product for reclamation in order to fill deep stripping pits in both the Anthracite and Bituminous Regions of PA.
EPCAMR Staff were able to make a 45 minute presentation on dozens of datasets, geographic information system (GIS) layers, which are natural resource points of interest related to abandoned mines such as boreholes, mine tunnel entrances, stripping pits, dangerous highwalls, culm banks, waste coal processing facilities, active mining sites, streams impacted by abandoned mine drainage, watershed boundaries defined by areas that are covered by a community group in a particular region of PA, and water quality data points and databases as well. Much of the presentation focused on the locations of where the Co-Generation Facilities were located in the Anthracite Region, the environmental impacts surrounding those facilities due to past mining practices, mine discharge points, culm banks, stripping pits, and a sneak peak at the underground hydrogeological connections from one mine pool system to another, particularly, in the Western Middle Anthracite Coal Fields.
EPCAMR Staff were able to show 3-D models and video animations of the structural geology of the Buck Mountain marker coal seam and areas above this particular bed in the Mt. Carmel area, that have been mined out to allow the members in attendance to see where mine pool water exists and approximate locations of the elevations of those pools, based on accurate elevations of existing borehole data for the region and the elevations at which AMD flows from abandoned mine tunnels, shafts, slopes, and other boreholes in the area.
Software used by EPCAMR to create the accurate reflection of the underground hydrogeology was able to show underground contour elevations of some of the coal reaching nearly 5000 to 7500’ deep, particularly in the areas of the Sharp Mountain range, outside of Pottsville, where dangerous cropfalls, extend deep beneath the mountain, into deep Anthracite Mines.
EPCAMR informed the ARIPPA members that what they do not have is an accurate reflection of the number of acres being reclaimed by the Co-Generation Facility industry and that is would be very useful to have to assist, not only EPCAMR, but the Commonwealth of PA in reducing the overall numbers of acres to be reclaimed of abandoned mines in PA. There has never been a comprehensive study of waste coal piles in the last decade or more to accurately reflect the amount of materials that are still out on the landscape in PA. There are still nearly 190,000 acres of abandoned mine lands left unreclaimed in PA and over 5,500 miles of streams impacted by AMD. Nearly 11 Million Tons of CFB-ash has being beneficially used at abandoned mine sites throughout PA. Over 2 Billion Tons of waste coal have been burned as an alternative energy fuel source in PA. Approximately 4500 acres of waste coal piles have been reclaimed in the last 20 years. EPCAMR would be wiling to partner with the industry to update those numbers into our GIS RAMLIS System for the cost of the time to put it together. Several industry representatives followed up with the EPCAMR Staff following the presentation and are interested in meeting with them to discuss future possibilities. Cogentrix, in Northampton County, and NEPCO, in Schuylkill County, were two industry representatives who would like to know more about our services. NEPCO is willing to provide EPCAMR with additional mine maps that we do not have at our fingertips to be able to add more accurate information to mining areas around McAdoo and the areas impacted near the Little Schuylkill River and Silver brook Creek, along State Route 309.
Harvie Beavers, Chairman, of the ARIPPA Board, commented at the end of EPCAMR’s presentation to Mr. McNelly, “It was one of the best technical presentations that our Board has seen in a long time, and it was nice to see that these two young guys have found themselves a niche in the reclamation business.”
Images: GIS Mine Pool Mapping Files for the Western Middle Anthracite Coal Field in
ArcView (right) and EarthVision (left)
For other details about the presentation, contact ARIPPA directly.
Jeff A McNelly, Executive Director,
2015 Chestnut Street Camp Hill PA 17011
Phone: 717 763 7635, Fax: 717 763 7455 Cell: 717 319 1457
Email: [email protected], Alt Email: [email protected] Web: www.arippa.org
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Press Releases: Geothermal Energy Potential of Mine Pools Warm Cool Audience at PA Conference
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact Robert Hughes-EPCAMR Executive Director
or Kyra Norton-EPCAMR Environmental Ed. Intern for details
570-371-3522 or 570-371-3523
This year’s conference was focused around the theme “Challenges and Opportunities in Interesting Times” and was held at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown’s Living and Learning Center. There was a total attendance this year of 168 people, 37 speakers, and 31 vendors over the four day Conference.
This year’s conference began with a tour of abandoned mine discharges in the Stonycreek Watershed on Monday afternoon. Sites visited on the tour ranged from recreational and economic benefits of upstream mine water treatment at Whitewater & Greenhouse Parks, windmills on reclaimed abandoned mine sites, to mine discharges and treatment systems throughout the Stonycreek Watershed. A very moving and solemn visit was also included on the tour to the Flight 93 temporary Memorial Site. The final stop on the tour was at the Windber Coal Heritage Center, where conference attendees learned about the coal mining heritage of Windber and the recent mining disaster at Quecreek.
The presentations began early Tuesday, July 14th. Bob Bastian, State Representative (retired) for Bedford and Somerset Counties, started the day off with some very good advice on how to reach your local representatives and his background growing up around AMD. The 37 speakers gave presentations based on two tracks: Abandoned Mine Reclamation or Coal Mining Heritage. The Abandoned Mine Reclamation presentations varied from topics such as Economic Impact of Abandoned Mine Drainage Cleanup, Geothermal projects, Manganese Oxide Recovery, Manure and Minelands, and panel discussions on funding, technical assistance, and grant writing assistance. The Coal Mining Heritage track had presentations that focused on the History of the Paint Creek Watershed, Taylor Colliery Historic Brownfields Redevelopment, Anthracite Coal Heritage, OSM/VISTAs in PA, and the Johnstown Area Heritage Association.
Tuesday evening was the formal dinner where the Annual Mayfly Award was presented to this year’s recipients: Bob Hedin, Hedin Environmental, and Dr. Art Rose, Emeritus Penn State professor. The Mayfly Award is presented to those who exhibit long term efforts in addressing mine drainage remediation projects in PA and has contributed greatly towards cleaning up PA’s environment from abandoned mine drainage impacts. Another announcement made at the dinner was that Joe Pizarchik from the Bureau of Mining and Reclamation will be appointed the next Director of the Office of Surface Mining by the Obama Administration. PA DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation also highlighted the AMD Set Aside Program Implementation Guidelines and how watershed groups now must obtain a Hydrologic Unit Plan designation for their watersheds before becoming eligible to receive Set Aside funds. Many more topics of a wide variety were presented and the attention spent by the audience to the details of each of them was great.
Other activities that took place at the conference were Coal Mining Heritage videos after dinner on Tuesday, a Rockband2 competition led by the EPCAMR Staff, and an optional tour Thursday by PA Trout Unlimited, the Clearfield County Conservation District, the West Branch Susquehanna Restoration Coalition, and Cambria County Conservation & Recreation Authority took attendees to AMD Remediation sites in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River (Cambria County).
This years videos were “Hard Coal: Last of the Bootleg Miners” and Centralia “The Town that Was.” The Rockband2 Competition also took place Tuesday evening after dinner where teams competed for prizes.
Robert Hughes-Conference Coordinator-EPCAMR, and Andy McAllister-WPCAMR Watershed Outreach Coordinator were able to convince one of our international attendees to speak; an impromptu international speaker, Gerard Shaw, Corporate Legacy Manager from Canada’s Cape Breton Development Corporation. Robert stated enthusiastically, “Gerard was able to fill in for our opening speaker on Wednesday and talked about Canada’s abandoned mines, submarine mining and reclamation efforts off of the coast of Nova Scotia, and Canada’s interest in geothermal energy potential from mine pools. His presentation was well received and very interesting depicting pictures of the coal mining operations that proceed under the ocean to the length of 8 miles out to sea. Andy and Robert were able to talk to him on the tour and at the Conference to see if he’d like to have an opportunity to give a Canadian perspective on the work that we are doing here in PA and what they are doing up North. It was a good catch”
On Wednesday evening, the Johnstown Area Heritage Association welcomed attendees to a Mixer at the JAHA Discovery Center. The 5 story building was well preserved and many options for the attendees to visit were available during the 3 hour event. A rooftop natural biodiversity native plants garden was exhibited. The Children’s Museum was toured and attendees even were able to go down a large slide normally left for the amusement of children. Historical and cultural displays were abound. The mixer took place on the 5th Floor’s Ethnic Club where attendees gathered and networked around a very rustic mahogany bar.
On behalf of the 2009 AMR Conference Planning Committee, EPCAMR would like to thank everyone who attended this year’s conference, all of our sponsors, particularly, PA DEP, Foundation for PA Watersheds, US Department of Interior-Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement, PA Environmental Digest, Gander Mountain-Johnstown Store for their Gander bucks, Gannett Fleming, Mackin Engineering, Trout Unlimited, and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, our exhibitors, and vendors-Land & Mapping Services and Lime Doser Consulting. Without any of these people, the conference would not have been possible.
Pictures from the AMD Tours and Conference Happenings have been posted on EPCAMR’s Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/EPCAMR/95647429094) site and all conference presentations will be posted on the www.treatminewater.com website shortly. Hope to see everyone at next year’s conference, Bridging Reclamation, Science, & the Community at the Green Tree Hotel in Pittsburgh from June 5th – 11th, 2010.
The 12th Annual PA AMR Conference will be coordinated in partnership by the PA AMR Conference Planning Committee and the 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mining & Reclamation, Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, and the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement. Check out the link www.PghMiningReclamationConf.com for further details. The “Science, Community, and Reclamation (SCR)” Session will be particularly geared towards community watershed organizations working on AMD issues.
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Register for the Pennsylvania Statewide Conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation
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Registration is now open for the Pennsylvania Statewide Conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Coal Mining Heritage. Please visit www.treatminewater.com for more details.
2009 Theme: “Challenges and Opportunities in Interesting Times”
When: July 13-16, 2009
Where: The Living / Learning Center on the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown campus in Johnstown, PA.
This year's conference will focus on the following topics:
* Renewable energy ties to abandoned mine lands and mine drainage
* Brownfields, grayfields and mine scarred lands redevelopment
* The implementation of SMCRA Title 4 and 30% Set-Aside Program
* Mine pool water reuse
* Policy dealing with abandoned mine lands and mine drainage
* How to prevent an AMD remediation project from being "railroaded" quickly
* Pennsylvania Coal Mining History
* Tour of local sites
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Posted by admin on Friday, 22 May 2009 (12:09:57) CDT (544 reads)
(comments? | Score: 0)
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Press Releases: 11th Annual PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation & Coal History Conference set for July
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2-26-09
The Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation will be taking the lead on the coordination of the 11th Annual PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation & Coal History conference for 2009, with its western PA counterpart, WPCAMR, and other state-wide reclamation partners who make up the Conference Planning Committee. The AMR Conference is set for July 13-16th, 2009, hosted by the University of Pittsburgh, at Johnstown’s Living Learning Center at the heart of the campus. This year’s conference theme will be focused around renewing the collective energy of our state-wide patch town heritage and culture to become the new green communities of the future. Alternative renewable energy sources that can potentially be derived from abandoned mine sites and underground mine water pools are two of the focus areas that are being considered at this year’s conference. The Alternative Energy Investment Act and the Alternative Fuels Incentive Act, both signed by Governor Rendell in July 2008, will provide $665.9 million of state investment in alternative energy sources, is expected to attract up to $3.5 billion in private investment in alternative energy in Pennsylvania, and 10,000 jobs.
With the national economy falling into a recession, consumers need to begin to think about leaning towards greater fuel efficiencies and more conservative energy consumption. Corporate responsibilities lie on the ability to find alternative clean energy sources that can diversify their portfolios and the need for consumptive use of our Commonwealth’s rivers and streams for purposes in the industrial gas & oil fields development. There is a growing national support for economic redevelopment that will create green jobs related to infrastructure development. PA’s abandoned mine lands and mining impacted waterways are now poised to become some of our greatest assets in our environment.
Our community watersheds have the opportunity to partner with companies that are interested in our Commonwealth’s resources on our abandoned mine lands. These problem areas could one day create sustainable communities that could decrease our carbon footprint utilizing solar, wind, hydro-electric, geothermal, and the Marcellus Shale oil & gas energy, as opposed to increasing our overall footprint based solely on fossil fuel alone. Attendees will hopefully be able to come away from this year’s conference with information not only on alternative energy sources, but on ways in which they can begin to reduce costs to their overall operation & maintenance of AMD treatment systems, reclaim additional acres of abandoned mine lands through public-private partnerships through the various power industries that will be invited, and to establish relationships with corporations from within and outside of PA. It will be incumbent upon the watershed stewards to stress and inform these corporation of the importance of maintaining our coal heritage while still shaping our communities future in our modern day society.
We are looking for industry leaders to come and exhibit and speak to PA’s community leaders and state-wide organizations that are interested in creating a marriage between these new “green jobs” that will stimulate the local economies of these watersheds, while at the same time protecting and reclaiming the sins of past mining practices on these former industrial brownfields of the mining industry. While our community leaders are stewards of our local watersheds impacted by mining, we need to work with our economic and private sector leaders to become engaged in corporate citizenship on a local level, particularly with new industry leaders who are coming into PA. We are encouraging those industry leaders to become a vendor or a sponsor and have an opportunity to speak at the conference about your corporation interests and future innovative technologies in the field of abandoned mine reclamation.
Planning for topics is ongoing as we speak. There will be a half-day tour on the 13th in and around the Greater Johnstown Area to AMD Sites, reclamation projects, municipal wastewater treatment technologies using hydroelectric generation, and other significant places of interest to remind us of our coal heritage and culture. The Johnstown Area Heritage Association is going to play a key role in this year’s conference. There will be a day and a half of abandoned mine reclamation and AMD topics as well as a day and a half of coal heritage and history topics. We are also looking for speakers related to PA coal history to provide the historical context to base future decisions upon. The last day, on the 16th will be a half day, with an optional tour planned for the PA Coal Heritage Museum in Johnstown.
The AMR conference will also focus on receiving an update from the PA Department of Environmental Protection on the status of the Title IV Surface Mining Control & Reclamation implementation plans, Set-Aside funding for AMD remediation projects, and the AMD Treatability Criteria Selection for AMD remediation projects. Can black culm banks and orange streams in our mining impacted watersheds becoming the “new green communities” of the future? Join us and find out for yourself, if you would like to become a part of the solution to our mine water pollution. Check out the conference website at 2009.treatminewater.com
CONTACT:
Robert Hughes
EPCAMR Executive Director
570-0674-3411
[email protected]
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The Jeddo/Nescopeck Partnership will be hosting a "Wonders of Our Watershed" Forum
Saturday May 9th 2009
10AM to 5PM
Penn State Hazleton
Activities include:
Rain Garden / Compost Workshops
Local History / Heritage Displays
Children's Activities
Artisans and Crafters
Rain Barrel / Compost Bin Giveaways
Environmental Displays
Public Opinion / Question Section
Entertainment
Please see the flier for more information.
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Eastern Coalfield Watershed Training Available
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The Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team (ACCWT) and the Eastern Coal Region Roundtable (ECRR) will be having its next semi-annual training October 27th through the 29th, at Canaan Valley Resort in West Virginia.
Issues covered will include fundraising, water monitoring, grant-writing, and organizational structuring, and each day is packed with information. The resort is a beautiful place situated in a state park, with many amenities. Transportation costs will be covered by the organization. Please see the brochure for more details
Robert Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director, and Carly Trumann, EPCAMR AmeriCorps VISTA, are already planning on attending. That leaves us with one spot available where the ACCWT will cover travel and lodging costs. This is why we are opening this invitation up to watershed groups in Eastern PA.
Please contact Carly Trumann at [email protected] or phone (570) 674-3409 as soon as possible if you have any interest in attending the training. I need to let the ACCWT know by ASAP (definitely before Columbus Day).
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Posted by admin on Monday, 29 September 2008 (10:51:46) CDT (740 reads)
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Postal Address...
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EPCAMR Office
101 South Main Street
Ashley, PA 18706
Phone: (570) 371-3522
Directions
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OSM / VISTA Watershed Development Coordinator
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Wren Dugan
(570) 371-3522
[email protected]
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