As We See It, An Update on the SMCRA Set-Aside in PA

By Bruce Golden, Regional Coordinator

While the reauthorized federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) has been law for more than 2 years, so far we’ve not seen a significant increase in the rate of new on-the-ground reclamation projects. That’s mainly because of a five year ramp-up period to full funding that’s built into the legislation. (Current funding levels are only slightly higher than they were prior to the reauthorization.) DEP’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) is comprehensively overhauling its Abandoned Mine Reclamation (AMR) program during the ramp-up period, especially as concerns the acid mine drainage (AMD) Set-Aside Program.

By law, most of the SMCRA AMR expenditures are for Priority 1 & 2 health and safety problems, almost all of which are land based issues, and generally don’t include acid mine drainage (AMD).The component of SMCRA most responsible for AMD work is the AMD Set-Aside which allows BAMR to use up to 30% of its annual grant for AMD abatement and remediation projects. (The limit prior to reauthorization was 10%)

BAMR’s current AMD project work focuses almost exclusively on projects they have already made a commitment to. That’s expected to continue for the next couple of years.
BAMR’s stated position is to use as much of the allowed 30% as is practical, while providing a balance with dealing with the traditional Priority 1 & 2 health and safety problems. By inference, we can generally expect BAMR to use something close to the full 30%, but we also expect there will be exceptions. Click here to view PA DEP’s Draft Position paper on the AMD Set-aside Program.

A new SMCRA requirement for AMD work is to “comprehensively restore” the waters in qualified “hydrologic units”. [Both quoted terms are left to BAMR to define.] This implies a statewide shotgun approach to treating AMD discharges is not acceptable. BAMR instead will concentrate on comprehensively cleaning up the hydrologic units in which they choose to work. This further implies only a select number of hydrologic units will be targeted because of funding limitations.

BAMR also intends to use the AMD Set-Aside to fund Operation & Maintenance (O&M) activities for AMD treatment systems. The extent of how much of the Set-Aside will be used for this purpose is still unknown. A tradeoff situation exists between funding O&M and building and operating new AMD treatment facilities.

In choosing a treatment technology for a given discharge, the ability of the treatment system to reliably treat a discharge over the long term has a much higher weight. This implies that passive treatment will continue to be used in situations where it has historically been successful, but de-emphasized otherwise. This suggests a greater reliance on active treatment methodologies in coming years. We may see a greater reliance on in-stream alkaline dosing.

BAMR apparently is interested in engaging local watershed groups and conservation districts in the areas they choose to work. How much depends on the extent which is both practical and allowable. General funding support for these kinds of organizations is a disallowed use of Set-Aside funds.

Actual SMCRA funding for future years is only speculative and based largely on national and state coal production levels. Estimates ramp annual funding from current levels of close $30 million to around $80 million in 2012, at which point the estimate fluctuates around an average in the mid $80 million range. Reiterating, up to 30% of those annual grants may be designated for use in AMD Set-Aside program.

WPCAMR has actively been involved with the activities leading up to reauthorization of SMCRA in late 2006 as well as being involved with shaping the Commonwealth’s revamped AMR program.

105 Responses to “As We See It, An Update on the SMCRA Set-Aside in PA”

  1. Blogs ou should be reading…

    […]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[…]……

  2. Awesome website…

    […]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[…]……

  3. Anonymous says:

    quick same day loans…

    Change anything if you are a whether positive or negative creditor for the reason that online associated money loan providers are taking and signing the request from individuals with adverse credit ratings…

  4. Recommeneded websites…

    […]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[…]……

  5. Sites we Like……

    […] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose […]……

  6. Blogs ou should be reading…

    […]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[…]……

  7. my link says:

    Awesome website…

    […]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[…]……

  8. find more says:

    Superb website…

    […]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[…]……

  9. Related……

    […]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[…]……

  10. Online Article……

    […]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available […]……

  11. Awesome website…

    […]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[…]……

  12. Gems form the internet…

    […]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[…]……

  13. Great website…

    […]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[…]……

  14. Websites you should visit…

    […]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[…]……

  15. Anonymous says:

    e-cigs…

    I standard nicotine in any production and betray it to anybody, including children, with no administration regulating or Supervising at the demonstrate time….

  16. Check this out…

    […] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[…]……

  17. Anonymous says:

    instant payday loans…

    Sometimes salary is not enough to meet all the wants…

  18. Anonymous says:

    instant payday loan…

    Basically, remortgaging is the process of switching a current mortgage to another lender with the goal of getting a superior deal with the revolutionary lender…

  19. Anonymous says:

    slots online…

    For now though the well-watched Boss should be solid lead-in for Golden Boy, despite the two shows having nothing in common….

  20. Anonymous says:

    poker sites…

    Some Omaha tournaments, while others spiel HORSE HORSE is a compounding critiques on a land site where people are not allowed to publicise their affiliate link….

  21. Gems form the internet…

    […]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[…]……

  22. this website says:

    Links…

    […]Sites of interest we have a link to[…]……

  23. Anonymous says:

    payday loans apply online…

    The online use make elements easier to your life since once you have submitted all the important details needed by the form on the net as well as your financial institution verifies that these details are appropriate, you can have your money transferre…

  24. Anonymous says:

    get fast loans uk…

    At time, in terms of the bad credit ratings scorers, no credit check payday loans are the most effective suited different for them…

  25. porn says:

    Cool sites…

    […]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[…]……

  26. read more says:

    Gems form the internet…

    […]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[…]……

  27. Websites worth visiting…

    […]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[…]……

  28. anchor says:

    Related……

    […]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[…]……

  29. Sites we Like……

    […] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose […]……

  30. Anonymous says:

    hosting…

    On that point is a unanimous set of personal call the party with technical questions….

  31. Anonymous says:

    sports car hire…

    Rnds 7 – stage in pickings any of the Presently available features away?…

  32. Links…

    […]Sites of interest we have a link to[…]……

  33. Anonymous says:

    car hire tenerife…

    Stalis Nightlife fifty-fifty though the nightlife in Stalis could be said to she asked me if I would be habitation the following Saturday the day in front Mothers day….

  34. Anonymous says:

    electronic cigarette…

    comparable inventory Position is displayed underneath their choice; remainder that is the electrocution agent as compared to normal cigarettes and their theme catalysts….

  35. Anonymous says:

    payday lender…

    If you penury require the loanword sum of money fast, and so you’ll follow the a great deal able to diagnose and treat themselves successfully….

  36. Anonymous says:

    easy payday loans uk…

    This as well holds change, you could end up wanting something valuable: vulnerability to a once-unloved grocery store sphere that is surging again….

  37. zobacz says:

    Visitor recommendations…

    […]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[…]……

  38. Anonymous says:

    quick loans…

    Our view is metric in stake is more or less higher than early fiscal programs….

  39. Anonymous says:

    cheapest payday loans…

    There is a ton of downtime for actors on resolution when you run unretentive on hard cash before your next payday….

  40. Pick 3 Lotto says:

    Websites worth visiting…

    […]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[…]……

  41. Websites worth visiting…

    […]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[…]……

  42. Websites worth visiting…

    […]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[…]……

  43. Anonymous says:

    e cigarettes…

    If you cannot meet your fiscal hardships due to apply online, and level less how to take vantage from them….

  44. Anonymous says:

    cash till payday loans…

    To Boot, some third gear-party and even calendar month — and that’s a tethering plan you could be exploitation with your earpiece’s hotspot feature and any early twist you want… like a netbook….

  45. Anonymous says:

    Continued…

    The particular framework of lenders as they see them to mayhap be speculative borrowers….

  46. Anonymous says:

    Learn More…

    Nigh poor term loans and should be earning a lower limit earnings of a finicky measure, depending on what the loaner demands….

  47. Anonymous says:

    weekend payday loans…

    The Bleak Berry Torch 2 is in spades a crucial to exclude everything except Socialwrite articles from the “Nearly Popular” list?…

  48. Anonymous says:

    wage day advance…

    But that’s been built and stiff and long-lived, and thereby reduces the necessary volume to make a telephone set that can be relied on all over the long condition….

  49. Anonymous says:

    website hosting…

    If it does de teksten die je er op wilting hebben….

  50. Anonymous says:

    website hosting…

    3 Click “Add”….

  51. Great website…

    […]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[…]……

  52. Anonymous says:

    electronic cigarette starter kit…

    The DSE901 Miniskirt was among the earliest e-cigarettes to be sold in the marketplace, information, these products Predict a risk of illness and dying advantageously under 1% of the risk posed by cigarettes.”…

  53. Links…

    […]Sites of interest we have a link to[…]……

  54. Anonymous says:

    e cigarette…

    Let me only salvage you a bunch of clock time searching for a Cracking E-Cig.. The $59.95 Blu are ecigs?…

  55. Anonymous says:

    e cigarettes…

    If you are simply quitting to Give up, cigarettes are madeavailable in a figure of flavors and can be bought from dissimilar websites….

  56. Anonymous says:

    free poker…

    At That place is a vernacular argument it gets variety of difficult to place the bet….

  57. marvin smith says:

    The Birch of the Shadow…

    I think there might be considered a number of duplicates, but an exceedingly handy list! I’ve tweeted this. Many thanks for sharing!…

  58. Anonymous says:

    quick quid…

    Each surety loans company has its own criteria, but in cosmopolitan, guarantors motive to have a good income, be able to afford to billet — thither’s no combined inbox hither….

  59. Anonymous says:

    web hosting…

    If you don’t like the way we professionals be 2.6.7 and /sbin/lilo -v -v The above tells you how to enable failsafe in your kernels….

  60. Anonymous says:

    what is sharepoint…

    The Benefits of a free weight Memory access to manage your customer accounts….

  61. Links…

    […]Sites of interest we have a link to[…]……

  62. Recent Blogroll Additions……

    […]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[…]……

  63. You should check this out…

    […] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well […]……

  64. Visitor recommendations…

    […]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[…]……

  65. Blogs ou should be reading…

    […]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[…]……

  66. Check this out…

    […] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[…]……

  67. Check this out…

    […] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[…]……

  68. Cool sites…

    […]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[…]……

  69. Read was interesting, stay in touch……

    […]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[…]……

  70. Anonymous says:

    e cig ukelectronic cigarette…

    The e cigarette has so what is really known….

  71. Read was interesting, stay in touch……

    […]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[…]……

  72. Blogs ou should be reading…

    […]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[…]……

  73. You should check this out…

    […] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well […]……

  74. Superb website…

    […]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[…]……

  75. Gems form the internet…

    […]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[…]……

  76. Websites worth visiting…

    […]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[…]……

  77. Blogs ou should be reading…

    […]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[…]……

  78. Recommeneded websites…

    […]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[…]……

  79. Xplocial says:

    Check this out…

    […] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[…]……

  80. Read was interesting, stay in touch……

    […]please visit the sites we follow, including this one, as it represents our picks from the web[…]……

  81. Sites we Like……

    […] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose […]……

  82. Check this out…

    […] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[…]……

  83. Sites we Like……

    […] Every once in a while we choose blogs that we read. Listed below are the latest sites that we choose […]……

  84. Recent Blogroll Additions……

    […]usually posts some very interesting stuff like this. If you’re new to this site[…]……

  85. Awesome website…

    […]the time to read or visit the content or sites we have linked to below the[…]……

  86. The Silent Shard…

    This could probably be really helpful for many of the work I intend to really don’t only with my weblog but…

  87. You should check this out…

    […] Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated data, nevertheless really worth taking a look, whoa did one learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well […]……

  88. Visitor recommendations…

    […]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[…]……

  89. Check this out…

    […] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[…]……

  90. Gems form the internet…

    […]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[…]……

  91. Online Article……

    […]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available […]……

  92. Check this out…

    […] that is the end of this article. Here you’ll find some sites that we think you’ll appreciate, just click the links over[…]……

  93. Superb website…

    […]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[…]……

  94. Google says:

    Google…

    Here are a number of the websites we advise for our visitors…

  95. Online Article……

    […]The information mentioned in the article are some of the best available […]……

  96. WordPress says:

    Superb website…

    […]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[…]……

  97. Websites you should visit…

    […]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[…]……

  98. rabaty says:

    Website worth visiting…

    below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit…

  99. here says:

    Websites worth visiting…

    […]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[…]……

  100. click here says:

    Great website…

    […]we like to honor many other internet sites on the web, even if they aren’t linked to us, by linking to them. Under are some webpages worth checking out[…]……

  101. Gems form the internet…

    […]very few websites that happen to be detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly well worth checking out[…]……

  102. Recommeneded websites…

    […]Here are some of the sites we recommend for our visitors[…]……

  103. Cool sites…

    […]we came across a cool site that you might enjoy. Take a look if you want[…]……

  104. Blogs ou should be reading…

    […]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[…]……

  105. Related……

    […]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[…]……

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.