Abandoned Mine Posts

By Cliff Denholm, Stream Restoration, Inc.

(Editor’s Note:  Stream Restoration Inc. (SRI) is a non-profit organization whose mission focuses on the restoration of streams impacted by abandoned coal mine drainage.  SRI is located in Mars, PA.)

As many of you may already be aware, a partnership effort has been organized to conduct two water quality snapshots of all the publicly-funded passive treatment systems located within Pennsylvania.  This snapshot will consist of collecting water samples for laboratory analysis as well as measuring selected field parameters.  The samples will be collected for the raw untreated AMD, the final effluent of the passive system, and the influent and effluent of every alkalinity-generating component such as ALDs, VFPs, SAPS, etc., as feasible.

The first snapshot is planned to take place over the next couple of months (August and September 2009).  The second snapshot is planned to take place in late winter/early spring (March, April, May 2010).  The monitoring will be conducted by a team consisting of individuals from PA DEP’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR), Stream Team, PA Senior Environmental Corps, Mill Creek Coalition, Babb Creek Watershed Association, Broadtop Township, and Stream Restoration Incorporated.  Funding for the snapshot is through a PA DEP Growing Greener Grant obtained by the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (WPCAMR).

Data from the snapshot will be made publicly available via Datashed http://www.datashed.org/ which is a free, web-based database designed to assist in the management of data related to passive treatment systems and stream monitoring for watershed groups, nonprofits, academia, government agencies and anyone else interested in passive treatment.  In addition to the water monitoring data from this snapshot event, information regarding these passive systems, which has been collected by PA DEP BAMR over the last year including existing water quality data, site schematics, as-builts, information forms, etc. will be uploaded to Datashed.  An account is not necessary to view any of this data; however, if you would like to be able to upload your own data, documents, and information you can get an account very easily by contacting Cliff Denholm or Shaun Busler at Stream Restoration Inc. 724-776-0161.
We have tried to include as many email addresses of watershed organizations as we could however there were many that we could not find.  So please feel free to forward this announcement to watershed groups that you know.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this sampling event please contact Cliff Denholm at Stream Restoration Incorporated. Telephone: 724-776-0161, Email:
sri@streamrestorationinc.org

Watershed Cooperative Agreement Update

By Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

There are very hopeful signs coming out of Washington, D.C.  The reinsertion of language into the Federal Appropriations Bill allowing the Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program (WCAP) funding to be used as match for other federal grants has been made in both the House of Representatives and Senate versions.  This is very positive news.  As you’ll recall, WCAP is a grant program administered by the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) providing secondary funding to AMD treatment system projects.  The bill is now in conference which means that the House and Senate are hammering out the final details.  We don’t anticpate any further modifications, but as Yogi Berra has said, “It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”  WPCAMR will continue to monitor this process and we’ll keep you informed of developments as we learn of them. WPCAMR is proud to be among several groups that advocated for this action to be taken.

By Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

Now in its 11th consecutive year, Pennsylvania’s longest-running conference dedicated to Abandoned Mine Reclamation (AMR) will be held July 13-16, 2009 at the University of Pittsburgh’s Johnstown Campus (UPJ). This year’s theme, “Challenges and Opportunities in Interesting Times”, reminds us that although some opportunities may be ebbing, other opportunities may come to light, opportunities that may help us see Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) and our Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) in a very different way. The ability to use mine pool water for geothermal heating and cooling or to generate electricity by micro-hydro generation are but two ways to make lemonade out of our proverbial “AMR lemons”.

Of course as in past years, updates on the latest AMD treatment methodologies will also be an integral of this year’s conference as well. In addition, PA Dept. of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation plans to present their final Implementation Guidelines for the AMD Set-Aside program in Pennsylvania.

To pique your interest even more, the Coal Mining Heritage component that was so well-received at last year’s conference is making a return appearance for 2009, featuring presentations ranging from an examination of the Lilly riot of 1924 to the VISTA Initiative at the Anthracite Heritage Alliance.

We are particularly fortunate to have the 2009 conference in Johnstown, an area bathed in memories of our industrial past: The Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center, The nearby Windber Coal Heritage Center , historic downtown Johnstown and the Flood Museum, the list goes on.

Now that we have your interest, here’s what you need to do so you won’t miss out:

• Go to the conference website, www.treatminewater.com and check out the schedule. More speakers are being added, so keep checking back to the conference website for the latest updated schedule.
• Scholarships are available for watershed group members and Conservation District Watershed Specialists who attend the conference. Scholarships are limited so you’ll need to act quickly.
• When you’re ready to register, click on “Registration” and follow the directions to register online.
• You’re on your own to arrange accommodations, however a block of rooms is reserved at UPJ’s dormitories at the Living and Learning Center. The dorm rooms with private bath are available at $32 single room and $50 double room per night (hotel quality rooms) but you must reserve your room by June 20th to receive these special rates. Contact UPJ directly to register for rooms (814) 269-1900 or 1-800-875-5958.

Incidentally, for those who are interested in viewing Abandoned Mine Drainage and Abandoned Mine Land sites and can never get enough, there will be a pre-conference optional bus tour to AMD/AML sites in the area on Monday afternoon July 13th. To make this tour even more interesting, the last stop for the day will be at the Windber Coal Heritage Center where participants can marvel at the artifacts and stories of our coal mining past. A complete schedule of tour stops will soon be posted on the 2009 AMR Conference website. Space is limited on the bus tour so register soon!

By Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

Sewickley Creek in Westmoreland County is getting healthier thanks to the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association and its partnership with Bob Hedin’s Iron Oxide Recovery, Inc., the Westmoreland County Conservation District, and a host of others. In fact, the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association was recently awarded one of the 2008 Governor’s awards for Environmental Excellence. In this installment of WPCAMR Video Diaries, we visit the award ceremony honoring the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association for all their hard work and success.

Click on the player below to view the video.

Note: If you’re on a work computer and can’t view the video, speak with your IT person to see if embedded videos are blocked.

Click here to read a Tribune Review news article about the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association’s Environmental Excellence Award.

By Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

Somerset County, Pennsylvania has a long history of coal mining and numerous environmental problems stemming from the unregulated mining practices of the past. In this edition of “WPCAMR Video Diaries“, we visit the Somerset Watershed Summit and go on a tour of the Casselman River watershed in southern Somerset County to learn about water quality projects going on there.

Click on the player below to watch. (Note: If the player is not viewable on your work computer,contact your IT department to see if embedded videos are blocked.)