by Anne Daymut, Watershed Coordinator
The Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Reclamation (AMR) Conference’s coveted “Mayfly Award” recognizes individuals who have dedicated a lifetime of knowledge and expertise to the reclamation of abandoned mines in Pennsylvania. This year’s recipient is Deputy Secretary for Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Office of Mineral Resources Management, Scott Roberts. It is safe to say that everyone in the AMR community knows Scott Roberts’ name and there is reason for that. “Early on he recognized the value of working with watershed groups to help reclaim abandoned mines and treat mine water”, says former PA DEP secretary Dave Hess. Hess goes on to say, “Scott helped to oversee programs that from 1995 to 2003 reclaimed over 33,000 acres of abandoned mined lands, more than at any other time in the state’s history.”His contributions to the AMR community don’t stop there.
He was instrumental in gaining Congressional approval in 2006 for the extension of the federal Abandoned Mine Reclamation fee that will, over 15 years, provide over $1 billion to Pennsylvania for mine reclamation efforts. He played a critical, behind-the-scenes, role in helping rescue the 9 miners trapped in the Quecreek Mine in Somerset County in 2002. In his executive management position, Roberts’ oversees five program areas, encompassing 555 employees, with an annual operating budget of $110 million. The Bureau of Mineral Resources Management is responsible for developing and implementing Pennsylvania ’s policies and programs for surface and underground coal and industrial mineral mining, oil and gas exploration and production, mine safety and the reclamation of abandoned mines and wells. The direct economic impact of these programs in Pennsylvania exceeds $2 billion annually. Beyond all that, Roberts’ is an extremely personable, knowledgeable, respected, and worthy candidate for the PA AMR’s Conference committee’s prestigious award. Congratulations, Scott!
The Mayfly Award was presented to Roberts aboard the River Boat Cruise as part of the 2010 Joint Mining Reclamation Conference. The Conference was held June 6-10, 2010 at the Radisson in Greentree, Pittsburgh and strived to “Bridge Reclamation, Science, and the Community”. Academia, industry professionals, and non-profit representatives from across the nation; and even a few international attendees; convened to share technologies, success stories, and innovative solutions to AMR problems. Melissa Reckner, Director of the Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team, stated in her plenary speech to open the Conference, “The power of citizen volunteers and the strength of watershed associations in Pennsylvania is attributable to their passion, persistence, and numerous and diverse partnerships that foster reclamation through community involvement, which is helping to build bridges for our future.” Another of the conference highlights was a Water Treatment Panel where attendees could ask the experts questions about Abandoned Mine Drainage treatment. From this panel, non-profit groups, who implement a significant amount of the AMR projects in Pennsylvania, were pleased to see that academia and industry are working together to research and develop new and better technologies.
There was a lot of positive feedback from Conference attendees, which exceeded 250 individuals. If you attended the Conference and have not turned in your completed evaluation form, it isn’t too late. Fax your completed form to 412-937-2177. We would love to hear your thoughts on the Conference. Evaluations are important to us as they justify the need and benefit of the Conference to our funders.
And speaking of funders, we couldn’t have had this Conference without the generous support of our sponsors: CONSOL Energy; the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement; Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection; Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds; Oxford Resource Partners; HDR; Foam Concepts, LLC; Biomost; and Aquafix. Thank You!
Presentations from the Science, Community and Reclamation Track will be posted to www.PghMiningReclamationConf.com shortly.