Abandoned Mine Posts

by Bruce Golden, Regional Coordinator

!!! UPCOMING CONFERENCES REMINDER AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POSTING !!!

Over the past few weeks, eight public roundtable meetings were held around PA on how the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) should best spend an estimated $1.4 billion for abandoned mine reclamation over the next 15+ years. The meetings were designed to educate the public and solicit comments. The funding is derived from a recently amended federal law known as the Surface Ming Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) and represents a substantial increase in both the amounts and the flexibility for using the funding. So far, Pennsylvania is the only state affected by this law that has elected to gather public comment.

The meetings themselves were held in cooperation with the Citizens Advisory Council (CAC), Mining Reclamation Advisory Board (MRAB), Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (WPCAMR), Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), and local sponsors in addition to DEP. In each meeting Andy McAllister of WPCAMR presented a video on how the amended law works, and Mike Hewitt of EPCAMR demonstrated an interactive computer program able to display maps of abandoned mine problems anywhere in PA. DEP also displayed large local maps depicting abandoned mine problem areas. The public comment portions of the meetings were facilitated by members of CAC and / or MRAB while DEP personnel were on hand to provide additional information.

The facilitators generally directed comments around the following Target Issues:

1. What should funds be spent on - land reclamation, water supplies, abandoned mine drainage?
2. How much should we ’set aside’ (up to 30%) for AMD, and how should it be used?
3. How can we maximize our efforts?
4. Are there related issues that need to be considered (unintended consequences of other programs, future land use, economic benefits)?

Here are some general impressions from the 8 meetings:

• Audience size varied from about 15 to 35 with generally greater attendance in western counties
• The makeup of audience varied with members of watershed and conservation organizations consistently representing the majority of participants
• The tenor of each of the meetings was respectful and constructive
• DEP personnel mostly listened, but provided commentary as appropriate
• There were quite a few comments about a range of reclamation methodologies and how they should be employed
• There were quite a few comments about the value of partnerships and watershed organizations for future reclamation

The only subjects that appeared to have a general consensus were:

• On the 30% AMD Set Aside, the majority of participants appeared to favor having DEP take the full 30%
• Most participants appeared to favor the establishment of an Operations & Maintenance fund to take care of AMD treatment systems.

A variety of materials is / will be available at the DEP/BAMR website, including
· Informal notes from each meeting
· Formal transcript (not yet available)
· Comment form

If you haven’t seen the SMCRA Title IV video, go to WPCAMR’s SMCRA Title IV page. If you haven’t been able to attend one of the roundtables and still wish to make a comment, go to the DEP/BAMR website for information on where to send a written comment.

***UPCOMING CONFERENCES REMINDER!

2007 NORTHWEST REGIONAL WATERSHED CONFERENCE

Saturday, June 23rd, 9:00 A.M.– 4:00 P.M., at Clarion University, Venango Campus, 1801 West First Street, Oil City PA 16301. This conference is geared toward watershed groups and municipalities with Non-Point Source Pollution prevention and education being the primary focus of the meeting. Registration information for this event can be obtained by visiting the Venango Conservation District website.

2007 PENNSYLVANIA STATEWIDE CONFERENCE ON ABANDONED MINE RECLAMATION

July 20 & 21, 2007 at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center, State College, PA. For more information and to register, go to: http://2007.treatminewater.com/

By Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator 

The SMCRA Title IV Public Roundtables continue this week with three meetings scheduled in PA’s Bituminous Region. The attendance at the previous roundtables has been great and the opinions expressed will provide the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and their Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) with plenty of food for thought.

Educational component

The meeting format includes an an educational component consisting of a video produced specifically to show how the amended federal legislation will provide new flexibility and allow Pennsylvania to greatly increase the amount of abandoned mine reclamation done. 

Also included in the educational section is a demonstration of the Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (AMLIS) GIS/database presented by Mike Hewitt of the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR). This presentation has been of particular interest to watershed groups and local landowners throughout both of our coal regions. The system allows the generation of on-the-fly maps depicting abandoned mine problems along with information about those problems. Even better, a CD containing the information is available free of charge that can run on most PCs. During the upcoming roundtables, Mike will show how the database works and will zoom in on areas of interest in your hometown. You can catch Mike’s AMLIS presentation during the educational session which runs from 4:00 until 5:30 pm. Also, the county abandoned mine land inventory maps produced by BAMR and presented at all of the Title IV roundtables are now available online.

Public Input

While many of the concerns and opinions that have surfaced during the roundtables reflect some of the common ground shared among the communities in both coal regions, opinions on some topics may differ. An example of this may be seen in the comments about taking the 30% Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) set aside. While most participants in the Bituminous roundtables appear to be in favor of taking the full 30% set aside, the opinions in the Anthracite region appear to be a little more mixed. Understandable. The Anthracite region has an incredible legacy of health and safety, land-based hazards that have been plaguing them for well over 100 years while at the same time the Bituminous Region is the place where you can find the majority of the State’s AMD-impacted streams.

Curious about the other meetings?

Check out DEPs official announcement of the roundtables and some of the unofficial meeting notes from previous roundtables. The notes are believed to reflect the sense of the discussions at the respective meetings but have not been comprehensively reviewed for accuracy. A formal record of each meeting will be made available once DEP is provided with the transcript.

Remember, this is your opportunity to help shape the future of Abandoned Mine Reclamation in Pennsylvania!

Mark your calendar for the meeting nearest you:

June 5 – Slippery Rock (Jennings Environmental Center)

June 6 – California (California University of PA, Morgan Hall)

June 7 – Dubois (Penn State University, Dubois Campus, Hiller Auditorium)

Light refreshments will be served.

(click here to view them all on a map and get driving directions)

All meetings will follow the agenda below:

4:00 to 5:30 pm – Educational videos and overview of SMCRA Title IV Reauthorization.
5:30 to 6:30 pm – Public review of PA’s Abandoned Mine Land inventory and maps.
6:30 to 8:30 pm – Public input session.

For more information about Title IV, click here.

by Bruce Golden, Regional Coordinator and Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

Although Watershed Awareness Month with the theme “Reclaiming Abandoned Mines to Reclaim our Waterways” is winding down, watershed groups and others are energized about reclamation opportunities and are preparing to attend the SMCRA Title IV Roundtables in the Bituminous Region. This is your friendly reminder to bring yourselves, your friends, fellow watershed group members, and your ideas and comments to the roundtable nearest you. Now is the time to ask your questions and make your comments regarding how the State should use the $1.4 Billion in Title IV funds. WPCAMR staff will be on hand to provide the educational session along with their Title IV video and EPCAMR will present a GIS database to locate priority reclamation sites in your neighborhood. Look for an Abandoned Mine Post announcement in the near future for more information on two more roundtables that may be added.

Remember, these roundtables are OUR chance to voice our opinions as to how to further reclamation work in the coal regions.

Some important questions to consider when attending these roundtables are:

1. How should the funds be used? (ie. for land reclamation, water supplies, AMD remediation).
2. Should we take advantage of the set aside provision? If so, what percentage should be set aside and how should those set aside funds be used?
3. How can we maximize our efforts?
4. Are there other related topics and/or consequences that need to be considered?

The dates and locations of the roundtables in the Bituminous Region are:

May 30 – Robertsdale (Robertsdale Fire Hall)
May 31 – Ebensburg (Dept. of Environmental Protection Cambria Office)
June 5 – Slippery Rock (Jennings Environmental Center)
June 6 – California (California University of PA, Morgan Hall)
June 7 – Dubois (Penn State University, Dubois Campus, Hiller Auditorium)
(click here to view them all on a map and get driving directions)

(click here for DEP’s official notice)

All meetings will follow the agenda below:
4:00 to 5:30 pm – Educational videos and overview of SMCRA Title IV Reauthorization.
5:30 to 6:30 pm – Public review of PA’s Abandoned Mine Land inventory and maps.
6:30 to 8:30 pm – Public input session.

  The Anthracite Region informal meeting notes were developed through the collaboration of the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation and the DEP. They are provided here to facilitate further discussion at upcoming roundtables. The notes are believed to reflect the sense of the discussions at the respective meetings but have not been comprehensively reviewed for accuracy. A formal record of each meeting will be made available once DEP is provided with the transcript.
 

The Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection has announced the schedule of statewide public town hall meetings intended to gather input regarding how best to use new SMCRA Title IV funding to reclaim abandoned coal mines. These meetings will be great opportunities to voice your opinions and to gather information about the law. Both WPCAMR and EPCAMR will be there to provide background information.

Mark your calendar for the meeting nearest you:

• May 22 – Shavertown (EPCAMR Office)
• May 23 – Pottsville (Schuylkill Conservation District)
• May 24 – Blossburg (Hillside Rod & Gun Club)
• May 30 – Robertsdale (Robertsdale Fire Hall)
• May 31 – Ebensburg (Dept. of Environmental Protection Cambria Office)
• June 5 – Slippery Rock (Jennings Environmental Center)
• June 6 – California (California University of PA, Morgan Hall)
• June 7 – Dubois (Penn State University, Dubois Campus, Hiller Auditorium)

(click here to view them all on a map and get driving directions)
(click here for DEP’s official notice)

All meetings will follow the agenda below:

• 4:00 to 5:30 pm – Educational videos and overview of SMCRA Title IV Reauthorization.
• 5:30 to 6:30 pm – Public review of PA’s Abandoned Mine Land inventory and maps.
• 6:30 to 8:30 pm – Public input session.

Call to Action!

The Title IV funding has truly been a windfall for the Abandoned Mine Reclamation community in Pennsylvania and is essentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Don’t let the opportunity to ask questions and comment pass you by! It is vitally important for everyone to get up to speed on this highly important subject and even more so, to let the Department of Environmental Protection know your opinions on how Title IV funds should be used.