Abandoned Mine Posts

by Anne Daymut, Watershed Coordinator

It is once again time to register for the Annual Abandoned Mine Reclamation (AMR) Conference. This year, you will be astonished! The 12th Annual PA 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 Mined Land Reforestation (ARRI) Conference.  With an expected attendance of approximately 500 individuals, it will not only be our largest conference ever, but will also provide the best networking opportunities, accommodate the most diverse conglomeration of organization representatives, and cover the broadest spectrum of topics of any AMR conference to date.

The 2010 Joint Mining Reclamation Conference will be held at the Green Tree Radisson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from June 5-10, 2010. It will provide a forum for the dissemination of information that may lead to innovations in public policy, mining, landscape restoration, and land management issues through research, field tours and technical workshops. The event will bring together local, state, and federal agencies; mining community representatives; research institutes; and non-profit organizations. A wide selection of Pre and Post-Conference Tours, Workshops, and social hours will be offered including a River Boat Cruise where the coveted PA AMR Conference Mayfly Award will be presented to this year’s recipient.

Attendees who typically attend the PA AMR Conference will most likely be interested in the Science, Community, and Reclamation Track (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. The SCR Track will be held from June 7-9, 2010, however, everyone is welcome to register for any part of this joint conference.

With the conference only two months away, it is important for you to begin planning your trip now!   Here are some things you need to know:

o Presentation Schedules are still being developed but will be finalized very soon.

o A non-profit registration rate is available. Student and Non-Profit full conference registration is $135.00.

o Workshop and Tour costs are extra and are detailed on the registration form.

o Conference day-rates are available.

oWe expect that scholarships will be available to help defray the cost of attending the conference however, since scholarship funding is very limited, we ask that that you apply for scholarship funding only if you have a definite need.  We are in the process of finalizining the scholarship applications and should have them shortly.

oLodging for Conference participants costs $108.00 per night plus tax ($15.12) 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.

For more information about registering, visit http://www.pghminingreclamationconf.com/. Go to the “registration” tab on the website’s homepage and then click on the link at the bottom of the registration page to get the registration form for detailed information.

by Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

Editor’s Note:  At this particular time of year, we all tend to look back over the past twelve months and reflect on what has happened in our lives. We’re going to do the same. Thanks to your help and that of all of our partners, WPCAMR continued to play a vital role in reclaiming our land and water from the unregulated coal mining practices of the past. In this year-end edition of Abandoned Mine Posts, we’ve decided to share with you a few noteworthy news items and success stories of the past year.

Since the passage of the 2006 amendments to the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) had the daunting task of making sense of the changes and how their program would comply with what seemed to be a maze of new requirements.  After working long and hard, in 2009 BAMR released their Draft Implementation Guidelines for the AMD Set-Aside Program in PA, outlining how the state’s program would meet the requirements stipulated in the amended SMCRA.  In July, 2009, those draft guidelines were unveiled at the annual Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference in Johnstown. 

Also in 2009, in an effort to glean up-to-date information about passive treatment systems throughout the state,  WPCAMR, in partnership with the PA DEP, Stream Restoration, Inc., and watershed stewards throughout the coal regions, began coordinating a series of sampling events, “snapshots” of passive treatment systems throughout the state.  The sampling results are to be available on Datashed.org, an online database of treatment systems managed by Stream Restoration, Inc.  

2009 proved to be a successful year for making our voices heard, thanks to your response to our calls for action.  In February, WPCAMR launched its “Tales from the Creeks” series in Abandoned Mine Posts that chronicles the work of our county Watershed Specialists and the need for funding those positions.  The response by our reclamation community to our call to write their legislators about the need to continue the Watershed Specialist program beyond 2010 was gratifying.  WPCAMR, with help from partners Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts and the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, drew attention to the importance of the Watershed Specialist program and in the fall, the PA DEP reaffirmed the importance of this program by approving Watershed Specialist funding until 2012.

Successes continued, this time on the federal level, thanks to your letters responding to our call for action to re-insert language into the Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Appropriations Bill that allows the Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program funds to be used as match for other federal funds.  Our friends at the Eastern Coal Regional Roundtable were instrumental in pushing this issue with their constituency throughout the rest of the eastern coal states and communicating the need to our federal legislators. 

In spring 2009, President Obama nominated Pennsylvania Bureau of Mining and Reclamation Director, Joe Pizarchik to head up the US Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining.  After what seemed a lengthy amount of waiting, Joe was finally confirmed by the US Senate and took office in Washington, D.C. on November 6.  It was your letters to our US Senators that helped to give them a clearer picture of Joe’s abilities.

The year was one of celebrations as well as successes.  The Pennsylvania Environment Digest began a “Growing Greener 10th Anniversary Celebration”, awarding monthly grants to grassroots groups who shared their written narratives or videos about their Growing Greener success stories.  The annual Ohio River Watershed Celebration, a free event in downtown Pittsburgh, once again celebrated the good work done by the reclamation community upstream.  Look for that free celebratory cruise to set sail again in 2010.  In the spring, one of our region’s most well-known watershed groups, the Sewickley Creek Watershed Association became the recipient of the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence, in particular for their AMD remediation work being done with Bob Hedin at the Lowber passive treatment site in Westmoreland County.

Numerous environmental events continued to inspire and educate the public throughout the region during 2009.  One of the events highlighted in Abandoned Mine Posts was the 11th annual Pennsylvania Statewide AMR Conference, held in Johnstown.  The 2009 conference showcased fascinating projects such as using minepool water to provide geothermal heat in the Hill district of Pittsburgh, as well as presentations about our industrial past.  In 2010, PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference will be held in conjunction with two conferences, the annual conference for the American society for Mining Reclamation (ASMR) and the annual conference of the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI). This unique joint mining reclamation conference will be held June 5-11 at the Radisson Green Tree in Pittsburgh.

On a final note, 2009 was punctuated by sadness when, on December 22nd, ECRR Board of Directors President, Keith Pitzer passed away. In his lifetime, Keith worked hard to reclaim his beloved Cheat River Watershed in West Virginia. Under his leadership as Executive Director of Friends of the Cheat, that organization dramatically expanded its efforts to restore, preserve, and promote the outstanding natural qualities of the Cheat River Watershed. Because of that organization’s hard work, the Cheat River Watershed is well on the road to recovering from the debilitating effects of AMD. Keith served as a fine example of how one person can create positive change. He will be sorely missed.

by Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

The County Conservation District Watershed Specialists have been a vital force in Pennsylvania’s watershed movement for nearly 10 years, providing much needed environmental services in their counties and saving the state millions of dollars in project costs, in part by locating matching funding and in-kind contributions for environmental projects. Whether it’s fighting Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD), restoring streamside vegetation, or reducing water pollution caused by agricultural or urban runoff, our Watershed Specialists have been instrumental in many of Pennsylvania’s environmental successes. As part of a campaign to increase awareness of our county Watershed Specialists, WPCAMR Video Diaries pays a visit to the Westmoreland Conservation District to talk to Watershed Specialist, Rob Cronauer about his work and the future of the Watershed Specialist positions.  Note: If you are at a work computer and cannot view the video, check with your IT person to see if embedded videos are blocked on your computer. Click on the player below to watch.

 by Bruce Golden, Regional Coordinator

There are times when simple actions we take now may be especially consequential for the future. For those of us involved in mining reclamation activities (a majority of this readership), I believe this is one of those times.  The answer to “Who will become the federal Office of Surface Mining’s (OSM’s) next director?”  will be very consequential at the national and state levels during the Obama administration.  You have an opportunity to support an eminently qualified and suited individual for that position in Joseph G. Pizarchik, currently the director of Pennsylvania DEP’s Bureau of Mining and Reclamation.   I’ll save for later how best to support his candidacy.  First, some background.

Pennsylvania DEP’s Joe Pizarchik is President Obama’s choice (nominee) for the new Director of OSM.  As it currently stands, Joe is part way through the confirmation process, having recently testified before the U.S. Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) Committee.  (You can watch the video of his hearing by clicking here. Note: Advance the program slider to about 16 minutes to avoid a long viewing of  the opening screen!)   When  the Senate returns from summer recess after Labor Day, the Senate ENR Committee  will vote on forwarding Joe’s candidacy to the entire Senate.  If it reaches the Senate floor, a simple majority vote will decide the fate of his nomination.  An affirmative Senate vote means Joe Pizarchik would be sworn in as OSM’s new Director.

My first hand experience with Joe have been nothing but positive.  I believe him to be fair and open-minded with everyone (which includes the environmental community and coal operators).  He makes himself easily available and goes out of his way to provide information.  Joe is smart and well spoken, although you can sometimes tell he’s an attorney :-).  (I won’t hold that against him.)    With his years of experience, Joe knows the issues and the law regarding mining and reclamation.  Joe has the right stuff to make an outstanding, effective OSM director for the entire nation.  I don’t expect PA to receive any favored treatment… but am confident Joe will act as he does in his current position at DEP: fairly, thoughtfully, consistently and within the boundaries of the law.

Pennsylvania watershed groups and conservation districts know of and have benefited from Joe’s work and experience in Harrisburg.  Here are examples:

• Being able to use co-gen ash as a beneficial material in mining reclamation projects for both land reclamation and acid mine drainage (AMD) remediation projects.  (See WPCAMR brochure “Burning Waste Coal in CFB Power Plants“)
• Enabling the coal industry to do remining as a no-cost-to-taxpayers way of reclaiming mine-scarred lands and eliminating or improving AMD discharges.  (See WPCAMR brochure on “Remining“)
• Co-authoring the Pennsylvania’s Good Samaritan Act, which gives land owners and non-profit groups participating in reclamation projects legal protection statewide.

Joe was instrumental and a driving force for each of these.  Behind each are laws, regulations, and policies that have enabled many environmental successes in reclaiming abandoned mine sites and improving streams degraded by AMD.  Pennsylvania has been a leader and innovator in meeting our nation’s energy challenges while addressing environmental impacts.  The pragmatic approach of industry, government and environmental groups working together and cooperatively has proven to be very effective for enabling  Pennsylvania’s watershed movement to make great environmental strides over the past decade.  Joe is one of those behind-the-scenes, unsung heroes that made that possible.

An important part of the Senate confirmation process is the ability for citizens to speak their minds.  Since his nomination, Joe has drawn considerable ire from those opposed to the use of ANY coal ash for just about ANY purpose.  Joe’s role in the implementation of Pennsylvania’s beneficial ash placement program appears to be the lightning rod that’s attracted such a fervent opposition as expressed in several internet blogs and newspaper articles.  (See below for links.)  Based on supposition and misinformation, Joe’s detractors have, in my opinion, inappropriately and unfairly drawn a host of false conclusions on the policies he supports and his own motivations.  An inference that the environmental community is united in opposing Joe and Pennsylvania’s underlying policies couldn’t be further from the truth.   I certainly don’t challenge anyone’s right to their opinions or the right to express them, but I do challenge the basis on which they are drawn.  Unfortunately, the suppositions raised in a concerted campaign to the Senate ENR Committee appear to have gained some traction, at least enough to have influenced questioning at Joe’s confirmation hearing.

Joe’s supporters also have the right to express themselves.  The current contentious atmosphere makes that particularly important.  Politicians do pay attention to issues raised by the public.   Those decision makers would benefit from hearing another view.

Here’s how you can help in supporting Joe’s nomination.

• Using your own words, write a letter on your organization’s letterhead supporting Joe Pizarchik’s nomination as OSM’s new director.  It doesn’t have to be long or eloquent, but it should be sincere and say why you support him.  Letters having stock verbiage are quickly recognized and quickly discounted.  (These are referred to as Astroturf, as opposed to Grassroots.)  Individually written letters simply count more.
• Your letter should be addressed to:
  Senator Jeff Bingaman, Chairman
  Energy and Natural Resources Committee Office
  304 Dirksen Senate Building
  Washington, DC 20510and  cc: Sen. Arlen Specter, Sen. Robert Casey
• Scan your letter to PDF format  (suggested file name: “OSM Pizarchik Support [Your Last Name And First Initial])”,
  then email it as an attachment to  sam_fowler@energy.senate.gov .  I suggest the subject line of the email be “OSM Pizarchik Support”.  I would appreciate also being cc’d on the email at bruce@wpcamr.org.
• Only if you are unable to convert your letter to PDF format, a backup alternative is to fax your letter to the Senate ENR Committee at (202) 224-9026.
• FAX your letter individually to
  Senator Arlen Specter  at  (202) 228-1229
  and Senator Robert Casey  at  (202) 228-0604
• Because of security measures in Congress, sending anything other than email or fax  correspondence will be too slow.
  Since the Senate ENR Committee will likely deliberate in early September, getting your electronically sent letter in their hands as soon as possible is important.

We will keep you apprised of developments as they happen.   I personally appreciate and thank you for any support that you extend to Joe in being confirmed as OSM’s next Director.

Links

Good Samaritan Act  Pennsylvania DEP Fact Sheet
Coal Ash Beneficial Use Pennsylvania DEP BMR page with additional links
Burning Waste Coal in CFB Power Plants brochure by WPCAMR
Coal Fly Ash Report Pennsylvania Joint Legislative Conservation Committee
Beneficial Use of Coal Ash Pennsylvania Regulations currently under revision
Pennsylvania’s Remining Incentives Pennsylvania DEP Fact Sheet
Remining  brochure by WPCAMR

Opposition to Joe Pizarchik’s nomination

Citizens oppose Obama’s latest favorite for OSM(RE)  Coal Tattoo blog
Groups against federal mining nominee by Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Enviro Groups Pan Obama’s Mining Pick    by Justin Rood, ABC News blog
Let Them Eat Coal Ash: OSM Nominee Pizarchik Must Be Stopped Now, Jeff Biggers, Huffington Post blog