Abandoned Mine Posts

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.
 

by Andy McAllister, Watershed Coordinator

Acidity in our streams can come from a variety of sources; some natural and some not. The water in some streams, swamps and wetlands can be naturally acidic due in part, to the breakdown of plant material releasing Tannins or Tannic Acid. Tannins are responsible for the dark root beer-like appearance and slightly lower pH levels of some waterways.

However, very acidic conditions are most often the result of man’s influence on the environment. Two examples of this are Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) and Acid Rain.

Acid Mine Drainage forms principally from something called Iron Pyrite or “Fools Gold” that is associated with most coal deposits. Acid rain on the other hand, is caused by smoke from automobiles, manufacturing emissions, fossil fuel (oil, coal, and gas) combustion, forest fire smoke, and volcanic gases interacting with rain. When fossil fuels are burned they release sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These substances, when not removed from the emissions, mix with water vapor in the atmosphere to form Sulfuric Acid and Nitric Acid. Generally, rain with a pH lower than 5.5 qualifies as Acid Rain.

Acid rain eventually flows into streams and lakes, and if those streams cannot buffer the increasing acidity with naturally occurring limestone, they become acidic. The acidity causes such toxins as aluminium and other metals to become dissolved in the stream water. Once dissolved in the water, these metals become poisonous to fish and birds. Acidity in also kills trees and slowly eats away at limestone buildings and stone statues.

The byproducts of combustion that contribute to our acid rain find their way to us from other areas of the country “downwind” of Pennsylvania. The clouds form due in part to our mountainous topography wringing out the water from the atmosphere. The moisture-laden air bumps into the ridgetops in Western and Central PA and forms clouds which then release their acid in the form of rainfall. As a result, the coal regions of Pennsylvania get a “double dose” of acid, both in the form of acid rain and in the form of AMD.

Acid rain has been a widely recognized environmental threat in Europe since the 1950s but has only been acknowledged to be an increasing problem in the US since the 1970s. Technological improvements in fossil fuel combusion for powerplants have resulted in significant reductions of Sulfur compounds over the years but similar success in reducing Nitrogen compounds has yet to be realized.

Acid Rain
from Environment Canada

Like it or not, occasionally there comes a time when “all good things must come to an end”. The meaning of such a phrase hits home to those of us at WPCAMR this week as we bid farewell to our AmeriCorps OSM-VISTA volunteer, Jeffrey Gerard, as he moves on to grad school. Jeff has been with us for a year and has done a phenomenal job in orchestrating the FACTS program. But Jeff, the person who always looks for ways to be helpful, has also become valuable to WPCAMR in many, many other ways. He does much and asks for little. Jeff is an extraordinary young man with a superb intellect, a giant heart, a great sense of humor, an intense drive to do good for his fellow man, and is an all around good guy.

Jeff made good use of his time in Greensburg by not only working tirelessly to advance the mission of WPCAMR but by being a wonderful friend and co-worker to all of us in the office. While his youthful synapses were busy firing away to solve WPCAMR’s periodic complex computer challenges, his “elderly” co-workers (Bruce and Andy) stood by wondering as to how a human being can solve problems so quickly. Needless to say, we continue to stand in awe of Jeff’s abilities.

Jeff, you have quietly done more for WPCAMR than you can imagine. As you move on with your life, you will undoubtedly continue to make a difference and leave your mark in all you touch. We will miss you dearly.
Thank you, Jeff, for everything.

AmeriCorps Week May 13-20

WHAT IS AMERICORPS?

AmeriCorps is a network of local, state, and national service programs that connects more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet our country’s critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve with more than 2,000 nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based and community organizations. Since 1994, more than 400,000 men and women have provided needed assistance to millions of Americans across the nation through their AmeriCorps service. There are several programs contained within AmeriCorps, each with a slightly different focus. One of those programs is the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program. AmeriCorp’s “Volunteers In Service To America” (VISTA) program provides volunteers to community organizations and public agencies to create and expand programs that build capacity and ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty.

• Learn more about AmeriCorps

OSM/VISTA PROGRAM

The Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team (ACCWT), in conjunction with AmeriCorps*VISTA and the US Dept. of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining (OSM) continues to place volunteers with interested watershed groups and non-profits in areas long ravaged by abandoned coal mining activities. OSM/VISTAs live and work in low income communities dealing with contaminated streams, depressed economies, and other issues related to abandoned mine lands and impoverished communities.

WPCAMR and other environmental organizations dedicated to abandoned coal mine reclamation throughout Appalachia, continue to get staffing assistance from the Watershed Team’s program. Jeff Gerard and Stefanie Chitester assist WPCAMR with its work in Greensburg. Another OSM/VISTA volunteer, Althea Kirsch works assists the Blacklegg’s Creek Watershed Association in the Johnstown, PA area.

• Learn more about how an ACCWT OSM/VISTA can help your watershed group.

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.