EPCAMR Staff are available to assist local community groups, local/county governments, and other non-profit organizations in seeking funds from various levels of government and private foundation support for reclamation and AMD remediation projects in the region.

Grant Writing Assistance

EPCAMR Staff can assist in getting groups directly to the specific sources of funding that might apply to various types of watershed restoration projects and land reclamation projects. The Staff are available to assist in preparing technically-sound, science-based proposals that will follow the specific criteria and specifications of the potential funders.

While the EPCAMR Staff will not prepare grants entirely and hand them over directly to groups that are in need of assistance, the staff will work with the writer and assist groups in preparing high quality, well-written, proposals for submission to the various funders. EPCAMR does not guarantee that our assistance will lead to an award of every proposal that is submitted, but over the last several years, dozens of applications that were prepared with assistance provided by the EPCAMR Staff have been successfully awarded to our partners who submitted the proposals.

Lending Fiduciary Responsibility

Not all community groups have gone through all the steps required to make their group able to accept grants (aka. 501(c)(3) status, incorporation, tax exemption, and etc.).  EPCAMR has acted as the sponsor or “fiduciary responsible party” for many projects that fit our scope in the EPCAMR region.  Since this is requires an added level of involvement by the EPCAMR Board, please get this process started early as our board meets quarterly (every 3 months).

Funding Through EPCAMR

EPCAMR keeps a list of grants that groups and local governments in our Region related are eligible for related to education, reclamation, and AMD remediation on our Links Page.  Also, from time to time, EPCAMR will manage Grant Programs as well.  Those Grant Programs can be found in our Grant Opportunities section and will further explain the details necessary to apply directly to EPCAMR for those particular grants.

Letters of Support

EPCAMR will be happy to provide a Letter of Support for any grant related to AMD Remediation and AML Reclamation Projects in the EPCAMR Region. In order to obtain that letter, EPCAMR requires that an applicant provide at least an Executive Summary and a full copy of the application once completed. EPCAMR encourages groups to submit their requests to EPCAMR at least 2 weeks before the grant deadline in order for the EPCAMR Staff to have enough time to review proposals and produce the letter well in advance of the grant deadline (please remember there are only 2 of us!).

Don’t forget that EPCAMR has a broad background when it comes to AMD Remediation and AML Reclamation.  Please consider us not only a source of information, but EPCAMR hopes to be a partner in grants that are submitted in the EPCAMR Region early on in the grant process. EPCAMR assisted in the development of PA’s Comprehensive Plan for Abandoned Mine Reclamation. We also collect completed treatment system information to submit to Datashed.org.

Growing Greener Program

EPCAMR also has been involved with the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener Grants Program since its inception and in 2004 will continue to play a vital role in reviewing and acknowledging applications prior to their submission to the PA DEP. At one time, extra points were awarded an application that had a Letter of Acknowledgement and/or Support from EPCAMR and WPCAMR.  That is no longer required, but still suggested.  As Growing Greener funding has been waning over the past few years, EPCAMR has joined a coalition of groups to Renew Growing Greener.

Environmental Good Samaritan Act Coverage

Individuals and organizations that are involved with abandoned mine reclamation projects, abandoned oil and gas well plugging or AMD abatement projects may be eligible for coverage under the Environmental Good Samaritan Act. The Act relieves landowners and project participants from personal liability for pollution, property damage, and personal injury associated with the project. Good Samaritan coverage may also be requested for projects that do not involve GROWING GREENER funding.  EPCAMR encourages you to contact the PA DEP’s District Mining Offices or Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation Offices in your region.  You can find more information related to the Environmental Good Samaritan Act at the Growing Greener Website.