Bruno Najaka is a founding EPCAMR Board Member who stands out in the Coal Region for his commitment to environmental quality. Bruno has represented the Sullivan County Conservation District and Endless Mountains Resource Conservation & Development Council on the EPCAMR Board of Trustees since 1996. To promote cooperation among all parties interested in resolving the problems of abandoned mine drainage (AMD) and abandoned mine land (AML) reclamation in Northeastern & North Central Pennsylvania, Bruno has assisted EPCAMR in many ways and with the greatest sense of humor and passion for the environment. Bruno has coordinated Sullivan County AML reclamation projects since the inception of the Rural Abandoned Mine Program (RAMP), including:
- Passerella AML Stripping RAMP Project
- Route 487 AML Reclamation Project
- Loyalsock Creek Abandoned Mine Drainage Passive Treatment Design Project
Bruno dedicated 41 years to the reclamation and remediation of natural resources through his active participation on the EPCAMR Board. He committed himself to making it to as many EPCAMR Board meetings as possible and always came with a story to tell. EPCAMR is very appreciative of the time and effort Bruno puts into our organization, as well as into other watershed associations, land associations, and citizens of Sullivan County. We enjoy hearing his stories and we think you will too. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear him speak at EPCAMR’s 15th Anniversary event.
“As a young environmental professional, just getting my big break with a job as Regional Coordinator for EPCAMR, Bruno was instrumental in providing advice and inspiring leadership for my new role,” states EPCAMR Executive Director, Robert Hughes. “He was always on-call, if I needed some input from a third party or another pair of eyes on a project document. Bruno has an abundance of knowledge when it comes to the people, organizations, and conservation groups in Sullivan County and has an uncanny ability to bring in grants for AML reclamation and AMD remediation projects.”
At an EPCAMR Board meeting back in 1999, Bruno chuckled while giving an update on the Watershed Association Committee, “If you don’t mind, I’ll just go on to another watershed, since about six of them flow downstream out of the county, and I am here to represent all of them!” Bruno represents Loyalsock, Muncy, Fishing, Schrader, Mehoopany, and Birch Creek. He knows where all of the hot spots are in each watershed and the right people to talk to when you are looking for information about a particular project.
This distinguished gentleman has stories to tell. EPCAMR invites you to come listen to Bruno speak for a laugh or two toward the end of our 15th Anniversary event.
