Apply  Now!! ARIPPA AML/AMD Reclamation Mini-Grant Awards: $5K Available! EPCAMR/WPCAMR Receive $2500 Each To Award

By Anne Daymut, Watershed Coordinator adapted by Robert E. Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director

Now  in our fifth year, WPCAMR and EPCAMR have partnered with the Anthracite Region  Independent Power Producer’s Association (ARIPPA) to offer a competitive award  to watershed organizations working on Abandoned Mine Land (AML) and/or  Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) remediation projects.  Grants at a maximum of $2,500 will be awarded  to at least one eligible environmental organization, non-profit, or Conservation District in  the Anthracite Region and one eligible environmental organization or  Conservation District in the Bituminous Region in the Commonwealth of  Pennsylvania actively working on AML/AMD issues. Grant proposals should be for  on-the-ground AML/AMD construction projects with a completion date between  August 2013 and August 2015.  Proposals are due July 14th.  The amount granted is dependent upon  demonstrated need.  Applying  organizations must support the mission of ARIPPA, including the removal and  conversion of waste coal into alternative energy and the beneficial use of CFB  ash for AML/AMD reclamation.

In the past four years, the  ARIPPA Award has funded these projects approved by the Coalitions:

• Clearfield Creek Watershed Association (2010): $8,000 for Swank 13 AMD Passive Treatment
• Evergreen Conservancy (2010): $2,000 for Alternative Energy development at Tanoma Wetlands
• Earth Conservancy  (2010): $460 to replace informational signage on the Mocanaqua Loop Trail  developed on abandoned mine lands.
• Schuykill  Headwaters Association (2010): $4,770 to repair the Glendower Breech which will  return a stream back to its original channel avoiding contact with coal  sediment.
• Eastern Middle  Anthracite Region Recovery, Inc. (2010): $4,770 for construction of a raw water  intake on the Audenreid Treatment System to increase flow to the micro-hydro  turbines.
• Blackleggs Creek  Watershed Association (2011): $2,500 for the construction of a concrete pad for  a lime dosing silo in the Bear Run Treatment complex.
• Stream  Restoration Incorporated (2011): $2,500 for project costs associated with  removing waste coal refuse to be used in energy production and the construction  of an AMD treatment system.
• Schuylkill  Headwaters Association (2011): $3,000 for the Wagner Run Restoration project to  keep water in the stream channel, reducing the volume of the Pine Knot AMD  discharge.
• Huber Breaker  Preservation Society (2011): $1,000 for the Huber Memorial Park Pedestrian  Access Gate project to place a gate in a wrought iron fence surrounding the  property.  
• Eastern Middle  Anthracite Region Recovery, Inc (2011): $1,000 for the Audenreid Micro-Hydro  AMD Treatment System Raw Water Intake project to provide reliable flow to the  system.
• Sewickley Creek  Watershed Association (2012): $2,500 for Iron Sludge Recovery in the Marchand  AMD Treatment System.
• Chestnut Ridge  Chapter of Trout Unlimited (2012): $2,500 for lime dosing.
• Babb Creek  Watershed Association (2012): $1,000 offset cost of micro-hydroelectric  turbines that utilize 2 billion gal/day of the Antrim AMD to generate  electricity.
• Eastern Middle  Anthracite Region Recovery, Inc (2012): $1,000 for refurbishment of  hydroelectric components on the Audenried AMD Treatment System.
• Loyalsock Creek  Watershed Association (2012): $2,500 to purchase and apply limestone to  continue treatment of a large AMD seep at WALA Lake.
• Shamokin Creek  Restoration Alliance (2012): $500 to restore roadway, remove silt from pond 2,  block entrances, and install signs at Carbon Run Site 42 AMD Treatment System.
• Allegheny Valley  Land Trust (2013): for construction of a system to collect sediment from a  spoil pile along the Allegheny River
• Evergreen  Conservancy (2013): to purchase and install a new water turbine at Tanoma  Wetlands, a passive mine drainage treatment system at the headwaters of Crooked  Creek, a tributary of the Allegheny River. Combined with a wind turbine and  solar panels installed previously, the system will be aerated 24/7.
• Luzerne  Conservation District (2013): removal of heavy sedimentation and woody debris  dams within the tributary and repair and restore severely eroded streambanks  and stormwater outlets flowing into the stream
• Mehoopany Creek  Watershed Association (2013): 50 Tons of limestone sand will be applied to the  South Branch of Mehoopany Creek to increase the pH levels in the stream to  improve the fishery habitat and water quality in the Mehoopany Creek watershed  historically impaired by acidity
• Plymouth  Historical Society (2013): cleanup of illegally dumped garbage at the historic  Avondale Mine Disaster Site where EPCAMR has completed several historic  preservation projects in the past, located in Plymouth Township, Luzerne  County, PA
• Lackawanna River  Corridor Association (2013): a real estate appraisal on the value of abandoned  mine lands that are being proposed to be acquired by their partner, the  Lackawanna Valley Conservancy, in an effort to secure the property to be used  for future AMD Treatment of the Old Forge AMD Borehole, Old Forge Borough,  Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties, PA

Celebrating its 25th  Anniversary, ARIPPA is a non-profit trade association based in Camp Hill  PA.  Membership is located in both the  Anthracite and Bituminous Regions of Pennsylvania and comprised of:

• Independent electric generating plants producing alternative energy and/or steam from coal refuse and
• Businesses associated with the coal refuse – to – alternative energy industry.

Accordingly, ARIPPA is organized to:

• advance the alternative energy electric power production industry,
• encourage education about the generation of alternative energy and related industries,
• promote the environmentally responsible production of electric power,
• promote the utilization of alternative energy electric power,
• endorse the continuity and growth of the alternative energy power production industry,
• assist in meeting this country’s energy, industrial, economic, and environmental needs.

Due  in part to ARIPPA member activities, unsightly  coal refuse piles and the problems associated with them are gradually  disappearing.  Thousands of acres of  land have been and continue to be reclaimed to a natural state or for  productive use and future development.   ARIPPA facilities remove and utilize coal refuse from both past and  current mining activities, thereby abating acid mine drainage from coal refuse  piles.  ARIPPA reports that 145 million  tons of coal refuse has been processed and converted into alternative energy by  their member plants from 1998 to 2008.   Further, the technology used to convert coal refuse to electricity, known  as Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) technology, produces alkaline-rich ash  by-products.  There are many beneficial  uses for CFB ash including; filling mine pits, as a replacement for lime (for  acid mine drainage remediation), for acid mine drainage remediation, as a soil  amendment at mining sites, and/or as  a concrete additive for roadways. 

The unique nature of ARIPPA’s work combined with the desire to coordinate efforts with environmentally  oriented groups and governmental agencies symbolize a commitment to improving the landscape and environment of  our nation.

You  can obtain the official Request for Proposals and supporting documents at WPCAMR’s website: www.wpcamr.org

You  can learn more about ARIPPA at: www.arippa.org EPCAMR and WPCAMR administer this successful grant program and help to develop coalitions and community groups seeking funding for reclamation and remediation projects on abandoned mine lands.