On August 16th, EPCAMR Executive Director, Robert E. Hughes, attended the annual 2017 ARIPPA Technical Convention & Symposium in the Harrisburg Area over lunch to receive a $2500 donation from the trade association that has been a long-time partner of the Coalition in Eastern PA as well as the Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (WPCAMR), who also received a $2500 donation. Mr. Hughes highlighted the approved project proposals that were submitted over the Summer 2017 for consideration before the lunch audience of 120 attendees, including Senator David Argall, who recalled having always been a supporter of EPCAMR’s work over the last 20 plus years since he has been in Office. ARIPPA has funded EPCAMR and WPCAMR, who created the mini-grant program as a pass-through initiative to support community groups in their respective regions for more than the last decade thanks to continuous funding from the ARIPPA trade association. 
EPCAMR provided financial support to 3 project partners in the Anthracite Region this year. First, EPCAMR provided the Mehoopany Creek Watershed Association (MCWA) with an $800 grant to provide limestone sand to dose and lime the South Branch of Mehoopany Creek’s Red Brook Run, located on State Game Lands (SGL) 57, Forkston Township, Wyoming County, PA in partnership with Whitetails Unlimited, the PA Game Commission and EPCAMR. The target area this year is along the newly improved Coal Mine Road in SGL 57. Applying the lime here along the food plots to serve as habitat improvement additive for wildlife and near the streambank will allow for the material to be slowly released into Red Brook Run and Stony Brook Run, and then finally making its way into Mehoopany Creek to increase the pH, alkalinity, and decrease the acidity levels. The PA Game Commission did a great job of improving access to this area in the very headwaters of the watershed. The AMD is emanating from the Coal Bed Swamp located on top of the Mountain.
Limestone Sand Pile along the Mehoopany Creek.
Pictures can be viewed at the following linked PDF ARIPPA presentation 2017 of each of the project locations, including the site funded by WPCAMR in the Sewickley Creek Watershed in Western PA.
Second, EPCAMR awarded the Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance (SCRA), A $1193 mini-grant to support the purchase and construction of a 100% recycled product enclosure kiosk for interpretation and explanation of the Site 15 AMD Treatment System, along State Route 901, in Coal Township, Northumberland County, PA. The earlier wooden sign that was initially constructed had fallen into disrepair and became dry-rotted. There was no protection for the papers that were stapled to the billboard previously and now with the addition and construction of the new signage at the site those issues will be eliminated.
Site 15 AMD Treatment System along SR 901 in Coal Township, Northumberland County, PA.
Lastly, EPCAMR provided the Lackawanna River Conservation Association with $507 towards the purchase and construction of a set of pre-cast concrete steps to be placed along the streambank of the Lackawanna River in Old Forge, Lackawanna County, PA to safely be able to access the Old Forge Borehole AMD discharge for monitoring and conducting watershed tours to the site.
Pre-cast Concrete steps proposed for the Old Forge AMD Borehole site location to improve safety and access to the site for monitoring and tours.
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