Partnerships that make EPCAMR thrive. EPCAMR acts as a liaison between the following entities to reclaim land and remediate water:
Federal Government
- Office of Surface Mining (OSM) – Federal agency responsible for overseeing state mining programs
- The Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act (SMCRA) of 1977, that established current mining and reclamation standards, created the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Trust Fund, provided for emergency response to states when necessary
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Federal agency responsible for overseeing state environmental programs, such as air and water pollution programs
- Provides grants to states for various environmental cleanup projects
- Pennsylvania receives EPA funds for abandoned mine drainage projects
State Government
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) – State agency responsible for enacting state environmental programs with several bureaus
- Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) manages PA abandoned mine reclamation programs and an orphaned well-plugging program
- District Mining Offices enforce laws that ensure present and future restoration of mines and well sites
- Bureau of Watershed Management limits and deals with pollution entering PA waterways and lakes
Other Federal/State Agencies
- Coordinate abandoned mine land reclamation efforts with OSM, EPA, and PA DEP
- U.S. Department of Labor Mining Safety & Health Administration
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Army Corps of Engineers
- Natural Resource Conservation Service
- National Fish & Wildlife Federation
- Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission
- Pennsylvania Game Commission
- Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
- National Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation
- National Association of Abandoned Mine Land Programs
The Active Industry
- Industries currently mining, re-mining, and reclaiming land
- Re-mining the remaining coal from abandoned mine lands and reclaiming the land – 3,400 acres of re-mining was started by mining companies in 1997
- Industry reclaims abandoned mine lands 7x faster than the State PG
- Co-generation facilities are able to turn waste coal, culm, into electric energy
Watershed Groups and Community Organizations
- Grassroots efforts to monitor and clean up local waterways
- Receive federal/state assistance to carry out abandoned mine drainage projects and reclamation in their watersheds
- Over 50 groups in Eastern Pennsylvania partner with DEP, EPCAMR, WPCAMR, and others to get work accomplished
County Conservation Districts
- Advocates for local environmental interests, county by county
- Help DEP and others plan/carry out abandoned mine reclamation
- Prioritize reclamation activities in their counties
- Act as financial administrators and co-sponsors for watershed grants
Colleges & Universities
- Help others involved with reclamation activities by:
- Conducting research on environmental problems
- Encouraging public debate about environmental issues
- Helping solve problems through technical assistance and new methods
- Providing interns to work with organizations and gain real world work experience
Nonprofit Organizations
- Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR)
- Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (WPCAMR)
- Combined, cover 47 counties in Pennsylvania
- Grassroots groups cleaning up Pennsylvania’s abandoned mine land problem
- Work closely with government to come up with workable solutions
- Educate communities and schools on reclamation issues
