At this point in time, EPCAMR has not recieved another round of funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) Mineral Resources Management (MRM) to administer this year’s Regional Watershed Support Initiative (RWSI). The program was very successful during its 4-year term.
Mission:
To restore watersheds impacted by abandoned mine drainage (AMD) and abandoned mine lands (AML) through the development of sustainable community-led watershed organizations, coalitions, partnerships, and related education and implementation projectsRWSI is a cooperative effort of the PA DEP Bureau of Mining & Reclamation, Bureau of Watershed Management Section 319 PG, and EPCAMR.
The goal of the program is to help form new groups, assist recently formed and the more experienced organizations in efforts to RECLAIM PA and restore watersheds impacted by AMD and AML.
Types of watershed improvement projects funded:
- Water Quality Improvement Projects
- Land Reclamation Projects
- Water Monitoring or Sampling
- Model Construction
- Organizational Support (stamps, envelopes, letterhead, legal fees, public meeting facility rental, part-time personnel, equipment purchases, etc.)
- Education & Public Outreach (newsletter, brochures, videos, tabletop display, etc.)
- Project Development & Implementation of AMD Abatement Measures (passive treatment systems)
- Student & Teacher Training Workshops
- Community Environmental Action Projects
- Watershed Field Tours on AMD and AML
- Watershed Conferences, Community Meetings, Watershed Congress
- Industrial Site Assessments on small AML acreage for potential re-use
Eligible Organizations:
- Watershed organizations, coalitions, conservation groups, municipal government, etc.
Organizations do not need to be a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit, however, they must identify as a public or private organization that can administer the finances of the grant. A letter of determination from the IRS is required.
