302 Regulating the Regulators: WVDEP Forced to Issue Permits to Itself 2010-12-09 14:05:53
Commonly known as the “Keeley Decision”, an opinion of the 4th Circuit Court of West Virginia.
As seen on COAL POWER, published by POWER magazine.
On November 8, 2010, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued its decision in West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, et al. v. Huffman (Appeal No. 09-1474). It’s an opinion that should be of great interest to government agencies and others who find themselves in a position of seeking to remediate water quality problems left by third parties. The appeals court decision in Huffman affirmed a district court ruling requiring that the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) issue National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits to itself, to address water discharges emanating from abandoned coal mining sites.
Though the case dealt with so-called bond forfeiture sites (areas that were permitted after passage of the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977), the legal principles that lie behind the decision are equally applicable to work done at mining sites that were abandoned before 1977 (abandoned mine lands or AML sites), for which no site-specific bond monies are available. In essence, the Fourth Circuit held that the federal Clean Water Act establishes a structure whereby states that are delegated NPDES permitting authority are also required, by virtue of that delegation, to regulate themselves.
The case arose in the context of an effort by the WVDEP to use monies available in its “Special Reclamation Fund” to address acid mine drainage problems at various bond forfeiture sites in northern West Virginia. Under state law, the WVDEP is required to “take the most effective actions possible to remediate acid mine drainage” at such sites. In most cases, this takes the form of in-stream treatment works such as waterwheels, which mechanically release neutralizing agents, bringing the stream back to a more healthy condition. Here, the plaintiff groups took the position that this kind of effort devoted to actual stream conditions “was not enough.” Instead, plaintiffs pressed the district court to require that the WVDEP issue NPDES permits to itself for each site, regulating the types and concentrations of pollutants in discharges from those sites, requiring monthly reporting (to itself), and exposing the Mining and Reclamation Division of the WVDEP to potential enforcement actions brought by the WVDEP for violations of effluent limits and other NPDES permit conditions.
Though there can be little doubt that imposing these obligations will increase the costs of such reclamation projects, and thereby reduce the number of areas that may be remediated, the Fourth Circuit agreed with the district court’s decision requiring that NPDES permits be obtained.
In so ruling, the appeals court emphasized several principles that would apply to any person who seeks to treat water discharging from property that he or she owns or controls. Of primary importance is the observation that “there is simply no causation requirement in the [Clean Water Act].” In other words, that statute “takes the water’s point of view: water is indifferent about who initially polluted it so long as pollution continues to occur.” Equating the WVDEP to a subsequent “operator” of a mine, the court held that whenever an owner abandons a mine, any other person who steps in to address polluted runoff at that mine site becomes “the party responsible for obtaining a permit.”
The Clean Water Act, the court pointed out, is a “broadly worded statute.” Thus, when that statute prohibits the discharge of “any pollutant by any person,” it means just that. In the words of the court: ” ‘Any’ is a powerful statutory term. The Clean Water Act uses it frequently.” In short, the court’s opinion is fair warning to anyone who would try to tiptoe around the implications of these statutory prohibitions,regardless of how good one’s intentions may be.
Recognizing that the Special Reclamation Fund represents a limited pool of recourses available to address a large number of bond forfeiture and AML sites, is easy to foresee that the immediate result of this decision will be to restrict the number of such sites that the WVDEP is able to address. This would presumably be contrary to the goals of the conservancy groups that brought the lawsuit. However, looking beyond the short-term implications, it is also reasonable to expect that this decision will lead to a renewed push for both an increase in the $5,000-per-acre cap on bonds for coal mine permits and more frequent denials of permit applications where it can be shown that long-term water treatment may be required after mining. Under either or both of those scenarios, the ultimate result will likely be less coal mined in West Virginia, which would be consistent with the plaintiff groups’ goals.
Though the potentially severe consequences of this decision are evident based upon existing law and regulations, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently initiated an effort in this region that may make the situation even worse. Specifically, on April 1, 2010, the EPA published “Guidance” that imposes a pseudo water quality standard for conductivity limited in its application to coal mining sites in the Appalachian states (including West Virginia). The WVDEP, which has its own narrative water quality policy that is intended to address the aquatic ecology concerns cited in the EPA’s guidance, has challenged that policy in federal court. According to the WVDEP’s complaint, the EPA is improperly usurping the role of the state in setting water quality standards under the Clean Water Act, and the proposed conductivity “threshold” represents “an overbroad, generic criterion” that is “unattainable” at many sites.
The application of the April 1, 2010, EPA guidance will not only greatly restrict permitting of new coal mines; if applied to bond forfeiture and AML sites, it will also further reduce the number of those areas that may be remediated by the WVDEP. Nevertheless, on November 16, 2010,eight days after the Fourth Circuit’s decision in Huffman,a number of groups petitioned the court to intervene on behalf of the EPA, to help it defend its action. Included among that group: the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, lead plaintiff in Huffman.
These legal skirmishes may be all about coal. But other industries, and those who regulate them, should keep a close watch on how far mining opponents are allowed to go in hampering all efforts to maintain an effective permitting program.
301 Abandoned Mine Drainage: An Epic Tale Video 2010-12-07 13:40:31
The much awaited time is finally here, WPCAMR and EPCAMR have teamed up to produce an educational short film on the formation of AMD. Informational? Yes! Entertaining? Yes! Will it go viral? Absolutely!
Directors Comments:
By Anne Daymut, WPCAMR Watershed Coordinator
There is a new tool for individuals to learn about how Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) is formed and the severity of the problem in our region. WPCAMR has published an educational video on YouTube titled “Abandoned Mine Drainage: An Epic Tale”. It is the first in a series of three short films related to AMD to be published by WPCAMR over the next couple of years. If you are sitting there thinking, “Oh no, not some boring educational video about the chemistry of AMD”, don’t worry! We guarantee this will be the most entertaining fifteen minutes of AMD education you have ever received. And you may recognize some of the stars of the show.
300 EPCAMR organizes tour for OSM/VISTAs to the Huber Breaker 2010-11-23 11:21:35
Contact: Robert Hughes, Executive Director. rhughes@epcamr.org
****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****
EPCAMR organizes tour for OSM/VISTAs to the last historical mining industry dinosaur in the Northern Anthracite Coal Fields Huber Breaker
Ashley, PA November 15, 2010
The Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation in conjunction with the Huber Breaker Preservation Society offered a full informational outside tour and inside look of the last standing coal breaker in the Northern Anthracite Coal Region for OSM/VISTAs within the Anthracite Heritage Alliance. The tour was led by current Huber Breaker Preservation Society Membership President, Bill Best, who imbued his extensive knowledge of the history and functions of the Breaker and all of its parts of both the remaining structures and those long since demolished or removed. Mr. Best took a party of eight people, including five OSM/VISTAS and two supervisors through the major remaining buildings, including a climb directly up the conveyor belt that supplied coal to the top of the 10-story high coal breaker.
Participating in the tour was Chris Deemer with Eckley Miner’s Village, who initiated the interest in having a full educational experience at the site. Megan Blackmon of Schuylkill Co. Conservation District, Michael Stanton of Schuylkill Headwaters Association, Michael Bloom with Hazleton Civic Partnership/Delaware and Lehigh Rails to Trails, Wren Dugan-EPCAMR Community Watershed Development Coordinator through the OSM/VISTA Anthracite Heritage Alliance, and Sarah Koontz with Susquehanna Greenway Partnership rounded out the party. Robert E. Hughes, EPCAMR’s Executive Director shared his thoughts on the tour by saying, “EPCAMR hopes that through this regional collaboration tour with our fellow regional volunteer watershed community development coordinators that work for the OSM/VISTA Anthracite Heritage Alliance that we could expand our outreach and publicity efforts to gain additional support for saving this fossil of a building. Once its gone, there will never be another structure as ominous and telling as this one that could explain to our next generation of children the reasons for the rise and the fall of the Anthracite Mining Industry in Northeastern PA. Coal mining history of the Anthracite Region will become a thing of the past.”
The Office of Surface Mining Volunteers In Service To America (OSM/VISTAs) work on a great variety of projects including water monitoring, biological sampling, historic preservation and clean up efforts, community mobilization and revitalization, event organization and fund raising/grant writing. The goal of every OSM/VISTA is to lower poverty by improving the environment on a grass roots level within the community. In addition, the EPCAMR Executive Director Robert Hughes, and Program Manager Michael Hewitt, attended to provide insight to the support that they have provided to the Huber Breaker Preservation Society over the last decade.
Wren Dugan has been assisting the Huber Breaker with developing grant proposals to secure additional funding for various phases of construction of the Anthracite Region Miner’s Memorial and park development. The Huber Breaker Preservation Society is a 501c3 dedicated to preserving the history and legacy of the Anthracite Region’s last standing coal breaker. Established in 1990, the HBPS has been working towards creating a public park on the three acres they own in front of the Breaker, including an 8×10 foot black Vermont granite Anthracite Region Miner Memorial to be installed in the park. A Buy-A-Brick Campaign is still underway and pavers that will be laid out at the site will be made from recycled pervious pavement and iron oxide, a metal commonly found in local abandoned mine drainage discharges. The HBPS hopes to have benches, and plantings along walking trails, interspersed with interpretive educational kiosks detailing the workings of the Breaker and life in a patch town. The Huber Breaker still remains under ownership of #1 Contracting, Inc. and is private property. Trespassing is illegal and not encouraged. EPCAMR received and signed liability waivers provided by #1 Contracting, Inc. in order to conduct the tour at the site.
For more information or to schedule a tour of the Huber Breaker, visit www.huberbreaker.org.
297 EPCAMR Releases Current List of Environmental Education Programs 2010-10-15 09:59:34
Contact: Robert Hughes, Executive Director. rhughes@epcamr.org
EPCAMRs new Mine Drainage Menu of Place-Based Environmental Education Programs Now Available!
Ashley, PA , The Place-Based environmental education programs have long been a cornerstone of EPCAMR’s philosophy and community services. Executive Director, Robert Hughes, and Program Manager, Michael Hewitt, have been working with schools, clubs, and community organizations for more than a decade, educating children and adults about the aquatic welfare throughout the region. EPCAMR emphasizes knowledge of students’ immediate environment, teaching about the local waterways, the affects of abandoned mine drainage on the ecosystem throughout the watershed. Presently there are 13 different educational programs being offered, and each can be specifically tailored to reflect current in-class curriculum. Prices for the programs will be assessed based on the size of the group and distance traveled to the teaching site. If you would like to receive a full-color brochure by mail, you may request one through our website, www.epcamr.org or email info@epcamr.org. The online version is available at our Environmental Education and Outreach Programs Page.
296 A New Facelift for the EPCAMR.org Website 2010-10-05 14:26:04
We have recently made updates to the EPCAMR.org website based on a document called “Fire the Web Committee” by SpinWeb, a great document that lays out some common misconceptions and the building blocks of a good non-profit website.
EPCAMR never really had a true “brochure website” (but have seen hundreds and created a few for partners with limited desktop programs). EPCAMR uses a database driven content management system (CMS), called CPG Nuke, that boasts quick page load times and supported flashy dynamic features. Back in 2002-2003, the homepage turned into a “What’s New” page to get people hooked and join our cause. We started adding news scrolls and badges to connect to the “flavor of the month” and the history of our organization. We got a lot of good comments at first, but then it started to have way too much on the homepage and it became increasingly difficult to navigate to the real content. One person thought it was overloaded and looked like a TGI Fridays Restaurant.
Most of this was in response to some of the social networking sites that had been popping up and other group’s success in recruitment/marketing with such web content. About a year ago, we made a fan page for EPCAMR on facebook and suggested that members go there for specific updates. We share news, project photos and use the list-serve features for upcoming events. There is a preview of the facebook fan site in a side bar on the EPCAMR.org site. Another plus is that EPCAMR staff share the updating responsibility for facebook now rather than 1 person whose responsibility (among many many other things) is to update the website.
So we have created a “happy medium” which displays our resources and content organized in less-colloquial categories with some text links to news, calendar, photo gallery and things that work better in a navigation bar. We like to think of our website now as clearinghouse and reference for issues that are important to our goals. We are working on possibly integrating more forms and an online store with instant payment, but are not setup to take credit card payments online and frankly do not want to after a little research. However, there is a badge that hooks us up to accept funds through Network for Good.
We also created a web page to explain our “chalk board” style background. We acknowledge that our web pages may be in convenient to see and difficult to print off for some people, but there are inherent energy saving properties to the style. EPCAMR, being an environmental organization, just recently made the switch to Host Gator, a hosting company that derives some of its power from renewable “green” resources. This webhost has also granted our non-profit with a year of free hosting through a Technology Grant.
We also took a page from the “Fire the Web Committee” article and printed and posted an article on “Writing content for the web” which explains the need for brevity and concise information, especially on the web. People will devote up to 15 minutes to reading something in print, however, attention spans on the web are measured in seconds (most of you will never read the entirety of this article…but to those of you who do, Thank You for your dedication). Effective paragraph structure is also different and should include bulleted points, double-spaced line breaks and no indentation. Polished grammar is also a must. We will endeavor to follow these steps in future article and page creation.
Please enjoy the new site and provide comments through our feedback form.
Sincerely,
EPCAMR Staff
295 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PLANTS GRANT $20K TOWARD REMEDIATION OF ABANDONED MINE LANDS
2010-10-01 14:19:15 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
9/30/2010
CONTACT:
Jeff A McNelly, ARIPPA Executive Director
2015 Chestnut Street Camp Hill PA 17011
Phone 717 763 7635 Fax: 717 763 7455
Email:office@arippa.org Web: www.arippa.org
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PLANTS GRANT $20,000 TOWARD REMEDIATION OF ABANDONED MINE LANDS (AML) AND ACID MINE DRAINAGE (AMD) IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
Celebrating 20 Years of Environmentally Beneficial Alternative Energy Production
CAMP HILL , ARIPPA’s Executive Director, Jeff A McNelly, reported today that ARIPPA plant members have collectively donated $20,000 to various deserving watershed and conservancy groups actively battling Pennsylvania’s largest environmental problem.
To commemorate its 20th Anniversary, the Anthracite Region Independent Power Producer’s Association (ARIPPA) awarded $20,000 to watershed organizations working on Abandoned Mine Land (AML) and/or Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) remediation projects. Award recipients included: Earth Conservancy, Eastern Middle Anthracite Region Recovery, Schuylkill Headwaters Association, Clearfield Creek Watershed Association and Evergreen Conservancy.
Awards were granted under the guidance and administration of Eastern and Western Pennsylvania Coalitions of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR and WPCAMR respectively). EPCAMR and WPCAMR are non-profit associations organized to encourage the reclamation, remediation, and redevelopment of lands and streams polluted by historic coal mining
Watershed protection is one of the fastest growing areas of community-based collaboration. Throughout the country, watershed groups are playing an increasingly prominent role in environmental management. With their local focus and community base, watershed groups are building consensus and expanding participation within communities across Pennsylvania.
AML remediation projects, in particular, are costly and long-term endeavors. According to the Pennsylvania Mining Reclamation Advisory Board, the average cost of an AML project is at least $8,000 per acre. The ARIPPA AML/AMD Reclamation Awards were designed to help environmental organizations and Conservation Districts to continue their tireless efforts toward improving our landscape and environment.
Organized in 1988, ARIPPA is also a non-profit trade association representing alternate energy plants that remove coal refuse from the landscape, convert it into alternative energy, and beneficially utilize the ash by-product to reclaim over 4,700 acres of mine-scarred lands and hundreds of miles of formerly dead streams back to their natural state.”¦without any expenditure of tax dollars. To date, over one hundred sixty-two (162) million tons of coal refuse has been processed and converted into alternative energy by member plants. Further, the technology used to convert coal refuse into electricity, known as Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB), is not only one of the cleanest energy technologies available but it also produces alkaline-rich ash by-products. The CFB ash by-products have been beneficially used in a highly regulated and safe manner:
- to fill unsafe, abandoned mines and reclaim abandoned mine lands,
- for acid mine drainage remediation,
- as a soil amendment at mining sites,
- and as a concrete/asphalt additive for roadways.
The unique nature of ARIPPA’s environmental efforts combined with the desire to coordinate these efforts with “hands-on” environmentally oriented groups and governmental agencies symbolizes its commitment to improving our community’s landscape and environment.
294 EPCAMR has new AmeriCorps OSM/VISTA Volunteer on board
2010-08-31 11:12:29 ****FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE****
Contact: Robert Hughes, Executive Director. rhughes@epcamr.org 570-371-3523
Ashley, PA – August 30, 2010 – Wren Dugan to act as the Watershed Community Development Coordinator volunteer for the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation for the next year.
The Watershed Community Development Coordinator serves to enable EPCAMR’S success along with its supporting organizations by building public awareness and involvement through educational outreach and community revitalization projects. The volunteer position cost-shared between EPCAMR, the Corporation for National Service, and the Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team, under the direction of the Federal Office of Surface Mining, will also assist with water monitoring , watershed research, and developing projects necessary to help secure EPCAMR additional organizational funding to keep the small staff of two full-time and fully operational and self-sustaining.
Wren holds a B.F.A. from Edinboro University of PA, where she served as Managing Editor of the internationally-award winning art and literary journal, allowing her to build experience with fundraising and event planning, and volunteer organization. With more than a decade of experience with educational programming for children and youth, her personal investment with family roots in Bradford County, and a passion for all things environmental make her an enthusiastic advocate for the reclamation of lands affected by abandoned mine drainage.
Robert Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director stated, “With Wren’s skills in fundraising, marketing, and previous work with children and youth, we feel that she is going to bring those sets of much-needed assets to our organization over the next year to help us move forward, during these economic hard times when finding funds, in the non-profit world, are hard to come by.” Robert went on to say, “EPCAMR has just recently begun to update our strategic plan for our organization looking forward three to five years down the road, and Wren is coming in at a time when her ability to help us sort out some of those strategic implementation goals and objectives are going to crucial to the future success of our organization’s development.” In June 2011, EPCAMR will be celebrating its’ 15th year of existence as a regional non-profit environmental organization that has become a state-wide leader in the fight to reclaim abandoned mine lands and to restore streams impacted by abandoned mine drainage. “Wren is going to be able to fulfill the role of that third full-time staff person that will be able to help us put together our first 15th Anniversary Dinner and Fundraiser, before her term of service is up next August”, Robert stated.
Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation is a non-profit organization that reclaims abandoned mine lands through partnerships today for a cleaner environment tomorrow.
293 An Insiders Guide to the 2010 Joint Mining Reclamation Conference 2010-05-05 16:23:02 by Anne Daymut, WPCAMR Watershed Coordinator
The 12th Annual PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation (AMR) Conference has joined forces with the 27th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation (ASMR) and the 4th Annual Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) Mined Land Reforestation Conference. The 2010 Joint Mining Reclamation Conference, to be held June 5 – 10, with a post-conference site tour on June 11, at the Radisson in Greentree, PA , will interest participants on national, regional, and local levels and we encourage everyone in Pennsylvania’s AMR community to attend this unique event. In case you are wondering how your watershed and reclamation efforts fit into this large-scale conference, we thought it might be helpful show you some of the highlights and give you some tips to reduce the cost of your trip. Here is how to make the most of your 2010 Conference experience.
Have Fun While Networking. This year, we are offering networking opportunities like never before. On the evening of Tuesday, June 8 the Three Rivers Boat Cruise will depart from Station Square, Pittsburgh, upon which the PA AMR Conference’s coveted Mayfly Award will be presented. For a mere $60, enjoy the live music of Mike Gallagher and Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team, Reckner will address the key successes of the watershed movement in Pennsylvania and the importance of partnerships with science and industry in the progression of the movement. On an individual level, you can interact with industry, other watershed groups, and environmental professionals throughout the conference to build lasting partnerships.
Learn Something New. With such a wide variety of topics offered this year you may find it difficult to decide which presentations and discussions are right for you. Those who typically attend the PA AMR Conference will most likely be interested in the Science, Community, and Reclamation (SCR) Track. The vast array of informative topics that will be covered in this track include building watershed group capacity, returning trout and mussels to AMD impacted streams, constructing successful AMD treatment systems, remembering our regions coal history, and lots more. Don’t be afraid, however, to sit in on a presentation from one of the other tracks, including a panel discussion on AMD treatment options and getting the most out of your AMD treatment system. The full schedule will be posted at http://www.pghminingreclamationconf.com/ by the end of the week. Check back daily.
Reduce the Cost of Your Trip. We have several suggestions to help make your attendance more affordable.
* Register for the Full Conference and Register Early. How can spending money also save you money you ask? Well, each day of the conference costs $100 but the full conference rate is only $270 before May 10 (a savings of $130). Students and non-profits get a reduced rate of $135 (a savings of $265, that is 66% off regular registration). After May 10 the daily rate will be $125 and full registration will be $325. There is no deadline for the reduced non-profit rate.
* Book your room early. This is one of the most expensive areas in the Pittsburgh area. Fortunately, the Radisson Conference Center is offering a special room rate until May 22. See details below.
* Many meals are included in the registration fee. Full registration includes the Sunday evening reception; breakfast, lunch, poster session with beverages, and the ASMR awards banquet on Monday; breakfast and lunch on Tuesday; and breakfast and lunch on Wednesday.
* Find a Roommate. Maybe you have a friend that is attending that might enjoy saving some money. Or maybe you would like to make a new friend. WPCAMR staff might be able to hook you up with registrants who would be willing to share a room.
* Carpool. Chances are someone from your area or along your route is attending. WPCAMR staff can hook you up with other registrants who are willing to carpool. What a great way to do more networking!
* Apply for a Scholarship. If after you have made all of the above considerations and you find that you still need financial help to attend, scholarships will be made on a reimbursement basis to Pennsylvania non-profit representatives and Conservation District employees. The amount of reimbursement will be based on need and amount of requests received. A scholarship application will be available in a few days at www.treatminewater.com/scholarship10.htm.
Now that we have your interest, here’s what you need to do so you won’t miss out:
* Go to or conference website www.PghMiningReclamationConf.com to register, get the most up-to-date schedules, and other details to plan your trip
* Financial assistance to attend the conference is available to those in need. Please be aware that financial assistance will only be granted as a reimbursement to Pennsylvania non-profit and Conservation District representatives. You must first pay for the conference and then ask for reimbursement.
* You don’t have to attend the Conference to go on the Boat Cruise and you may pay separately the day of the event.
* Special conference room rate of $108.00 per night plus tax ($15.12) will be offered until May 22. Reservations can be made by calling the hotel at 1-800-395-7046. Be sure to mention the Joint Mining Reclamation Conference to secure the Conference rate.
291 Pennsylvania Ave Cleanup Results 2010-04-15 12:04:06
Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation
Wyoming Valley Watershed PRIDE
(People Reaching Into Dumps Everyday)
Cleanup Results
Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR) has completed another cleanup! With the help of 26 volunteers on two Saturday morning cleanups (3/20 & 3/27), EPCAMR has cleaned up a 5.78 acre area along Pennsylvania Ave. and High Street in Wilkes-Barre. In this area we collected and disposed of more than 4.5 tons of municipal solid wastes (plastic and glass bottles, plastic bags, shopping carts, TV’s, air conditioners, children’s toys and strollers, mattresses, furniture, bicycles, etc.). This garbage alone filled a 40 cubic yard roll-off dumpster higher than the brim. Wilkes-Barre City offered assistance by taking almost another ton of recyclable waste (steel woven cables, and various metal objects) to a scrap yard, and 44 tires to a recycler. Pictures are available on our EPCAMR Facebook Fan site Cleanups Photo Album.
Your browser may not support display of this image. EPCAMR would like to thank our volunteers, many of whom were King’s College and Wilkes University students who were members of their respective higher education’s Environmental Clubs, for donating their Saturday mornings and Wilkes-Barre City for providing Public Works workers, and the use of a pickup truck and front-end loader to help out. Petroleum Service Company, Wilkes-Barre Housing Authority, and Luzerne County Rail & Redevelopment Corporation granted us permission to enter their properties, Louis Cohen and Sons (Fellow’s Ave., Hanover Twp.) for providing the dumpster, and OnSite Portable Toilets (Sugarloaf) for a restroom facility for the volunteers. We would like to thank the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority for donating six cases of spring water, and a deal with Jones’ Pizza & Pub (Hazle St. in Wilkes-Barre) for donating pizzas to replenish the volunteers after their hard work.
EPCAMR received a $16,000 grant from the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Waste Management in April 2009. The non-profit has partnered with dozens of local community groups to secure the funding to work on multiple locations throughout the Wyoming Valley and has a 12 year history of conducting community cleanups throughout the Anthracite Region. Also, PA CleanWays has been a partner with EPCAMR over the years and has provided educational materials to community residents to prevent future dumping incidents from occurring. PA DOT provides gloves and garbage bags.
Within the next few months EPCAMR, with the valued help of volunteers, will be ridding Luzerne County of trash, tires, garbage, household wastes, demolition debris, and other discarded items located at several illegal dump sites throughout the Wyoming Valley. The majority of the dumping that goes on in local community open spaces, where apathy is high, access to sites is unlimited, and policing of the sites is virtually non-existent. There needs to be a change the mindset of local residents that illegal dumping will not be tolerated. Robert E. Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director emphatically stated, “We don’t accept the mentality that it is alright to dump garbage wherever you want just because the landscape has already been scarred by mining. We’re trying to teach our children that this is unacceptable and a quality of life issue for our residents, their health, their children’s future, and the environment. EPCAMR would like to promote the PA CleanWays Adoption Program with local governments and community groups to establish additional signs and cameras to make dumpers more aware that people are becoming more vigilant and on guard in the future.”
EPCAMR would like to recruit additional volunteers for future cleanups to increase our volunteer base within the Wyoming Valley and other restoration projects in various communities to build upon our earlier successes. If you would like to offer a hand, contact Leigh Ann Kemmerer or Robert E. Hughes to learn how to sign up and get notified of more details. Cleanup dates will be scheduled on Saturdays until the end of June 2010. Volunteers can expect to work for at least a 4 hour shift to assist with any of the cleanups. Get more details on www.orangewaternetwork.org or EPCAMR’s Facebook page. Just search EPCAMR on Facebook to become a fan.
288 Growing Greener Projects Will Improve the Economic and Environmental Health 2010-04-13 17:55:00
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
04/5/2010
CONTACT:
Tom Rathbun, DEP
717-787-1323
DEP: 88 Growing Greener Projects Will Improve the Economic and Environmental Health of Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG — Addressing some of Pennsylvania’s most pressing environmental challenges, the Department of Environmental Protection today announced more than $16.5 million in Growing Greener funding for projects that will clean state waterways, restore stream banks, prevent flooding, reclaim mine-scarred lands and reduce pollution.
“During the past seven years, Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener program has delivered more than $237 million to local communities to improve the quality of our waterways, address serious environmental problems at mine sites and make communities more livable,” said Secretary John Hanger. “Growing Greener has also sparked economic redevelopment by providing the tools and funding needed to tackle tough environmental issues and restore the state’s natural resources.”
The funding awarded today includes $12.6 million in Watershed and Flood Protection grants and $3.9 million in federal funding for Non-Point Source Pollution Control grants.
Grants range in size from $6,145 to the Cameron County Conservation District to address invasive species and repair riparian buffers along the Sinnemahoning Creek to $664,500 to the Schuylkill Headwaters Association to design and construct a system to treat the 1.7 million gallon-per-day discharge of mine drainage from the Mary D Borehole into the Schuylkill River.
More than 1,300 Growing Greener Grants have been awarded since 2003. These grants have funded new and innovative drinking water/wastewater treatment systems, dam improvements, open space acquisition, repairs and upgrades of fish hatcheries, wildlife habitat development, acid mine drainage abatement, industrial site revitalization, community parks and recreation projects, acid mine discharge treatment, abandoned mine reclamation, watershed protection, and advanced energy projects through Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority.
The funds are distributed to non-profit organizations, watershed groups and county and municipal governments to address local and regional water quality issues.
A complete list and descriptions of the Growing Greener grants announced today by DEP may be found online at: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/growing_greener/13958/watershed_grants/588895
287 PA Watershed Summit 2010 2010-03-22 13:48:53
Saturday, May 1, 2010
7:30 a.m. , 4:30 p.m.
Ramada Inn Conference Center
State College, PA
Please join the Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds, the PA Department of Environmental Protection, and the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University in promoting the health and future of Pennsylvania’s waterways on Saturday, May 1, 2010.
Citizens from all walks of Pennsylvania’s watershed community will have the opportunity to share their expertise and wisdom, as well as learn from peers. Participants will include community watershed organizations, Trout Unlimited chapters, and sportsmen’s groups, along with environmental professionals from conservation districts, government agencies, academia, and consulting firms.
On Saturday, May 1, the Summit will begin at 8:20 a.m., with one of our keynote speakers. There will be eight breakout sessions, each of which will be offered twice during the morning and will focus on the areas of organizational development and technical assistance.
The Organizational Track will cover topics relating to board development, community engagement, and financial opportunities and diversity. The Technical Track will offer information on Datashed, volunteer monitoring, available resources for community watershed organizations, and the current issues surrounding Marcellus Shale gas well drilling.
Our second keynote speaker will present after lunch. Attendees will then work together to prioritize their expectations for the incoming Governor of Pennsylvania and meet the newest allies in the efforts to renew Growing Greener.
Please come early to enjoy our Friday evening reception featuring appetizers, a cash bar, and opportunities to network with colleagues and other professionals in the display area.
For more information and registration please visit
http://pawatershedsummit2010.wordpress.com/
286 Dominion & the Western PA Conservancy Award EPCAMR $500 2010-03-05 13:41:17
AMD Environmental Education Outreach Programs Targeted for Tioga & Lycoming County Schools in the Northern Tier
(Ashley, PA),EPCAMR was chosen as 1 of 68 proposals within Dominion’s service area in the Northern Tier to help support our AMD Environmental Education Programs to be able to reach students in Tioga and Lycoming Counties who live in watersheds impacted by AMD. Hands-on programming about watersheds, AMD impacts, community volunteerism, recycling of iron oxide, monitoring water quality of local streams, and education on local solutions to treat mine drainage will be discussed in the classrooms. EPCAMR will present our AMD Chalk Talk, Tie Dye, and Comedy Skit Educational Programs built upon the already popular AMD Avengers vs. The Pollution Posse Activity/Coloring book created several years ago by the EPCAMR Staff. EPCAMR Staff will be attending an awards ceremony to receive a $500 check and join a luncheon on Thursday, April 8th, 2010 at the Chestnut Ridge Resort, Blairsville, PA to be recognized and to provide the staff with networking opportunities with other award winners. The event will also offer a workshop designed to assist the management of non-profit organizations as a bonus training experience.
The funds will go towards educational material supply costs and travel to get to the Northern reaches of our service area. “The ability to obtain grant funds and material supplies to be able to travel 2.5 hours north to conduct our environmental education programs is a need that EPCAMR currently has limited our ability to reach even further into the Bituminous Coal Region,” stated Robert E. Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director. “This funding will allow us to conduct a few more programs that we might not otherwise have been able to do in this area. The Northern Tier is a beautiful place to visit and work with the students. Our work over the years with Blossburg Elementary and many of the community groups in the Northern Tier has been successful, however, we wish we had more travel funds to be able to make the drive more often,” regretted Mr. Hughes.
EPCAMR will partner with its regional partners in the Northern Tier to introduce the AMD Education Programs to some of the elementary schools in the area with the help of the Carey Entz, Lycoming County Conservation District Watershed Specialist, who supported our application and is currently working with a local watershed association on Larry’s Creek that is impacted by AMD, and other groups like the Tioga County Concerned Citizens organization, Blossburg Rod & Gun Club, Tioga River Watershed Reclamation, Inc., who work in the Tioga River watershed. EPCAMR Staff will coordinate with these regional partners to network with the local schools to be able to come and provide several programs to students from 4-7th grade.
Financial support for this project is provided by the Dominion Foundation, which is dedicated to the economic, physical, and social health of communities served by Dominion companies. The grant program is being administered by the Western PA Conservancy in commitment to its core mission of conserving PA’s diverse ecosystems through science-based strategy, leadership, and collaboration. ###
285 WBACTC FFA RECEIVES LIVING TO SERVE GRANT 2010-02-23 15:58:19
The national FAA organization recently awarded more than $400,000 in rural youth development grants to 65 FFA chapters across the country including the chapter at the Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center. $4,000 was awarded to Mrs. Janice Leiby’s horticulture class to fund their “Avondale Community Garden Project”.
On September 6, 1869 a mine fire killed 110 miners at Avondale, near Plymouth. The WBACTC is in partnership with the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation to implement the plan along the Susquehanna Warrior Trail located in Plymouth Township.
The grants are administered by USDA’S National Institute for Food and Agriculture through the national FAA organization. The FAA’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agriculture education.
Michael Hewitt, EPCAMR Program Manager, Leigh Ann Kemmerer, EPCAMR Illegal Dumpsite Clean-Up coordinator.
