LRCA has initiated a collaboration with the PA Anthracite Heritage Museum (PHMC), EPCAMR and the Lackawanna Historical Society (LHS) to conduct historical research and develop information about the cessation of underground mining and pumping operations in the Lackawanna Basin of the Northern Anthracite Field in 1961, the subsequent inundation of the mine void system causing a public safety emergency, and the construction of the Old Forge Borehole to stabilize the mine pool flooding in 1962.

The Old Forge AMD Borehole seen looking north from the Union Street Bridge in Old Forge as it enters the Lackawanna River polluting the lower 3 miles of the watershed before entering the N. Branch of the Susquehanna River.

Tara Jones, Executive Director, stated excitedly, in her application that “We will produce a White Paper that will serve as a primary document to inform the establishment of an exhibit kiosk to be installed in the Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton, as well as a summary poster to be available for onsite installation at the Borehole location at the Union Street Bridge in Old Forge, PA.”

LRCA will conduct historical research in local and state archives, newspaper records, and conduct key person interviews related to the cessation of mine water pumping in the Lackawanna Basin by the Moffat Coal Company on November 1, 1961. By January 1962, this caused flooding of the mine voids under the Lackawanna Valley and the surcharge of mine waters into ground waters and surface drainage that severely damaged private properties and public infrastructure across wide-spread areas between Old Forge, Scranton, Olyphant, and Carbondale.

The various agencies of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Federal Government responded to design and construct a pressure relief borehole on the west bank of the Lackawanna River at the crest of the Moosic Saddle Anticline in Old Forge between May and September 1962. Since then, the Old Forge Borehole has been discharging polluting mine waters at an average of 60 million gallons per day into the Lackawanna River. Over 5,000 pounds of iron, manganese, sulfur, aluminum, and other trace elements precipitate out of this drainage. It may be the largest point source of mine drainage in North America.

Bobby Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director, emphasized with great pride, “There is no better mentor of mine, then our former Past President of EPCAMR, and co-founder of LRCA 32 years ago, Old Man River himself, and LRCA Senior Project Manager, Bernie McGurl to act as the Principal Investigator to conduct the research and draft the White Paper. Bernie and I have told thousands of students and visitors to the Old Forge AMD Borehole this story of its inception and legacy through our oral history and knowledge gained from just reading and researching about our fascinating Anthracite Mining heritage and history. It’s time we take that institutional knowledge and transferred it in a way that will captivate audiences young and old at the PA Anthracite Heritage Museum, where there are numerous opportunities for students and visitors alike to learn about our rich history in mining and how we are dealing with the legacy looking to the future. It starts with education.”

The paper will serve as the first phase of several intended outcomes: the development and interpretive exhibit on the end of underground mining in the Northern Field at the Anthracite Heritage Museum; the development of an educational information poster for students and the public; the Installation of a Pennsylvania Historic Marker at the Borehole site and the retrieval, and preservation of the 42-inch diameter stone core plug from the borehole drilling work that lies on the cobble bar in the riverbed adjacent to the borehole.

The sandstone core plug from the Old Forge Borehole currently sits along the western bank of the Lackawanna River adjacent to the box culvert that carries the AMD to the outlet just above the Union Street Bridge. It’s several thousand pounds and LRCA and EPCAMR are going to be looking for a solution on how to get it out of the River and up along the bank to be placed near a future planned Historic Marker at the site.

Check out a 2012 presentation put together by EPCAMR, LCRA, and the SRBC on the Lower Lackawanna River Watershed Assessment Plan. It gives you some insight into the historic conditions of of the water quality and flows below the Old Forge Borehole and it also gives you an idea of the extent of the underground mien pools that feed the voluminous discharge that Bernie often calls “the single largest source of AMD pollution in terms of iron loading and flow to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

The post Old Man River and the Lackawanna River Conservation Association (LRCA) Awarded $1945 ARIPPA EPCAMR Mini-Grant appeared first on epcamr.org.

Figure 1. Aspect Raster Layer of a portion of the Northern Anthracite Coalfields

Suitability Layer of a portion of the Northern Anthracite Coalfields related to Solar within coalfield communities and the potential siting on formerly reclaimed abandoned mine lands

The post The Just Transition Fund Awards EPCAMR $25K Planning and Outreach Grant to Reach New Partners in the Solar Markets to Discuss Future Development Opportunities on Reclaimed Abandoned Mine Lands in PA Coalfield Communities appeared first on epcamr.org.

Apply now for the $5,000 ARIPPA AML/AMD Mini-grant award program through EPCAMR.  EPCAMR and WPCAMR 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 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. Smaller grants are encouraged. Grant proposals should be for on-the-ground AML/AMD projects with a completion date between July 2017 and June 2018. Proposals are due July 7th. 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. You can obtain the official Request for Proposals and supporting documents here. EPCAMR will be receiving the $5000 donation on August 16th at their annual Technical Convention in Harrisburg, PA.

“EPCAMR has been able to leverage over hundreds of thousands of dollars in total over the last decade or more throughout our region in support of reclamation, education, and remediation projects on small scale projects thanks to the donations of the member Co-Gen plants of ARIPPA. Coalition partners that we work with tend to make a little bit of money go a long way in the coal region. We wouldn’t  be able to support our community efforts to reclaim abandoned mine lands without them as our long-term partner. We’re very appreciative of the efforts of George Ellis, ARIPPA Executive Director and his Staff, Cristy Doyle, and his member plants who have been great partners over the long term with EPCAMR,” emphasized Robert E. Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director.

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. 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, replacement for lime (for AMD remediation), a soil amendment at mining sites, and 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, symbolizes a commitment to improving the landscape and environment of our nation. If waste coal-fired plants are forced to close due to unreasonable regulations, streams will continue to be contaminated, public safety will continue to be at risk due to the dangers the piles pose, piles will continue to self-ignite and spew the same pollutants into the air that the regulations are trying to curtail, and communities will continue to be shadowed by the unsightly black mountains. All of this would be a tax-payer burden. EPCAMR has been a long-time partner of the Co-Generation Industry that has been reclaimed waste coal piles throughout PA for nearly 20 years. To review all of the work that they have completed and reclaimed, please read the following recently released Coal Refuse to Energy Summary.

Robert E. Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director giving testimony in support of the Waste Coal Industry (ARIPPA) at the PA Senate Environmental Resource Committee Hearing in Jim Thorpe, PA.

To read, our EPCAMR Director’s Public Hearing Comments to the House SubCommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources-Committee on Natural Resources, read his Testimony, in support of the Waste Coal Industry.

The post ARIPPA Awards EPCAMR Another $5000 for Support of AMD & Reclamation-related Projects Across the Region appeared first on epcamr.org.

George Ellis, Executive Director of ARIPPA, sent us a note along with the donation stating, “Your passion and dedication to reclaiming and redeveloping lands and streams affected by historic mining practices is admirable and truly makes a significant impact on PA’s environment. Accordingly, ARIPPA is proud to contribute to your AML/AMD efforts by making a monetary donation in the amount of $2500. While it is a relatively small amount, we hope that it will make a difference in the environmental remediation work that you continue to perform. We genuinely appreciate your continuous support and look forward to working with you in the years to come”.

This year, EPCAMR has selected the following recipients for the AML/AMD Mini-Grant Program.

Newport Township CrimeWatch Organization–$500 towards hauling, proper electronics waste disposal, dumpster, and cleanup supplies for a planned 2017 Spring Cleanup (between April and May 2017), on an abandoned mine land area in Newport Township, Luzerne County, PA where up to 40 tires will be removed and 10-12,000 pounds of illegally dumped trash, discarded furniture, construction waste, and household wastes will be removed, in partnership with Newport Township, Newport Township Community Organization, Greater Nanticoke Area Community Garden, Newport Township Police Department, Nanticoke Conservation Club, EPCAMR, and the Spooky Off-Road Club. 50 volunteers are expected to participate. EPCAMR will administer the grant on behalf of the NTCO.

Illegal dumping in Newport Township.

Mehoopany Creek Watershed Association–$800 towards the purchase of lime to be placed on food plots on State Game Lands #57, adjacent to the Mehoopany Creek, Wyoming County, PA  in partnership with the Whitetails Unlimited, PA Game Commission, who will be donating machinery to spread the lime, and EPCAMR. During rain events, lime will eventually reach the stream, having already benefited the food plots, and will increase the pH of the acid mine water entering the watershed. The liming will occur in the Fall of 2016.

Lime pile

Luzerne Conservation District–$700 towards a pressure transducer that will be installed at the Plainsville AMD Borehole in Plains Township, Luzerne County, PA to obtain real-time data that will allow for the Luzerne Conservation District, Plains Township, EPCAMR, and the landowner, Mr. Greg Price, to gain a better understanding of the actual flows, chemical loadings of iron and other trace metals reaching the Susquehanna River, and to help learn more about the underground mine pool complex in that area of the Wyoming Valley. EPCAMR and the Luzerne Conservation District will be taking the lead on the monitoring of the Plainsville AMD Borehole discharge and have developed a feasibility study that they are going to be submitting for grants to perform the necessary background data collection to begin looking at AMD Treatment options and finding ways to improve the water quality of the Susquehanna River.

Plainsville AMD Borehole

EPCAMR–$500 towards the cost of hauling trash to the landfill to cover the tipping fees and for supplies to assist with the third cleanup of Centralia on September 24, 2016, led by EPCAMR Staff, former and current residents of Centralia, Pagnotti Enterprises, Centralia Hose Company No. 1, Wicked Jeeps of Central PA, Joe Sapienza, II, and nearly two dozen other contributors of funds to support the annual cleanup on the abandoned mine lands, roads, and streets throughout the Borough. Dozens of volunteers are expected to turnout at the annual event. Sexy Pig BBQ will be providing lunches for the volunteers. TARGET donated funds towards the cleanup. Community Aid donated funds towards the cleanup and will be picking up any donated clothes that volunteers would like to bring to the event. See the event details here. To donate towards the cleanup, go to EPCAMR’s “Cleanup Centralia for Centralians, Past and Present!” GiveGab Online Campaign!

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Apply now for the $5,000 ARIPPA AML/AMD Award.  EPCAMR and WPCAMR 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 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 2016 and August 2017. Proposals are due July 8th. 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. You can obtain the official Request for Proposals and supporting documents here.

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Robert Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director, receives the $5,000 donation on behalf of EPCAMR & WPCAMR

In the past, applications were submitted for AMD projects, educational efforts, outreach and awareness programs, operation and maintenance of AMD treatment systems, and educational signage, among others. These projects help the AMD impacted watersheds. All applicants support ARIPPA and their mission to remove waste coal piles in our communities, convert it into renewable energy, and reuse the coal ash at mine reclamation sites. The groups awarded funding maintain diverse partnerships and secure various funding sources to complete projects with EPCAMR and WPCAMR. All of the applicants want clean water, an improved environment, and a better quality of life for their communities and the fisheries they are working to protect across Pennsylvania.

In Eastern Pennsylvania, EPCAMR awarded three projects for the year of 2015. First is the Mehoopany Creek Watershed Association (MCWA), who will be receiving $800 to cover the cost of 50 tons of high calcium carbonate limestone sand needed to treat the acidic conditions of the south branch of Mehoopany Creek, which is not only impacted by AMD, but also acid rain deposition in the headwaters.

Limestone sand pile

Askam AMD Treatment System

Second is the Earth Conservancy (EC), who will be receiving $1,200 to design and build a wayside environmental education exhibit for the Askam AMD Borehole Maelstrom Oxidizer Treatment System, located in Hanover Township, along Nanticoke Creek. EC will partner with students and teachers from the Wilkes-Barre Area School District to create several points of interest and design elements at the AMD treatment site to be used by students throughout the Wyoming Valley that take tours provided by EPCAMR and EC. The students will tour the site, while learning about the AMD treatment system, mine pools, abandoned mine land reclamation, wetlands, wildlife habitat. They will then design the content and locations of the exhibits.

Third, and finally, is the McGlynn Learning Center, who will be awarded $500 to partner with Home Depot to build bluebird boxes for abandoned mine lands and AMD sites throughout the Wyoming Valley, as well as for their own community housing developments.

Bluebird box

McGlynn Learning Center youth

The funds will be used for transportation, supplies, and the creation of EPCAMR’s iron oxide wood stain to paint some of the bird boxes, while others will be painted. These bluebird boxes are being donated by Home Depot and will be used to allow for increased wildlife habitat and diversity of bird populations within their complexes and out on some of the AMD sites that will be visited by the students. The McGlynn Learning Center has been serving vulnerable children since 1988. The Center provides after-school funding for tutoring, recreational, and cultural activities at no cost to the children or families that live within the low-income housing town homes. EPCAMR has a long history of supporting the Center that goes back nearly two decades.

Remediation projects are costly and long-term endeavors, with costs averaging between $10-20,000 per acre, according to the Pennsylvania Mining Reclamation Advisory Board. The ARIPPA Reclamation Awards are designed to help watershed groups continue their volunteer efforts toward improving our environment.

Organized in 1989, ARIPPA is a non-profit trade association representing alternative energy plants that remove coal refuse from AML areas, convert it into alternative energy, and use the ash byproduct to reclaim thousands of acres of mine-scarred lands and hundreds of miles of formerly dead streams, without any expenditure of tax dollars. To date, over 212 million tons of coal refuse has been converted into alternative energy by member plants. ARIPPA uses Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) technology, one of the cleanest methods available today.

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 the nation’s landscape and environment. Updates and further information on the “coal refuse to alternative energy” industry can be found by using the links below.

Website:                             www.arippa.org

LinkedIn:                            www.linkedin.com/ARIPPA.org

Facebook:                          www.facebook.com/ARIPPA.org

Twitter:                               www.twitter.com/ARIPPAORG

YouTube:                             www.youtube.com/user/environmentalrenewal

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Robert Hughes-EPCAMR Executive Director and Andy McAllister-WPCAMR Regional Coordinator accept the $5000 check from ARIPPA

ARIPPA awarded $5,000 in August at their Annual Awards Luncheon and $45,000 in the past to watershed organizations performing Abandoned Mine Land (AML) and/or Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) remediation improvements that are partners of EPCAMR and WPCAMR. Award recipients have included: Allegheny Valley Land Trust, Altman Run-Watershed, Babb Creek Watershed, Blackleggs Creek Watershed, Chestnut Ridge Chapter Trout Unlimited, Clearfield Creek Watershed, Earth Conservancy, Eastern Middle Anthracite Region Recovery, Evergreen Conservancy, Huber Breaker Preservation Society, Lackawanna River Corridor Association, Loyalsock Creek Watershed, Luzerne Conservation District, Mehoopany Creek Watershed Association, Plymouth Historical Society, Schuylkill Headwaters Association, Sewickley Creek Watershed, and the Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance.

Awards are granted under the guidance and administration of Eastern and Western Pennsylvania Coalitions for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR and WPCAMR respectively). EPCAMR and WPCAMR are the two leading, regional environmental non-profit associations organized to encourage the reclamation, remediation, and redevelopment of lands and streams impacted by past mining practices. “EPCAMR and WPCAMR oversee the solicitation of proposals each year, review them, recommend them for awards, and then provide the selected award winners with checks following the ARIPPA Annual Awards Luncheon in August. Each year we publicize the request for applications a few times a year and usually look forward to at least 4-6 applications knowing that we only $2500 per Coalition to distribute. It’s a very simple application process. I’m surprised there aren’t more applications, honestly. Hopefully in 2015, we’ll get more. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. That hasn’t stopped us from redistributing the donation from ARIPPA at all. 100% of the funding goes out each and every year and we are proud of the projects that we can support on the ground in partnership with ARIPPA,” stated Robert E. Hughes, EPCAMR Executive Director. ARIPPA is also represented on the EPCAMR Board of Directors as an Industry Trade Association representative.

The 3 EPCAMR Award Winning Projects for 2014 are as follows:

$ 1300 will go to the Babb Creek Watershed Association (BCWA) for the cost of 1 of the 2 replacement stainless steel runners that are needed for the Antrim AMD MicroHydroPower Treatment Plant.

Corroded Runner at the Antrim MicroHydro Turbine AMD Treatment Plant

New Runner at the Antrim MicroHydro Turbine AMD Treatment Plant

$ 700 will be administered by EPCAMR on behalf of a group of volunteers led by Joe Sapienza Jr., Director of a recent short documentary on Centralia, who sought EPCAMR’s technical assistance to coordinate a large illegal dumpsite cleanup effort, called Cleanup Centralia! on October 25^th, 2014 this Fall to fund the hauling of waste and debris from three locations in and around Centralia, Byrnesville, and along Big Mine Run Road. Cleanup supplies, shovels, rakes, grass seed, wildflower mix, and NO DUMPING signs will also be picked up and housed with EPCAMR.

Illegal Dump Pile in Centralia near the Odd Fellows Cemetery that will be one of the sites cleaned up on October 25th

$  500 will go to the Mehoopany Creek Watershed Association (MCWA) for the purchase of 17 Tons of limestone sand to treat the acidic conditions of the South Branch Mehoopany Creek that will be placed in the Spring of 2015 ahead of the melt of from the Winter.

Rock Vein Construction on Mehoopany Creek

Confluence of the S. Branch and N. Branch of the Mehoopany Creek that will benefit from the limestone sand dosing

Watershed protection and abandoned mine land reclamation are two of the fastest growing areas of community-based collaboration in the Commonwealth of PA. Throughout the country, watershed groups are playing an increasingly prominent role in environmental management. Remediation projects are costly and long-term endeavors with costs averaging between $10-20,000 per acre, according to the Pennsylvania Mining Reclamation Advisory Board. The ARIPPA Reclamation Awards partnership with EPCAMR/WPCAMR are designed to help watershed groups and community groups continue their volunteer efforts toward improving our environment.

Organized in 1988, ARIPPA is a non-profit trade association representing alternative energy plants that remove coal refuse from AML areas, convert it into alternative energy, and beneficially utilize the ash by-product to reclaim thousands of 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 212 million tons of coal refuse has been converted into alternative energy by member plants. Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) technology (one of the cleanest methods available today) is used to convert coal refuse into electricity and an alkaline-rich ash by-products utilized for decades in a highly regulated, safe, and beneficial manner to: fill and reclaim unsafe, abandoned mine lands; to remediate streams damaged by acid mine drainage; amend soil at mining sites, and serve as an additive in concrete/asphalt for construction and 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 nation’s landscape and environment.

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Robert Hughes-EPCAMR Executive Director and Andy McAllister-WPCAMR Regional Coordinator accept the $5000 check from ARIPPA

http://arippa.org/documents/NEWS%20RELEASE%202014%208%20AML-AMD.pdf

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The Avondale Pit pre-reclamation (Edward Pikulski)

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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. 

The post Apply  Now!! ARIPPA AML/AMD Reclamation Mini-Grant Awards: $5K Available! EPCAMR/WPCAMR Receive $2500 Each To Award appeared first on epcamr.org.