WPCAMR Quarterly Meeting

Eat ‘N Park, Indiana, PA

MEETING MINUTES

August 15, 2002

 

The quarterly meeting of the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation was called to order by LeeRoy Vatter, President, at 10:00 AM on August 15, 2002 at the Eat ‘N Park in Indiana, PA.

            The following were in attendance:

            LeeRoy Vatter – WPCAMR                William Gresock – Jefferson CD

            Bruce Golden – WPCAMR                 Jessica Traister – Jefferson CD

            Deb Simko – WPCAMR                     Megan Miller – WPCAMR

            Hank Webster – Clearfield CD            Dennis Beck – Cambria CD

            Tom Clark – Indiana CD                     Dick Smith – Beaver CD

            Jim Resh – Indiana CD                        Greg Phillips – Westmoreland CD

            James Eckenrode – Blair CD              Dave Steele – Somerset CD

            Bill Dadamo – DEP-BAMR                Scott Horrell – DEP-BAMR

 

Welcome / Introductions

            LeeRoy Vatter welcomed all in attendance.  There were no minutes from the last meeting.

 

Treasurer’s Report

Greg Phillips gave the Treasurer’s Report. A motion to accept the Treasurer’s report and file for audit was made by Dick Smith and was seconded by Dennis Beck. Motion carried.

 

AMD Conference

Bruce Golden reported that more than 150 people attended the 4th Annual AMD Conference, and that it was an overall success. He gave a detailed report of the presentations and activities at the conference. He also reported that Robert Hughes of EPCAMR has received a Growing Greener Grant in the amount of $50,000 to pay for the AMD conference for the next 2 years.

 

Move to Donohoe Center

Bruce Golden reported the move to Donohoe Center is complete, and that WPCAMR hasn’t experienced a change in phone number or address.

 

Organizational Separation from WCCD

Bruce Golden reported that WPCAMR separated from Westmoreland Conservation District as of July 1, 2002.  He reported that WPCAMR is now administering the 319 funding provided through DEP; WPCAMR is subcontracting WCD for payroll services.

 

Coldwater Heritage Grant

Deb Simko passed around the final report for Bull Creek Watershed, which was funded through WPCAMR.   She reported that currently local interest is not adequate to form a watershed group.

 

Turtle Creek Tour with Secretary Hess

Deb Simko related the events of the Turtle Creek Tour for DEP Secretary Dave Hess and other agency and watershed members and the media.  She offered to help other groups with tours of their own.

 

Ohio River Alliance

Deb Simko reported that activities surrounding the potential formation of an Ohio River basin alliance are currently slow. A subcommittee has been formed, but it hasn’t convened yet due to scheduling problems. An attempt to obtain additional funds with a Rockefeller grant were not successful. She reported that  the regional meetings indicated a strong preference to not form a regulatory organization., and there was concern that an alliance could potentially compete with other groups.   The consensus is that the alliance should work as a clearinghouse to promote existing groups and their causes.

 

Reports from Conservation Districts, Agencies, Watershed Associations, and Guests

LeeRoy Vatter asked all in attendance to to introduce themselves, and then each gave reports on activities and upcoming events in their conservation districts.

The representatives from DEP-BAMR took this opportunity to discuss the LTV Steel bankruptcy.

Scott Horrell said that pumping and treatment at 4 LTV locations will continue under state auspices after LTV bankruptcy is completed. Right now, $2 million dollars are available for treatment, but hopefully more, possibly $14 million will be available. 14 million gallons of water need to be treated from 4 LTV sites daily in Western PA.  The money will not be enough to pump and treat indefinitely.  Bill Dadamo reported that the state will own the LTV sites after bankruptcy settlement, but administration of treatment activities will be transferred to the Clean Streams Foundation. Bill reported that the transfer of  the LTV sites the likely be in early September. If anyone is interested they can obtain a “Scope of Work” report from him. About $2 million each year is needed to treat the water. Bill says that the Banning & Euclid sites can conceivably be treated passively, but a lack of land is an issue. He also says that the refuse piles may be marketable. Bill’s thinking is that AML fund’s emergency funds probably won’t apply, and long-term OSM funding is doubtful. Deb Simko reported that a possible recommendation from MRAB was that if a small discharge will be polluted by the larger LTV discharges, the smaller discharge should not be funded.

BAMR is going to make a map of the sites and basic information, to give “the big picture.”

 

WPCAMR 20th Anniversary

Deb Simko suggested putting together a booklet of WPCAMR’s past and future for the 20th anniversary.

 

WPCAMR Strategic Planning

Bruce Golden reported that WPCAMR is planning to have 6 meetings over a 9 month period to define the who, what, and why of WPCAMR. The hoped-for outcome is the development of a 3 – 5 year plan for WPCAMR. The first meeting will be September 17, 2002, at Donohoe Center.

 

Strategic Planning Workshop for Watersheds

Deb Simko reported that the Canaan Valley Institute is financing a pilot program with 15 watershed associations. If the participating watershed associations implement ideas from 4 workshops, they’ll be eligible for a $5,000 grant.

 

WPCAMR Company Car

Bruce suggested that with the annual mileage put on vehicles is more than enough to justify getting a company car.  He suggested getting a company car from the 12th Congressional Regional Equipment Center when one becomes available. Dick Smith motioned that WPCAMR get a company car, Greg Phillips seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

Grants

Bruce Golden and Deb Simko gave updates on Growing Greener Technical Assistance Grants for AMRClearinghouse.org, Growing Greener Outreach for Decision Makers Grant, and submission of “Gob Pile Removal”, and “Revisiting Past AMD Projects” grants to the Western PA Watershed Protection Program.  A consultant would be hired for 6 months to evaluate gob piles for the Gob Pile Removal grant, and Jim Resh suggested using watershed specialists for revisiting past projects.

 

Growing Greener Grant Summary

Deb Simko passed around a copy of the Growing Greener grant recipients from the just announced list of recipients.  WPCAMR was recipient of 2 Growing Greener grants as stated above.

 

OSM & Americorps Interns

Megan Miller is WPCAMR’s OSM intern, doing preliminary work for the outreach to decision makers. WPCAMR is taking applications for an Americorps intern.

 

Monongahela Mine Pool Project

Bruce gave background on the filling of Monongehela River basin mine pools, and said there may be serious problems in 2 – 4 years with breakouts and flooding in the entire basin as indicated by a recent study out of West Virginia. Brue reported that DEP asked if WPCAMR would be willing to sponsor a US Army Corps of Engineers project on the social and economic consequences on potential Monongehela mine pool flooding, with the money being a passed-through from DEP through WPCAMR to USACE. Dick Smith motioned that WPCAMR sponsor the mine pool project, and Bill Gresock seconded the motion. In discussion Greg Phillips asked for details of the exact relationship with DEP and USACE and expressed his reservations due to past dealing with the Pittsburgh office of USACE. Dick Smith rescinded his motion. The general consensus was that no decision should be made until there is more specific information on exact scope of project and precise roll to be played by WPCAMR.

 

Watershed Conference – Sept 19-21

Deb Simko gave updates on the upcoming conference and the riverboat ride to be held at Greensburg’s Sheraton Four Points.

 

“Ask Me About Pyrite” Outreach

Bruce Golden talked a new program the Coalition developed on the formation of AMD aimed at the grade school through high school population.  An activity of the program is t-shirt dyeing an “Ask Me About Pyrite” tee-shirt with iron oxide collected from a passive treatment system.  Everyone in attendance received a t-shirt.

 

Open Discussion/Questions/Comments

LeeRoy Vatter talked about sportsmen interested in lead pollution at rifle ranges and BMP’s.

Jim Resh requested the names from the Strategic Planning Committee.

Tom Clark brought a drawing of Luzerne Creek project.

Bruce Golden said that the next quarterly meeting is tentatively scheduled for Nov. 14, 2002.

Greg Phillips mentioned that wetlands may be blamed for West Nile virus, and Dennis Beck suggested putting bat boxes in to manage mosquitoes. Deb Simko said that the mosquitoes need stagnant water, but AMD treatment wetlands have flowing water.

 

Adjournment

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 2 PM was made by Dennis Beck and was seconded by Dick Smith. Motion Carried

 

 

Meeting minutes taken by Megan Miller