WPCAMR Quarterly Meeting

Best Western University Inn, Indiana, PA

MEETING MINUTES

August 14, 2003

The quarterly meeting of the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation was called to order by Robert Eppley, President, at 10:00 AM on August 14, 2003 at the Best Western University Inn, Indiana, PA.

The following were in attendance:

Greg Phillips – Westmoreland CD Dave Beale – Armstrong CD

Scott Horrell – BAMR Jim Resh – Indiana CD

Dennis Beck – Cambria CD /WPCAMR Deb Simko – WPCAMR

Paul Heyworth – Westmoreland CD Nick Pinnizzatto _ WPCWAC

Bruce Golden – WPCAMR Ben Wright – WPCWAC

LeeRoy Vatter – WPCAMR Susan Reed - Clearfield CD

Todd Beers – Jefferson CD Jim Panaro – Robindale / WPCAMR

Carl Jones – Somerset CD Bob Eppley – BCWA, WPCAMR

Rick Herd - GreenTrust Dave Steele – Somerset CD

Jeff Fliss – DEP Judy Jordan – POWR

Jim Eckenrode – Blair CD Dick Smith - Beaver CD

Herb Landis – Jefferson CD Jen Demchak – NMBS

Donna Carnahan - Clearfield CD

Welcome / Introductions

Robert Eppley introduced himself as WPCAMR’s new president and welcomed all in attendance.

Herb Landis, Director with the Jefferson Conservation District, told of the loss of a long-time WPCAMR friend, supporter, and former Secretary, Bill Gresok. Bill’s sudden passing has saddened those who knew his kind demeanor and devotion to environment issues. Bill will be missed. The Jefferson Conservation District is constructing a memorial pavilion area in Bill’s memory. Contributions are welcome.

Treasurer’s Report

Greg Phillips gave the Treasurer’s Report. A motion to accept the Treasurer’s report was made by and was seconded by Paul Heyworth. Motion carried.

Audit Report

Greg Phillips made available the 2001-02 Audit Report conducted by Richard Patterson and Associates. The report concluded that WPCAMR operations “ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.”

Review of Past Minutes

The minutes from the Feb 13, 2003 quarterly meeting were distributed. A motion to accept the minutes as is was made by and was seconded by Dick Smith, second by Paul Heyworth. Motion carried.

DEP Watershed Manager Jeff Fliss reported that DEP Sec. Katie McGinty will be visiting AMD sites in Indiana County on Sept. 3. Likely inclusions for the visit will be at Big Run (Blackleggs WS) and Yellow Creek and/or Tulick Creek (Blacklick WS). This will be an opportunity for media coverage and exposure for watershed and local groups, and politicians. Jeff said more info will follow.

Presentations were given by:

Rick Herd, GreenTrust, Market-Based Incentives for Furthering Conservation and Restoration Goals. Rick talked new opportunities for reaching conservation and restoration goals through a free marketplace that is mandated to comply with increasing environmental restrictions. Trading will allow companies to meet their obligations in as cost effective manner as possible, while encouraging the development of enterprises that can supply conservation services at advantageous prices.

Jen Demchak, New Miles of Blue Streams, Gob Pile II Update. Jen, WPCAMR’s consultant for Project Gobpile II, described her efforts to date. She related the strategies being used to zero-in on 15 coal refuse piles in Westmoreland, Clearfield, and Centre Counties, which will ultimately be narrowed to 5 that will be targeted for removal. She also talked of a field trip to West Virginia where a tour was given of several coal refuse piles that were remediated by re-grading, capping, and seeding. Jim Panero of Robindale Energy suggested an easy and inexpensive pile sampling technique. Scott Horrell said BAMR could perform analyses.

Dave Strong, Orphaned Mine Task Force Update. Dave gave an enthusiastic talk on the latest developments within the Orphaned Mine Task Force, a sub-committee of the Mining Reclamation Advisory Board. Concerning bankruptcies, he said both LTV Steel and Bethlehem Steel bankruptcies have had satisfactory environmental settlements from an environmental standpoint. C&K Coal Company, on the other hand, has filed intent to stop treatment activities at a variety of sites in northwestern PA, posing imminent or long-term threat to the environment. DEP, he said, is taking steps to force C&K to continue treatment. Dave also talked about ways to abate AMD pollution through prevention, citing manufactured soils as a wonderful tool in that fight.

Old Business

Deb Simko, Watershed Coordinator, gave brief reports on:

· Passing Go: an inter-agency pilot project to help watershed associations progress from an organizational point of view.

· RWSI (Regional Watershed Support Initiative) – WPCAMR administered small grant program… 30 awardees working on projects, end date extended because of late start.

· Watershed Academy… DEP program on basic watershed principles; WPCAMR is a presenter.

· Second Annual River Boat Cruise: to be held Sept 17 leaving from Station Square wharf, this year sailing the Allegheny River.

· Riffle Run Golf Tournament: to be held Sept 19 benefiting watershed associations

· C-SAW Technical Assistance Grant: still has funding for projects.

· 2004 AMR Conference will be held at Indiana University, June 9-12, 2004. This year’s format will be expanded by another day and a half to accommodate a strictly technical component. Planning has already begun.

Bruce Golden, Regional Coordinator, gave brief reports on:

· WPCAMR Strategic Plan – all meetings are complete, with the plan to now be written up. He will take the lead and provide drafts via email to those interested for review.

· AMR Trustfund Reauthorization – With a little over a year until expiration, a lot of behind the scenes work is being done in Harrisburg and Washington to raise awareness of the importance of the legislation. Tim Schaeffer of PEC is taking the lead role, with the Coalitions and other organizations providing support. Things should heat up as the deadline gets nearer.

· 2003 AMR Conference in Mayfield – This year’s conference was again a success with over 200 in attendance.

New Business

Jeff Fliss stated that this year’s Growing Greener grant award announcements are tentatively to be made on Sept. 18. He said that the number of and size of the awards will be smaller than previous years due to budget problems. Bruce Golden said that WPCAMR is awaiting word on 2 GG proposals: one to form an Ohio River Alliance, and a second to revisit past WPCAMR passive treatment systems to determine how they have fared over the years.

Representatives from the Conservation Districts and other organizations gave brief reports on their current activities.

Dennis Beck talked of a pilot program in the Little Conemaugh watershed to treat AMD using the process of electrocoagulation. The AMD will be run between 2 plates carrying a current which inducing a chemical reaction in the water. This results in floc precipitates that can be removed by filtration or sedimentation.

Bob Eppley talked about the need for education about cogen power plant flyash as beneficial product in AML reclamation, especially as there has been a resurgence of [misguided] opposition to its use. He emphasized that the ash from cogen plants has distinctly different properties than ash from traditional coal fired plants. He suggested WPCMAR play a role in this education process, perhaps with the production of a pamphlet. Scott Horrell of BAMR thought there could be a possibility of getting some DEP funding for production of the pamphlet.

An extended discussion on extra pay for extra work for WPCAMR employees ensued. The context of the discussion was for the possibility of WPCAMR employees to act as independent contractors in performing grant work outside of the main 319 grant. An overarching concern was to avoid any “double dipping”… i.e. being paid by the 319 grant AND another funding source for the same work, and to avoid even an appearance of doing so. There were some concerns that if the extra work was able to fit into the scope of work for the 319 contract that a conflict might exist. However, the 319 scope of work is so broad that practically any environmentally related work would create a conflict of this sort. Additionally, the 319 project advisor, Garry Price, had earlier voiced his opinion that extra pay for extra work is fine as long as the terms of the 319 project are fulfilled, emphasizing that absolutely no double dipping be a basic tenant. The consensus appeared to support allowing WPCAMR employees to act as independent contractors for grants for which WPCAMR had been awarded, as long as (1) specific funds exist for that work, (2) extra work be performed outside the 319 project. It was emphasized that WPCAMR employees working in this capacity would indeed be independent contractors for a specific funding source for which funds have been allocated, and thus would not be entitled to extra pay for hours beyond the normal work week for normal duties. The person providing this contract work would just happen to be a WPCAMR employee, although not acting as a WPCMAR employee, but as an individual contactor. A reading of the WPCAMR by-laws had no provision that would preclude such activity. Jim Resh made the following motion, seconded by Dick Smith: “WPCAMR employees are not restricted in engaging in activities in which they become independent contractors so long as said activities do not interfere or conflict with their normal job activities, and further that there is no expectation on WPCAMR’s part, financial or otherwise, to support such activities.” Motion carried. Finally it was noted that it would be a good idea to keep the board apprised of such contractual agreements, particularly if there is the possibility of conflict, or appearance of conflict, with other WPCAMR activities.

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 pm.