WPCAMR Quarterly meeting

Eat-N-Park, Indiana, PA

MEETING MINUTES

February 12, 2004

The quarterly meeting of the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation was called to order by LeeRoy Vatter at 10:00 AM on February 12, 2004 at the Eat-n-Park Restaurant, Indiana, PA.

The following were in attendance:

· LeeRoy Vatter – Indiana CD

· Tom Clark – Indiana CD

· Beth Dillon – SRBC

· Jennifer Kovacs – Bedford CD

· Susan Moon – Somerset CD

· Jeff Fliss – PA DEP

· Ben Wright – WPC

· Rick Heard – SWCA

· Mark Killar – WPC

· Gary Price – PA DEP

· Nick Pinizzotto – WPC

· Carl Jones – Somerset CD

· Janis Long – Blacklick Creek WS

· Ron Horansky – PA DEP

· Karen Brady – Headwaters RC&D

· Gregg Gnipp – ARIPPA

· Bernie Hoffnar – Bedford CCD

· Todd Beers – Jefferson CD

· Jackie Ritko – Cambria CD

· Andy Gorsman – Cambria CD

· Jim Panaro – Robindale Energy

· Jim Resh – Indiana CD

· Diane Neukum – DEP

· Lisa Bennett – Greene CD

· Pam Meade – Armstrong CD

· Donna Carnahan – Clearfield CD

· Carl Undercofler – Clearfield CD

· Joe Allison – PA DEP Cambria DMD

· Lance Bowes – Venango CD

· David Beale – Armstrong CD

· Bruce Golden – WPCAMR

· Deb Simko – WPCAMR

· Sara Tumulty – WPCAMR

· Carol Crawford – WPCAMR

Welcome/Introductions

Past President, LeeRoy Vatter, chaired the meeting as President Bob Eppley was ill. LeeRoy welcomed all in attendance. The minutes from the last meeting were distributed. A motion to accept the minutes was made by Bernie Hoffnar and was seconded by Tom Clark. Motion carried.

Remembering Paul Heyworth

Bruce Golden spoke of the passing of Paul Heyworth, delegate from Westmoreland County, and dedicated WPCAMR member since its formation. Paul was a selfless volunteer and greatly helped the Coalition in any number of ways. He will be missed. The scholarship fund assisting watershed volunteers to attend the annual AMR Conference will be named in Paul’s honor.

Treasurer’s Report

Bruce Golden gave the Treasurer’s report in Greg Phillips’ absence. A motion to accept the Treasurer’s report and file for audit was made by Jim Resh and seconded by Carl Jones. Motion carried.

Consideration of Growing Greener Proposal for WPCAMR Sponsorship

Rick Herd, Sewickley Creek Watershed, presented a proposal for a Growing Greener grant for the Application of a Market-Based Approach to Mine Land Reclamation. The objective is to apply and test a market-based approach using carbon sequestration and other pollutant trading credits to the reclamation of an AML site. Rick requested that WPCAMR be the sponsoring agent for the grant. A motion to sponsor the application was made by Bernie Hoffnar and was seconded by Jim Eckenrode. Motion carried.

Regional Coordinator’s Report

Bruce Golden gave an update on upcoming conferences of interest including the State Regulation of Fly Ash, Slippery Rock Watershed Symposium, and the ASMR Conference.

Bruce reported that new consultants have been hired to digitize the Scarlift Reports and progress is going well. The reports are available on amrclearinghouse.org as they are completed.

WPCAMR has received a Growing Greener Grant to revisit the 18 treatment systems to determine operation and maintenance needs for passive systems.

WPCAMR is continuing to work on Project Gob Pile II. Bruce noted that the overall greatest hope for reclamation of coal refuse areas is with co-gen power plants that have an economic incentive to use the waste material as fuel. He noted that there will likely be a class of coal-refuse piles that will never will be attractive enough for the co-gens to reclaim, and that the Coalition is looking into this class for special consideration for reclamation.

WPCAMR continues to be one of many organizations contributing to the Abandoned Mine Drainage Education Coalition (AMDEC). AMDEC is developing a curriculum to be used to teach about mine drainage. St. Vincent College is the sponsor of a Growing Greener grant supporting the effort.

OSM/VISTA will be providing interns to the Blackleggs Creek Watershed , Broadtop Township, and Redstone Creek Watersheds. WPCAMR and the W. PA Conservancy worked jointly on the effort to bring the interns to areas of western PA that have been impacted by past mining practices and whose economies still suffers.

Watershed Coordinator’s Report

Passing Go – the four workshops for the southwest were completed last year. The workshops are now being offered in the Northwest and Northeast regions.

RWSI – the Regional Watershed Support Initiative Grant has not been funded, although DEP in Harrisburg says there might be a chance funding may be found.

Ohio River Alliance – WPCAMR will not be submitting a Growing Greener grant for the formation of the alliance this round as necessary support for the proposal appears to be lacking.

Water Resources Committee – the Ohio Committee had their third meeting. The Ohio committee has come up with preliminary issues for our basin which are: loss of water supplies, emergency backup, alternative uses of mine pools, lack of education/outreach about water conservation and water in general, economic development and future growth trends

EPA Brownfields – WPCAMR will meet with Eugene Depasquale to determine if WPCAMR could submit a large grant to assess the “grayfields” in WPCAMR’s service area.

American Rivers Nomination for Most Endangered Rivers – Press conference for this announcement will be April 14, 2004.

AMD and Your Community

Sara Tumulty gave an update report on the Growing Greener grant to educate decision makers about AMD. Sara has continued to deliver the accompanying presentation, AMD and Your Community, and publicize the project. Sara is looking for more groups to work with during the spring.

2004 AMR Conference

Sara reported that the 2004 Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference will be held June 9-12, 2004 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, PA at IUP. WPCAMR has taken a lead role in the planning the event. The conference will feature presentations on new technologies, a networking session, field training, and more.

CFB Ash

The beneficial use of Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) ash was the subject of conversation. The Joint Legislative Conservation Committee recently had made a formal recommendation on a proposed moratorium on the beneficial use of CFB ash in reclaiming mining-impacted lands. The JCC rejected the proposed moratorium and affirmed its position for continued use of CFB ash for approved uses. WPCAMR has adopted the JCC recommendations. Because there are contentious issues surrounding the use of the material with some groups, WPCAMR has decided to take a neutral stance in matters related to use of CFB ash that have not yet had regulatory approval. WPAMR will distribute information on approved uses, including a presentation developed by Bruce, on its web site and seek funding to produce a brochure on the issue.

Reports from Conservation Districts, Agencies, Watershed Associations and Guests

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

Proposed PA Budget for FY 2004-05

Bruce reported that Governor Rendell’s proposed budget is promising for the environment. Included is a bond issue for $800 million for environmental issues, including $100 million earmarked for “Acid Mine Drainage” and $40 for brownfield reclamation. Discussion was held on whether we need to take some action to endorse this bond. It was reported that a committee is already being formed to gain and disseminate information.

AMR Trust Fund Legislation Update

Senator Specter and Congressman Peterson are sponsoring twin bills for the extension of funds for SMCRA for 15 years. These bills have the backing of the Bush administration. The provisions of these bills would increase PA’s annual allocation from the current $24 million to $35 million, and would reduce the fee levied on each ton of coal. The formula used to determine individual state allocations would be based entirely on historic coal production. Western states, having little in the way of historic production, are likely to oppose the proposal. Karen Brady suggested a trip be proposed for legislators from the Western states to view the AMD problems in PA.

Providing Sampling Assistance to Watershed Associations for Monitoring Treatment Systems

Bruce reported that a Growing Greener grant will be submitted this round for funds to provide assistance to watershed groups for chemical monitoring of treatment systems. An efficient system is planned whereby watershed groups will set up an approved sampling plan in which samples will be sent to an approved lab. Payment will then be made directly from WPCAMR to the lab. A web-based data management system will be set up to aid in the program’s administration. This is a joint proposal with EPCAMR.

Open Discussion/Comments

LeeRoy Vatter opened the meeting for open discussion.

Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at 1:20 PM.

Meeting minutes taken by Carol Crawford.