Statement of Mutual Intent
Strategic Plan
for the
Restoration and Protection of Streams
and Watersheds Polluted by Acid Mine
Drainage from Abandoned Coal Mines
1995 Progress Report
-------
SIGNATORIES/SUPPORTERS
OF THE STATEMENT OF
MUTUAL INTENT
USDI, Office of Surface Mining
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ~ Region III
West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
Headwaters RC&D Council and Headwaters Charitable Trust
Maryland Department of Environmental Resources
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
International Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
Stoneycreek & Conemaugh Rivers Improvement Project
Southern Allegheny Conservancy
Southern Allegheny RC&D
Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Lands
USDI, Bureau of Land Management
USDI Assistant Secretary for Land & Minerals Management
USDI, National Biological Service
US DA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
Trout Unlimited
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
National Mined Land Reclamation Center
Heinz Endowments
Blacklick Creek Watershed Association
Citizens' Coal Council
USDI, Bureau of Mines
USDI, Fish & Wildlife Service
Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission
Sierra Club
Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Fund
Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers
The Conemaugh Valley Conservancy
The Casselman River Task Force
The Loyalhanna Creek Watershed Association
The Loyalhanna Abandoned Mine Drainage Coalition
The Office of Congressman John P. Murtha, 12th. Distr. PA
The Office of Congressman Frank Mascara, 20th. Distr. PA
-------
1995 Progress Report
Statement of Mutual Intent Strategic Plan
for the
Restoration and Protection of Streams
and Watersheds Polluted by Acid Mine Drainage
from Abandoned Coal Mines
Prepared by:
Environmental Protection Agency
Region ill
841 Chestnut Building
Philadelphia, PA 19107-4431
and
^eoss,,
(Si)
Regional Center tor Environmental Information
US EPA Region m
1650 Arch St
Philadelphia, PA 19109
U.S. Department of the Interior
Office of Surface Mining
Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center
Ten Parkway Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15220
November 15, 1995
U.S. EPA Region III
Regional Center for Environmental
Information
1650 Arch Street (3PM52)
Philadelphia, PA 1910S
-------
For more specific Information about
the activities covered in this report,
please contact:
Office of Surface Mining (OSM)
Hammond Eve, Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative (ACSI) Coordinator, (202) 208-2782
Mike Robinson, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center ACSI Coordinator, (412) 937-2882
James M. Taitt, ARCC, Acid Mine Drainage Program Coordinator, (412) 937-2106
Bernie Maynard, ACSI Clean Streams Clearinghouse (412) 937-2873
Dave Hamilton, Pennsylvania and Maryland ACSI contact, (717) 782-2285
Rick Buckley, West Virginia ACSI contact, (304) 347-7158
Ronnie Vicars, Virginia ACSI contact, (703) 523-0104
Max Luehrs, Ohio ACSI contact, (614) 866-0578
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Bernie Sarnoski, Mine Drainage Program, (215) 566-5756
Daniel D. Sweeney, Mine Drainage Program, (215) 566-5731
Henry S. Zygmunt, Jr., Office of Watersheds, (215) 566-5750
Katherine P. Attwood, Office of Watersheds, (215) 566-5741
Other Federal Agencies
Dave Hyman, U.S. Department of Energy, (412) 892-6572
Wayne Swartz, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (513) 683-3028
Kent Schreiber, National Biological Service, (304) 725-8461
Dan Smith, USDA-National Resource Conservation Service (202) 720-3524
State Agencies
Greg Adolfson, West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection, (304) 759-0512
Harry Payne, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, (614) 265-1076
Tony Abar, Maryland Department of Environmental Resources, (410) 974-3874
Ernie Giovannitti, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, (717) 787-5103
Les Vincent, Virginia Division of Mine Land Reclamation, (703) 523-8178
Non-government Groups
Paul Ziemkiewicz, National Mined Land Reclamation Center, (304) 293-2867
Max Peterson, International Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, (202) 624-7890
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Foreword
Mine drainage, particularly acid mine
drainage (AMD), is the most pervasive
water pollution problem in Appalachia.
Despite extensive studies and the millions
of dollars that have been spent on mine
drainage control activities, the problem has
not been eliminated.
The same watersheds which contain the
coal to fuel the nation's industrial growth
and military might have also paid a price-
that is, drainage basins with little or no
aquatic life, unsuitable water supplies, and
the resultant lost recreational and economic
viability. Citizens of the coalfields have
grown tired of living with these mining
impacts and are banding together in
increasing numbers, sharing a common
vision to restore creeks, streams, and rivers
to their former capabilities throughout
Appalachia. As Plutarch noted: "... water
continually dripping will wear hard rocks
hollow," Appalachian residents know that
gradually, together they can make a
difference in the water quality in their
streams.
The Office of Surface Mining(OSM)
Reclamation and Enforcement's
Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative (ACSI)
was established in 1994 to galvanize the
efforts of various groups that are involved
in AMD clean-up. At the same time, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
Region III, formulated its Mine Drainage
Initiative (MDI). The Statement of Mutual
Intent (SMI) and its Strategic Plan were
born out of the ACSI and the MDI as a
concept for partnerships and progress in
restoring streams. Both the Statement of
Mutual Intent and its Strategic Plan are
included in the Appendix.
The initial Statement of Mutual Intent
partners in this fight for cleaner streams are
shown on the inside front cover. As the
months and years go by, it is the goal of
the ACSI and the MDI to bring more and
more individuals, groups, and agencies
together for stream cleanup work.
This First Progress Report of the Statement
of Mutual Intent Strategic Plan (SMISP)
describes the objectives of the agreement,
the first year's accomplishments, the initial
benchmarks that have been established for
measuring progress in future years, and
plans for the future. This report identifies
present day mine drainage control activities
being undertaken by a variety of federal,
state and local governments, by industry,
and, most importantly, at the grassroots
level by citizens and watershed
associations.
The report encompasses mine drainage
control activities in the Commonwealths of
Virginia and Pennsylvania and the states of
West Virginia, Maryland in EPA Region III,
and Ohio. Ohio, as an EPA Region V state,
was included in this report because it is a
northern Appalachian coal producing state
in support of the SMSIP and it was
prepared to participate in the fisheries
survey and to provide other data for this
report. Considerable mine drainage
remediation activities are underway in other
states. Next year's report will include more
information from the coal producing states
of EPA Regions IV and V, i.e. Kentucky,
Tennessee, Alabama, Indiana and Illinois.
OSM Director Bob Uram: "This is
something that not cne agency can
do, not one person can do it, not even
government can do it working
alone... this is a project where we need
everybody's assistance. We're
looking for this program to accomplish
on~the~ground results—with miles and
mites and miles of streams being
cleaned up throughout Appalachia."
-------
Report Contents
Paae
Foreword
i
1
Introduction
Scope of Problem
1
Purpose of Statement of Intent
1
Coal Mine Drainage Problems
3
Acid /Toxic Mine Drainage
3
Mine Drainage Impacts
3
Mine Drainage Pollution Control
9
Federal/State Government Activities/Projects
9
Non-Government Agency Activities/Projects
10
Watershed Coalitions
18
First Year Activities on the Strategic Plan
27
Clean Streams Clearinghouse
27
EPA Nonpoint Source Bulletin Board
29
Citizens Guide
30
Newsletter
30
Effective Remining Program
30
Conferences, Tours, Forums
31
Speakers and Exhibits
32
Vision to the Future
33
Appendix
Fiaures
1. Fisheries Impacted by Acid Mine Drainage in MD, OH, PA, VA, WV
5
2. Fisheries Impacted by Acid Mine Drainage in Pennsylvania
6
3. Fisheries Impacted by Acid Mine Drainage in WV, VA, MD
7
4. Fisheries Impacted by Acid Mine Drainage in Ohio
8
5. Mine Drainage Projects and Watershed Coalitions - Pennsylvania
24
6. Mine Drainage Projects and Watershed Coalitions - Ohio
25
7. Mine Drainage Projects and Watershed Coalitions - WV, VA, MD
26
Tables
1. State Remediation Projects - Pennsylvania
12
2. State Remediation Projects - Ohio
14
3. State Remediation Projects - West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia
16
4. Watershed Associations/Coalitions - Pennsylvania
20
5. Watershed Associations/Coalitions - Ohio
22
6. Watershed Associations/Coalitions - West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia
22
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Introduction
SCOPE OF THE MINE
DRAINAGE PROBLEM
It has been estimated that Appalachia has
over seven thousand five hundred (7,500)
miles of streams impacted by abandoned
coal mine drainage. Severely impacted
streams are typically devoid of fish and
other aquatic life because of low pH levels
and smothering effects of iron and other
metals deposited on the stream beds.
Additionally, the water quality impacts of
mine drainage on aesthetics, fisheries, and
tourism have resulted in less desirable
areas for visitors and recreational users
resulting in lost business opportunities.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission estimated an annual lost value
of about $67 million for fishery
recreational uses on the AMD impacted
streams in Pennsylvania. In just one
watershed of West Virginia, the Paint
Creek, a 15 mile project will result in 30
miles of fishery restoration and accrue an
estimated $2,300,000 of recreational
benefits each year, based on State
estimates of 85,000 person days of use
per year and an average expenditure of
$27.50 per person per day. The increased
fishincf on this stream would generate
revenues from licenses, bait and direct
fishing revenues as well as indirect
revenues from camping, canoeing,
sightseeing, purchase of supplies, clothing,
food, and gasoline.
Several previous studies have focused on
defining mine drainage impacts on states in
the eastern coal fields. In 1969 the
Appalachian Regional Commission defined
the scope of the AMD problem in its study
of eight states in the Appalachian Region.
In 1980, the OSM commissioned an
inventory by the US Geological Survey
(USGS) of the water quality and quantity in
the Appalachian region. These USGS
Eastern Coal Province Hydrology area
reports characterized the widespread
impacts of mine drainage through water
quality and benthic indicators.
In 1995, EPA Region III conducted a survey
of State fisheries biologists to determine
streams with acid mine drainage impacts;
Figure 1 shows the results of this survey. .
In all, over 5,100 miles of streams are
impacted in West Virginia, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio.
Anthony Abar, Maryland Department of
Environmental Resources: "if we can
get the public to demand it we wiii get
Hie resources, and we wit! remake, if
not make, new rivers.
THE PURPOSE OF THE
STATEMENT OF MUTUAL INTENT
AND STRATEGIC PLAN
The Statement of Mutual Intent, signed on
February 9, 1995 at a ceremony in
Washington, D.C., is a pledge by
government agencies and citizens to focus
a shared concern about mine drainage
problems into on-the-ground improvement
efforts. Other groups interested in
addressing mine drainage problems are
encouraged to become signatories to the
Statement.
The Statement of Mutual Intent's Strategic
Plan (SMISP), developed by OSM and
EPA's Region III, provides a framework for
all signatories to collectively direct
attention to the AMD problem and
encourage clean-up efforts.
l
-------
The objectives of the Statement of Mutual
Intent and its Strategic Plan are
summarized below:
1. Build a clearinghouse to share and
exchange data and information-
identifying mine drainage sites and
cataloguing abatement techniques to
restore water quality adversely
affected by mine drainage.
2. Raise the awareness about the
serious environmental problems
associated with abandoned coal
mine drainage.
3. Focus efforts to target streams
degraded by mine drainage for
cleanup.
4. Work to develop and apply the best
technology available for remediating
and preventing mine drainage.
5. Support an effective remining
program to eliminate mine drainage
problems.
6. Provide forums to transfer
technologies and other information
about improving, restoring
watersheds degraded by mine
drainage.
7. Develop shared information
management systems to minimize
overlap in data collection and
development.
8. Prepare periodic reports describing
the extent and severity of the mine
drainage problem and the current
status of ongoing efforts to improve
and restore degraded watersheds.
States impacted by mine drainage have had
efforts to address these issues for decades.
Each state can proudly point to its
successes in cleanup, reclamation, and
prevention; but, because of the
complexities and enormity of the problem,
much still needs to be accomplished.
However, the fact that technologies have
improved and other water quality problems
have been solved, lead many to think that
now is the time to direct more attention
and resources to AMD control. While it is
accepted that all water quality problems
associated with coal mining activities will
not be solved overnight, it is hoped that
the Statement of Mutual Intent will be the
catalyst to channel energies and forge new
partnerships among the many federal,
state, and local agencies, the grassroots
watershed groups and the coal industry.
All have a common interest in restoring
coal lands and impacted streams to their
natural state. It can be assumed that
because of the estimated, enormous costs
of achieving this common goal, it cannot
be attained in these times of severe
governmental budget reductions without
combining the resources and ideas of all!
EPA Region li! Administrator
W.Michael McCabe: "Acid mine
drainage pollution cleanup and
prevention is a high priority in EPA
Region /// because of the more than
4500 mites of impacted streams. We
share a common goat with the states,
other federal agencies, watershed
organizations and industry to restore
these streams for fisheries and drinking
water use. EPA wHf expend its energies
to foster these partnerships* Our joint
successes wilt improve the quality of
fife and economic well being to the
affected communities and watersheds."
2
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Coal Mine Drainage Problems
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
FORMATION
Problematic mine drainage forms when
water and air contact certain minerals in
rocks associated with mining. Pyrite and
other iron-sulfide minerals react with water
and oxygen, in the presence of certain
bacteria, to form acid, which then dissolves
other minerals in the rocks associated with
coal.
Acid mine drainage is typically
characterized by low pH (less than 6.0)
and elevated levels of sulfates, acidity, and
other metals-such as iron, manganese, and
aluminum. These constituents often cause
stream bottoms to become coated, most
noticeably by iron, which results in the
reddish-orange, so-called "yellow boy"
stains familiar to the residents of mining
areas throughout Appalachia.
Alkaline mine drainage (pH above 6.0) may
also be a serious problem following mining
where discharges are alkaline but may
contain high levels of iron, manganese, and
sulfates.
The geology of coalfield areas can have
significant impacts on the AMD production
and discharge for all types of mining. Coal
deposits formed as decaying plant matter
accumulated in ancient swamps and were
subsequently buried under layers of
sediments. This depositional environment
and other post-depositional factors cause
the differences between coal ranks
(anthracite, bituminous, and lignite) and
the tendency for some rocks to produce
AMD when mined.
Acid mine drainage can be a product of
both surface and underground coal mining
operations, and of coal cleaning plants'
waste piles. In surface mining, the solid
rocks overlying the coal, or overburden, are
removed, and in the process, broken into
large and small rock fragments which are
replaced in the mining pit after coal
removal. This exposes the acid forming
minerals in some rocks to water and air,
resulting in a high probability of AMD
formation if such minerals are present in
sufficient quantity. In underground
mining, large reservoirs of AMD may form
in the cavern-like passageways below the
earth's surface. These reservoirs are
constantly replenished by ground-water
movement through the mineral-bearing
rocks, creating more AMD. The water
from these "mine pools" seeps through the
hillsides or gushes from abandoned mine
entries, entering the streams, and
depositing the metal-rich precipitates on
everything in the downstream path. Coal
cleaning refuse piles often contain
excessive amounts of pyritic materials and
water flowing through the piles will
become acidic.
Mine drainage discharges can be as small
as a tiny trickle, or they may be huge
torrents of thousands of gallons per
minute. If the receiving stream does not
contain sufficient alkalinity to neutralize
any added acid, its water quality may be
adversely impacted and the stream's uses
will be limited. Even if the stream has
sufficient alkalinity to improve the pH, iron
and/or aluminum precipitation may occur.
MINE DRAINAGE IMPACTS
Over the past 100 years, coal mining has
caused increased amounts of acid, iron,
sediments, manganese, aluminum,
sulfates, and hardness in streams of coal
producing states (particularly Maryland,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia).
The presence of acid and these minerals
limits or decimate the aquatic life within a
-------
stream. The same contaminants make the
water unhealthy and/or unsuitable for
drinking or livestock watering. Municipal
water supplies have to adjust to poor
intake water quality by providing additional
treatment or seek other, non-AMD polluted
supplies. The stream water is often too
corrosive for industrial or manufacturing
use. Recreational activities such as
swimming, boating, water-skiing, canoeing,
and Whitewater rafting are either limited or
are made unappealing and inhospitable.
Navigational operations are affected by
accelerated corrosion of barges, towboats,
and locks and dams. The strangely-colored
water and rocks are unappealing
aesthetically and downgrade land values.
Max Peterson of the International
Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies:
"This fs one of those things where
everybody that takes part in it will be a
winner, because their children and
grandchildren can took at streams that
have been cleaned up and say: ' / had a
tittle piece in making that happenr
Because aquatic life, especially the
fisheries, are so sensitive to low pH
associated with coal mine drainage
pollution, EPA and OSM decided that AMD
impacts on fisheries would be a good
baseline environmental measure. In 1995,
EPA conducted a survey of State biologists
familiar with impacted fisheries in their
territories. The results of that survey can
be found on Figures 1-4. The basic
methodology was for the biologist to color
code the impacted streams on USGS
1/100,000 scale topographic maps. Only
streams which the biologists judged to
have impacted fisheries were colored
coded; streams without color codes in the
study area may or may not be impacted.
The data on impacted fisheries do not
include impacts of sediment from mining,
only metals and low pH levels.
Two levels of impacts were defined. The
more severe is No Fish. A No Fish
designation can include streams: (1) in
which a few can be found surviving in an
area where a tributary dilutes the stream or
(2) near where a large spring may feed the
stream, enabling a few fish to survive. The
second level of impacted fishery would be
Some Fish. Impacts to fisheries in this
category include reduced number of
species of fish and/or reduced productivity.
All of the data has been input into EPA's
Geographic Information System (GIS) and is
available in a wide variety of formats and
data layers.
It should be noted that not all AMD
impacted streams have been determined.
If the state biologist had no knowledge or
data on particular streams, those streams
were not color coded. For example, in
West Virginia it has been determined that
more than 2,000 stream miles are impacted
by AMD, based on chemical analysis, not
just fishery impacts.
The fisheries survey was an offshoot of the
SMISP. Because of its significance it has
been highlighted in this section. It could
have been described equally as well in this
report's section on First Year Activities.
4
-------
Streams with Fisheries Impacted
by Acid Mine Drainage
in MD, OH, PA, VA, WV
(Based on EPA Fisheries Survey - 1995)
0 25 50
75 100
MILES
Scale 1 : 4400000
Figure 1
Stream Miles
Impacted
State
No Fish
Some Fish
Total
OH
258
349
607
PA
1714
1525
3239
WV
488
612
1100
VA
17
0
17
MD
42
110
152
TOTAL
2519
2596
5115
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Streams and Fisheries Impacted by
Acid Mine Drainage in Pennsylvania
(Based on EPA Fisheries Survey - 1995)
25
50
a
Figure 2
MILES
Scale 1 : 2300000
Legend:
No Fish
Some Fish
Impacted Stream Miles
No Fish 1714
Some Fish 1525
-------
Streams and Fisheries Impacted by Acid Mine Drainage
in West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland
(Based on EPA Fisheries Survey - 1995)
25 50
MILES
Scale 1 r 3300000
Figure 3
Legend:
No Fish
Some Fish
Impacted Stream Miles
No Fish 547
Some Fish 722
-------
MILES
Scale 1 : 2500000
Streams and Fisheries Impacted by
Acid Mine Drainage in Ohio
(Based on EPA Fisheries Survey - 1995)
Figure 4
Legend:
No Fish
Some Fish
Impacted Stream Miles
No Fish 258
Some Fish 349
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Mine Drainage Pollution Control
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES
Coal mine drainage pollution, largely from
abandoned coal mines, is the number one
water quality problem in Appalachia.
Citizens, states, and the federal govern-
ment have spent many years and millions
of dollars but have barely made a dent in
the cleanup of the more than 7500 miles of
impacted streams in all of Appalachia.
*OSM's Appalachian Clean Streams
Initiative has been described earlier in this
report. Additionally, OSM through its AML
Fund is a major source of funding for mine
reclamation and mine drainage cleanup.
OSM has taken action this year to allow
' states greater flexibility in its use of the
AML Fund by defining the "general
welfare" provision of the AML Program to
consider the economic impacts of AMD
polluted streams on an area. AMD can
now be classified as Priority II under the
prioritization system set forth in SMCRA,
Title IV. This clarification of statutory
language makes stream cleanup much more
viable than at any time in the history of the
AML Program.
* EPA's Mine Drainage Initiative and its
extensive work in conducting the impacted
fisheries survey and development of mine
drainage GIS have been described earlier.
EPA is also a funding source through the
states and its §319 and §104b3
programs. Through these funding sources
several cleanup projects have been
supported as well as financial aid to
watershed groups.
* The Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) has the lead role in the
Rural Abandoned Mine Program (RAMP).
The purpose of RAMP is to provide a
means for reclaiming soil and water
resources in rural areas that have been
adversely affected by past coal mining
activities.
* The Corps of Engineers also has
programs which are directed to mine
drainage inventory, assessment and
cleanup.
* The U.S. Bureau of Mines(USBM)
continues to be a leader in the research and
studies of treatment technology, predictive
technology, hydrologic studies,
effectiveness of remining and evaluating
the use of combustion wastes to abate
AMD generation.
OSM and EPA have also leveraged the
resources of several other federal agencies,
Applachian state governments, watershed
groups, and endowments to counteract
abandoned coal mining degradation of
streams.
STATE GOVERNMENT
ACTIVITIES/PROJECTS
State governments have taken the lead in
identifying, planning, and completing
projects to eliminate acid mine drainage
discharges and restore streams to a usable
condition. These projects include
reclaiming abandoned surface mines,
sealing underground mines, excavating
underground mines (daylighting),
construction and operation of AMD
treatment plants, design and construction
of passive treatment systems, removing or
reclaiming coal cleaning refuse piles, and
providing technical assistance and
resources to local watershed groups.
9
-------
Many of these state remediation projects
are identified in Table 1 (Pennsylvania
Projects), Table 2 (Ohio Projects), and
Table 3 (West Virginia, Maryland, and
Virginia Projects). The status of the
projects includes those completed within
the last five years, under construction,
designed, planned, or proposed. Cost
figures given in the tables are for the entire
project or are the incremental cost of that
portion of a large Abandoned Mine Land
project that can be attributed to mine
drainage control. The entry in the"stream
miles cleaned" column for projects not yet
completed is included, when the data was
available as a target.
NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCY
ACTIVITIES/PROJECTS
NATIONAL MINE LAND RECLAMATION
CENTER (NMLRC>
The objective of the Center is to develop
and move innovative technology into the
mining industry and regulatory agencies.
The NMLRC is centered at West Virginia
University but encompasses programs at
Pennsylvania State Univesity, Universitiy of
North Dakota, and Southern Illinois
University at Carbondale. Pertinent
ongoing NMLRC projects involve:
* NMLRC is surveying rocklined waterways
containing limestone and AMD to
determine if long term neutralization is
occurring.
* NMLRC is conducting a field study in WV
to determine chemical and fluid mass
balance evolution in acid generating coal
refuse.
* NMLRC is testing the validity of
manganese as a surrogate of heavy metal
removal in constructed wetlands treating
AMD.
* NMLRC is evaluating underground mine
AMD treatment with both compost and an
anoxic limestone drain.
* NMLRC is investigating disposal of
fluidized bed combustion ash in an
underground mine to control acid mine
drainage and subsidence. Another study
investigates the use of FBC and FGD
residues for use in anoxic limestone drains.
* NMLRC is investigating the effectiveness
of treatment of AMD with armored
limestone.
* NMLRC is investigating alkaline
amendment to coal refuse and the use of
limestone foundation drains for AMD
control in coal refuse piles.
* NMLRC is investigating remining to
reduce/prevent AMD.
* NMLRC is evaluating use of manganese
oxide coated-media for removal of soluble
manganese in AMD.
* NMLRC is continuing study of the long
term performance of wetlands designed to
treat AMD.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRM
ft WILDLIFE AGENCIES' PROJECTS
The International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies (IAF&WA) has teamed up
with the Appalachian Clean Streams
Initiative (ACSI) to focus the capabilities of
State and federal agencies, industry, and
citizen's groups, on developing ACSI
restoration projects to correct the water
quality damages caused by coal mining
which took place before modern
reclamation practices were put into use.
This program seeks to foster a level of
technical, funding, and interagency
cooperation. Under this plan, the best
technical experts from federal and private
-------
organizations will work with State experts
to implement the latest scientific advances
in elimination of acid-related pollution at
the source. Twelve selected pilot projects,
in eight Appalachian states, were studied
by a group of technical experts under the
guidance of the NMLRC. Preliminary
recommendations included options for
reclamation of surface mines; for reducing
water infiltration into deep mines; for
passive treatment of discharges; and for
utilizing active treatment facilities and
measures.
Eight IAF&WA projects proposed for the
states covered by this report are listed
within Tables 1-3.
SM/SP IN ACTION
THE GREENS RUM INITIATIVE.
A GOVERNMENT IN DUST RY COOPERATIVE PROJt ri
Anker Energy Greens Run Initiative
Greens Run, a stream degraded by
past mining, is a tributary of the
Cheat River located near Albright,
WV. The lower Cheat River is one
of the state's waterways most
severely impacted by acid mine
drainage (AMD). Recently, the
Cheat River was recognized by the
American Rivers Association, as
one of the ten most threatened
and endangered rivers in the
U.S.A..
The idea for the Greens Run ACSI
project resulted from discussions
between John Faltis, President of
Anker Energy Corporation (AEC),
and representatives from a local
watershed organization (Friends of
the Cheat). AEC presented a
conceptual plan for the Greens
Run project to the WV Division of
Environmental Protection (WVDEP)
and the OSM. This resulted in a
memorandum of agreement
between the WVDEP and the AEC,
where the WVDEP is the project
sponsor, with AEC being a no-cost
contractor to the WVDEP. AEC
elevated the Greens Run project
within its organization and
obligated financial, engineering,
and construction resources for the
project. The focus of the initial
project phase is directed at the
middle fork of Greens Run. AEC
anticipates that this initial effort
will act as a catalyst for future
AMD abatement efforts in Greens
Run and the Cheat River subbasin.
A steering committee, comprised
of AEC, Friends of the Cheat, WV
Rivers Coalition, the OSM, the WV
DEP and the WV Division of
Natural Resources was formed to
direct the development of the
Greens Run project.
In conjunction with the Greens
Run initiative, the committee
developed a vision document, I
entitled "River of Promise". The
document, reflecting a shared
vision and commitment that
embraces a watershed/ecosystem
approach for the restoration of the
Cheat River, was ceremonially
signed at the first annual Cheat
River Festival on May 6, 1995.
The abatement plan provides for a
state of the art anoxic limestone
drain, utilizing 9,000 tons of
limestone at an old deep mine
seep on the middle fork of Greens
Run. The seep contributes 281
tons of acid annually to the River.
The partnerships developed and
vision shared in this initiative
between government, industry and
the environmental community are
unprecedented. The successes
experienced from this cooperative
effort will serve as a model for
future efforts.
11
-------
/
TABLE 1
AMD REMEDIATION PROJECTS
PENNSYLVANIA
1 Map
1 Symbol
Project Name
State -
County
Watershed
Status/
Cost
Stream
Miles
Cleaned
•-1
Thomas Mill
PA -
Somerset
Bens Cr./South
Fk./Stoneycreek Riv./
Conemaugh River
Designed
7.5
• -2
Rocky Ridge
PA - Hunt-
ingdon
Roaring Run/
Sideling/Juniata R.
Designed
4.5
• -3
Cucumber Run
PA - Fayette
Cucumber Run/
Youghiogheny Riv.
Designed
1.5
• -4
Falls Creek
PA -
Bradford
Schrader Creek/
Designed
8
• -5
Wild wood Treatment
Plant
PA -
Allegheny
Willow Run/Pine
Cr./Allegheny Riv.
Completed
6
• -6
Little Toby Creek
Treatment Plant
PA - Elk
Little Toby Cr./ Clarion
River
Under
Construction
12
• -7
Stoneycreek Treatment
Plant
PA - Elk
Swamp Cr./
Completed
1
• -8
Mill Creek Restoration
PA -
Jefferson
Mill Cr./ Clarion River
Completed/
Construction
10
• -9
Oven Run Site D
PA -
Somerset
Oven Run/
Stoneycreek River
Construction
1
• -10
Brookwood Shaft
PA -
Clearfield
Whiteside Run/
Moshannon Cr./ W. Br.
Susquehanna River
Construction
• -11
Babb Creek
PA - Tioga
Babb Cr./Pine Cr./ W.
Br. Susquehanna Riv.
Completed/
Construction
10
•-12
Rausch Creek
PA -
Schuylkill
Rausch Cr./ Pine
Cr./Mahantango
Cr./Susquehanna River
Completed
28
• -13
Aylesworth Creek
PA - Lack-
awanna
Aylesworth Cr./
Lackawanna Riv./
Susquehanna Riv.
Completed
1
• -14
Mary D South
PA -
Schuylkill
Schuylkill River/
Delaware River
Completed
N.A.
• -15
Mead Run RAMP
PA - Elk
Mead Run
Completed
3
• -16
Monastery Run
PA - West-
moreland
Monastery Run/
Loyalhanna Cr./
Conemaugh River
Development
13
12
-------
TABLE 1 (Cont.)
AMD REMEDIATION PROJECTS
PENNSYLVANIA
1 Map
1 Symbol
Project Name
State -
County
Watershed
Status/
Cost
Stream
Miles
Cleaned
•-17
Lackawanna River
PA - Lack-
awanna
Lackawanna River
Development
N.A.
• -18
Silverbrook Mine
* Wilson Discharge
* Brinkerton Disch.
PA -
Schuylkill
Little Schuylkill River
Development
N.A.
• -19
Jones Mine
PA - Beaver
Brady Creek
Design
N.A.
• -20
North Point
PA - Bedford
Six Mile Run
Design
N.A.
• -21
Coal Hollow
PA - Elk
Little Toby Cr./ Clarion
River
Design/
N.A.
• -22
Schnepp
PA -
Jefferson
Mill Creek/ Clarn River
Design
N.A.
• -23
Friedline
PA - West-
moreland
Laurel Run/ Loyalhanna
Cr./ Conemaugh River
Design
N.A.
•-24
Scrubgrass Run
PA -
Allegheny
Scrubgrass Run/
Chartiers Cr./ Ohio
River
Design
N.A.
• -25
Casselman River
PA-
Somerset
Casselman-
Youghiogheny
Construction/
$450,000
N.A.
13
-------
TABLE 2
AMD REMEDIATION PROJECTS
OHIO
Map Project Name State - Watershed Status/ Stream
Symbol County Cost Miles
Cleaned
•-1
Midvale
OH -
Tuscarawas
Pone Run/Pike
Run/Tuscarawas River
Completed/
$ 70,000
• -2
Wills Creek Tipple
OH -
Coshocton
Wills Creek Reservoir
Completed/
$ 255,620
• -3
Tropic Coal
OH -
Morgan
Black Fk./Moxahala
Cr./Muskingum Ri.
Ongoing/
$ 413,780
• -4
Howard Williams
Lake
OH -
Perry
Moxahala
Cr./Muskingum Ri.
Completed/
$ 500,000
• -5
Lick Run
OH -
Athens
Lick Run/Hocking
River/ Ohio River
Completed/
$ 127,140
• -6
Carbondale
OH -
Athens
Hewett Fork/ Racoon
Cr./Ohio R.
Completed/
$ 221,380
• -7
Zaleski/Saitz
OH -
Vinton
Elk Fork/Racoon
Cr./Ohio River
Completed/
$ 346,440
• -8
Sunny King
OH -
Athens
Goose Run/Snow Fk./
Monday Cr./Hocking R
Completed/
$ 48,993
• -9
Murray City Gob Pile
OH -
Hocking
Snow Fork/ Monday
Cr./ Hocking River
Completed/
$ 20,000
• -10
Kimberly/
MacCombs
OH -
Athens
Monday Cr./ Hocking
River
Completed/
$ 40,513
• -11
Athens County Road
One Gob Pile
OH -
Athens
Hewett Fork/ Racoon
Cr./Ohio River
Completed/
$ 18,116
• -12
Brush Fork
OH -
Hocking
West Br. Racoon
Cr./Racoon Cr.
Completed/
$ 12,018
•-13
Buckeye Furnace
OH -
Jackson
Buffer Run/
Little Racoon Cr.
Planned/
$ 1,100,00
• -14
Doctor Dew
OH -
Athens
Hewett Fork/ Racoon
Cr.
Ongoing/
$ 76,495
• -15
Goose Run
OH -
Jackson
Goose Run/L. Racoon
Cr./ Racoon Cr./Ohio R
Ongoing/
$16,486
• -16
Hewett Fork
OH -
Athens
Carbondale Cr./
Hewett Fk/ Racoon Cr.
Planned/
$ 600,000
•-17
Rock Run Gob Pile
OH -
Perry
Monday Cr./ Hocking
River
Planned/
$ 335,000
• -18
Captina Creek
IAF&WA Project
OH
Captina Cr./Ohio River
Designed/
$400,000
5
14
-------
TABLE 2 (Cont.)
AMD REMEDIATION PROJECTS
OHIO
Map
Symbol
Project Name
State -
County
Watershed
Status/
Cost
Stream
Miles
Cleaned
19
Wills Creek/Linton
Mine Drainage
OH -
Coshocton
Wills Creek
Planned/
$ 450,000
20
Piedmont Lake - Lick
Run
OH - Belmont
Stillwater Creek
Planned/
$ 1-3 million
21
Howard Williams
Lake- Phase II, Water
Quality Assessment
OH - Perry
Moxahala Creek.
Planned/
$ 55,000
22
Reboboth Gob Pile
Pilot Project
OH -
Perry
Rush Creek
Under
Construction
23
Indigo Wetland
OH - Perry
Rush Creek
Completed/
$ 10,000
24
Natco Alkaline
Injection - Phase I
OH - Stark
Sandy Creek
Planned/
$96,000
15
I
-------
TABLE 3
AMD REMEDIATION PROJECTS
WEST VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA
Map
Figure/
Symbol
Project Name
State -
County
Watershed
Status/
Cost
Stream
Miles
Cleaned
i
•-1
Rosati Mine Drainage
WV •
Preston
Bull Run/
Monongahela River
Completed/
$ 30,000
N.A.
• -2
Albert Highwall
WV -
Tucker
N. Fk. Blackwater
River/Cheat River
Active/
$ 980,000
N.A.
• -3
Blackwater River
Limestone Drum
WV -
Tucker
Blackwater River/Cheat
River
Completed/
$ 880,000
12
• -4
Cherry Run # 3
WV -
Preston
Cherry Run/Big Sandy
Cr./Cheat R.
Designed/
$ 125,000
N.A.
• -5
Douglas Highwall
WV - Tucker
N. Fk. Blackwater
River/Cheat River
Completed/
$ 543,000
N.A.
• -6
Greens Run Cleanup
WV -
Preston
Greens Run/Cheat
River
Designed/
$ 200,000
N.A.
• -7
Martin Cr. Refuse
WV -
Preston
Martin Cr./ Muddy
Cr./Cheat River
Designed/
$ 35,000
N.A.
•-8
Webster Refuse
WV -
Preston
Webster Run/Cheat
River
Completed/
$ 35,000
N.A.
•-9
Big Nob Acid Mine
Drainage
WV -
Randolph
Taylor Run/Tygart
River
Completed/
$ 90,000
N.A.
• -10
Upshur Rt. 10/15
Portals
WV -
Upshur
White Oak Run/ Middle
Fk. River/ Tygart River
Completed/
$ 200,000
N.A.
• -11
Middle Fork River
Limestone Fines
Neutralization Proj.
WV
Barbour,
Randolph,
Upshur
Middle Fork River/
Monongahela River
Ongoing
through 10%
set-aside funds
38
• -12
Weaver Highwall
WV -
Randolph
Beaver Cr./Tygart
R./Monongahela R.
Completed/
$ 150,000
N.A.
• -13
Whitman Flats
WV -
Randolph
Panther Run/ Middle
Fk. River/ Tygart River
Ongoing/
$ 1,000,000
N.A.
• -14
Paint Creek IAF&WA
Project
WV -
Paint Cr./Kanawha
River
Designed/
$1,535,000
15
•-15
Bismark Strip Drainage
WV -
Grant
Little Cr./Abram
Cr./North Branch of
Potomac River
Being Con-
structed/
$ 325,000
N.A.
16
-------
TABLE 3
AMD REMEDIATION PROJECTS
WEST VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA
Project Name
Map
Figure/
Symbol
State -
County
Watershed
Status/
Cost
Stream
Miles
Cleaned
Omega Mine
Cobun Cr./
Monongahela River
Ongoing
OSM
($225,000);
Anker Energy
($200,000);
WVDEP
($250,000);
CONSOL
($200,000);
Allegheny
Power
($300,000);
Middle Fork IAF&WA
Project
Tygart Valley River
Designed/
Phase 1 -
$1,400,000
Phase 2 -
$2,600,000
Abram Creek
IAF&WA Project
North Branch, Potomac
River
Designed/
Phase 1 -
$3,800,000
Phase 2 -
$2,600,000
Phase 3 -
$2,600,000
North Branch Dosers
MD -
Garrett
North Branch Potomac
River
Completed
North Branch IAF&WA
Project
MD - Garrett
North Branch Potomac
River
Planned/
$6,250,000
Black Creek IAF&WA
Project
Black Cr./Powell River
Planned/
$2,000,000
Ely Creek
IAF&WA Project
Ely Cr./Powell River
Designed/
$1,000,000
Indian Cr./Pound River/
Big Sandy River
Proposed
17
-------
WATERSHED COALITIONS
The Role of Watershed Coalitions in
Cleaning Up Mine Drainage
Grassroot organizations, in the form of
watershed coalitions, associations,
advocacy groups, improvement
committees, etc., are the heart and soul of
the movement to clean up AMD polluted
streams. Without the impetus and on-the-
ground efforts they provide, this massive
stream restoration program is bound to
fail.
Grassroot organizations are initially formed
by environmentally conscious citizens
whose goal is to clean up an AMD-
degraded watershed. As the coalition
grows, its composition changes to include,
in addition to the local and other citizen
organizers, representatives from: federal,
state and local government agencies;
academic institutions ranging from grade
schools to universities; foundations;
environmental groups; local businesses and
industry; public service organizations; and
others. The final success of the effort
depends upon the contributions that each
person and group makes.
SMISP in ACTION
CREATING A WATERSHED COALITION
The Monday Creek Restoration
Project is a dynamic, direct result
of the Appalachian Clean Streams
Initiative. Mary Ann Borch, a
Vista Volunteer for Rural Action,
Athens, Ohio began organizing the
project after attending the
November 1-2, 1994 EPA/OSM
AMD Workshop in Morgantown,
WV. The workshop experience
convinced her that an ACSI
partnership was the best way to
build upon current community
efforts dealing with environmental
damage, including a severe AMD
problem in Monday Creek.
Ms. Borch described ACSI at a
meeting of local university and
agency officials on November 21.
All participants agreed with the
ACSI mission and selected the
Monday Creek watershed as a
project site.
Monday Creek was selected due
to the work already accomplished
by Ohio University on Snow Fork,
by the National Environmental
Training Cooperative (NETC) at
Hocking College, and the U.S.
Forest Service's interest in AMD
work on National Forest lands in
the area, as well as local citizen
concerns about the watershed.
By February 1995, she had
expanded the partnership on
Monday Creek Restoration to
include six Federal and State
agencies, and three colleges and
universities.
In May 1995, Ms. Borch applied
for an EPA grant to proceed with
preparation of a watershed
management plan and reclamation
of a 22 acre coal waste gob pile.
The waste pile pollutes Rock Run
with toxic sediment and acid mine
drainage in the headwaters of
Monday Creek.
The application shows the fruits of
her efforts to bring together a
partnership of agencies for the
purpose of improving the water
quality in Monday Creek.
Funding for the Rock Run project
was provided by the Ohio Division
of Reclamation, Rural Action, and
the U.S. Forest Service as well as
"in-kind" services from Ohio
University, American Electric
Power, and the U.S. Bureau of
Mines.
Lisa J. Morris, Chief, Ohio Division
of Reclamation stated in a letter to
Mary Ann Borch on May 8, 1995,
"... to have accomplished so much
in such a brief period of time
through Rural Action is nothing
short of remarkable."
18
-------
The coalition's role is many faceted.
Momentum must be maintained through
meetings and other forms of information
transfer and new members should be
recruited. Citizen members help collect the
information and data needed to define the
scope of the problem, design the
remediation project and secure funding.
Information collected includes the location
of mines and their discharges; mine maps;
stream and mine discharge sample
analyses; geologic data; and land use and
capability information. They secure
cooperation from local landowners whose
land may be affected by a project and
help get assistance from non-government
people and groups as needed. They play
pivotal roles as potentially successful
remediation methods are identified and
designed and attain necessary government
agencies' interest in the project to secure
the necessary funding. Finally, after
construction, they are key to the continued
effectiveness of the remedial measure
which will require some degree of
maintenance and cost.
Active Coalitions
Many active watershed coalitions have
been identified in the states covered by this
report. Tables 4-6 provide concise
information about each group. Coalitions
are also located on Figures 5-7. Contacts
for each coalition are given in the tables.
If more information about the activities of
any group is desired the OSM
clearinghouse described on page 23 also
can provide such information.
19
-------
TABLE 4
WATERSHED COALITIONS/ASSOCIATIONS
PENNSYLVANIA
Map
Symbol
Coalition
State - County
Funding
For More Information
contact:
A-1
Babb Creek Trust Fund
PA - Tioga
Robert McCullough
717-322-1021
A-2
Big Wapwallopen Creek
Watershed Association
PA - Luzerne
Jaquie Fine
A-3
Blacklick Creek
Watershed Association
PA - Cambria &
Indiana
N.A.
Jim Lafontaine, 412-
354-5450
A-4
Chest Cr. Watershed
Association
PA - Cambria
N.A.
Paul Short
814-674-5084
A-5
Clarion River Basin
Commission: Mill Cr. and
Little Toby Cr. Coalitions
PA - Clarion, Elk,
Forest, McKean,
& Jefferson
Local donations.
Bob Kaufman,
President,
814-226-2164
A-6
Cowanshannock Creek
Watershed Association
PA - Armstrong
Requested 10% set-
aside funds.
John Bohanak, 412-
548-3427
A-7
Crooked Creek
Watershed Association
PA - Indiana
Requested 10% set-
aside funds.
Leroy Vatter, Vice
President 412-463-0822
A-8
Headwaters Charitable
trust
PA - Eight central
counties
Eric Carlson
814-765-4612
A-9
Lackawanna River
Corridor Association
PA -
Lackawanna
EPA appropriation
($20,000,000); NIER
($4,000,000)
Bernard McGurl, Exe.
Director, 717-282-
6640
A-10
Lackawanna River Watch
PA - Lackawanna
N.A.
Arthur Popp
717-347-6311
A-11
Little Clearfield Creek
Watershed Association
PA - Clearfield
N.A.
George Gill
814-236-0872
A-12
Little Schuylkill
Conservation Club
PA - Schuylkill
N.A.
Ray Ripco
717-668-1163
A-13
Little Toby Cr. Watershed
Assoc.
PA - Elk
Operation Scarlift
($2,000,000); EPA
319 funds;
Headwaters
Charitable Trust.
Requested: Set-aside,
PL 566, & IAF&WA.
William Sabatose, Pres.
814-265-6562
A-14
Little Sewickley Cr.
Watershed Assoc.
PA - Allegheny
N.A.
Susan Craig
412-741-8388
A-15
Loyalhanna Watershed
Assoc./ Monastery Run
Improvement Project
PA -
Westmoreland
10% set-aside
($187,000).
Requested: EPA 319
($399,00), NRCS PL
566 ($800,000)
Lysle Sherwin,
Executive Director,
412-238-7560
2 n
-------
TABLE 4 (Cont.)
WATERSHED COALITIONS/ASSOCIATIONS
PENNSYLVANIA
Map
Symbol
Coalition
State - County
Funding
For More Information
contact:
A-16
Mill Creek Coalition
PA- Clarion,
Jefferson
Local donations; EPA
31 9; EPA to Bur. of
Oil & Gas Man.;
National Guard;
Requested: Set-aside,
PL 566,
Peter Dalby
814-226-2164
A-17
Mountain Watershed
Association
PA -
Westmoreland
None
Beverly Braverman
412-455-2886
A-18
Pine Creek Headwaters
Protection Group
PA - Tioga
Phil Stillerman
717-724-5097
A-19
Roaring Run Watershed
Association
PA - Armstrong
Requested 10% set-
aside funds
Bob Knepshield, Pres.,
412-478-1233
A-20
Schrader Creek
Watershed Association
PA - Bradford
Requested 10% set-
aside funds
Hugh McMahon,
President 717-265-2121
A-21
Scrubgrass Run
Watershed Project
PA - Allegheny
EPA 319 ($43,000);
local
Lisa Trainor or Jodi Krug
412-429-2241
A-22
Sewickley Creek
Watershed Association
PA -
Westmoreland
USBM research
($ 194,000)
Robert Hepler, Pres.,
412-925-9190
A-23
Slippery Rock Watershed
Association
PA - Butler
Tim Van Dyke
814-797-1191
A-24
Squaw Run Watershed
Association
PA - Allegheny
Mrs. Leonard Schugar
A-25
Stoneycreek-Conemaugh
River Improvement
Project
PA - Cambria &
Somerset
EPA 31 9; local
match; 10% AMD
set-aside; SCS PL
566 watershed
improvement; and
Title IV funds..
Walter Rossman,
Cambria Co. 814-472-
2120 & David
Mankamyer, Somerset
Co. 814-445-4652
A-26
Swatara Watershed
Alliance
PA - Lebanon
Jo Ellen Litz
717-274-1175
A-27
Turtle Creek Watershed
Association
PA - Allegheny
& Westmoreland
None
Amy Cortese, Exe.
Director 412-829-5042
~-28
West Branch
Susquehanna Rescue
PA - Cambria
John Yuhas
814-948-5153
A-29
Western PA Coalition for
Abandoned Mine
Reclamation
PA -
Western Pa.
Counties
Mark Killar
412-837-5271
21
-------
TABLE 5
WATERSHED COALITIONS/ASSOCIATIONS
OHIO
Map
Symbol
Coalition
State - County
Funding
For More Information
contact:
A-1
Monday Creek
Restoration Project
OH
Applied for EPA 319
Funds; Division of
Reclamation(DOR)
State AML
Mary Ann Borch 614-
698-2227
A-2
Racoon Creek
Improvement Committee
OH
Applied for EPA 319
Funds; DOR State
AML
Connie White 614-
669-7001
TABLE 6
WATERSHED COALITIONS/ASSOCIATIONS
WEST VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA
Map
Symbol
Coalition
State - County
Funding
For More Information
contact:
A-1
Friends of the Cheat
"River of Promise" -
Cheat River (Includes the
Greens Run initiative)
WV - Randolph,
Taylor,
Monogalia,
Preston, Barbour
Anker Energy
($200,000);
David Bassage,Pres.
304-379-3141
Ron Stemple
A-2
Downstream Alliance -
Includes: Sandy Cr.,
Laurel Run, Roaring Cr.,
Muddy Cr., Whiteday Cr.,
Booths Cr., Prickett Cr.,
Cobun Cr., Deckers Cr.
WV - Preston,
Barbour,
Monogalia,
Marion, Taylor
N.A.
David Houser,
304-892-4372
A-3
Friends of Deckers Creek
WV - Preston,
Monongalia
N.A.
Scott Fogarty,
304-291-5646
A-4
North Br. Potomac River
Advocacy group
"Flowing to the Future"
West Virginia and
Maryland - Area
Wide
N.A.
Herb Sachs,
Commissioner,
INCOPOT
A-5
Friends of the Little
Kanawha
WV - Area Wide
N.A.
Margo Davis
-6
WV Sierra Club Rivers
Committee
WV - State Wide
N.A.
Jim Sconyers
304-789-6277
-7
Trout Unlimited,
Mountaineer Chapter
WV - State Wide
N.A.
Don Garvin
304-472-8716
-8
West Virginia Organizing
Committee
WV - State Wide
N.A.
John Humphreys
304-752-0901
22
-------
TABLE 6 (Cont.)
WATERSHED COALITIONS/ASSOCIATIONS
West Virginia,Maryland, Virginia
Map
Symbol
Coalition
State - County
Funding
For More Information
contact:
IT
White Day Creek
Watershed Association
WV - Preston,
Monongalia
N.A.
Richard Gerken
304-363-4662
10
Black Water River
"Stakeholders"
WV- Tucker
N.A.
Karen Bonner
304-866-4680
11
Davis Creek Watershed
Association
WV - Kanawha
N.A.
Bill Vandale
304-744-3521
12
Dunkard Creek
"Stakeholders"
WV - Monongalia
N.A.
Cam Lemley
304-879-5988
13
Lower Paint Creek
Watershed Association
WV - Raleigh,
Fayette,
Kanawha
N.A.
Dwight Siemiazcko
304-595-3325
14
Tug Fork "Stakeholders"
Tri-State - WV,
VA, Ky
Corps of Engineers
NPS
Bob McCoy
304-426-8761
15
WV Rivers Coalition
WV State Wide
Public/Government
Roger Harrison
304-472-0025
16
Mountain Monitors
Richard DiPretero
304-296-8963
17
Greenbriar River
Watershed Association
WV - Pochantos
Greenbriar,
Monroe, Summers
Leslie McCarty
304-653-4722
18
4-H Road Community
Association, Inc.
WV - Monongalia
N.A.
Joan Sims
L
23
1
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hi^itingdon
WASHINGTON
CUMBERLAND
LANCASTER
FAYETfE
ADAMS
AMD Watershed Associations
and Remediation Projects
in Pennsylvania
—iFigure 5
MILES
Scale 1 : 2000000
Legend:
Watershed
Associations
Remediation
Projects
No Fish
Some Fish
-------
50
mi
AMD Watershed Associations
and Remediation Projects in Ohio
Figure 6
w
MILES
Scale 1 : 2500000
Legend:
Watershed
* Associations
# Remediation
Projects
No Fish
Some Fish
-------
25
MILES
Scale 1 : 3300000
AMD Watershed Associations
and Remediation Projects
in West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland
Figure 7
*
Legend:
Watershed
* Associations
# Remediation
Projects
No Fish
Some Fish
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First Year Activities on the Strategic Plan
During this first year, OSM and EPA have
been performing tasks which will
accomplish the stated objectives of the
SMISP. OSM and EPA staff have been
meeting jointly, with other agencies, with
states, and active watershed groups to
define roles and strengthen the existing
strategic plan. These are important tasks
needed to identify all ongoing AMD
abatement projects and planning efforts.
Once a comprehensive knowledge of
activities is documented, this information
can be shared with all involved in the
efforts to clean streams. In this manner,
duplication of effort or counterproductive
activities can be avoided and information
on failures and successes can be shared.
The development of the SMISP centered on
establishing goals that would marshal the
available resources of all stakeholders to
clean up pollution from abandoned mine
sources. These goals included compiling
technical and environmental data on stream
conditions and remedial techniques;
guidance on how to organize a clean-up
effort; sources of potential funding; as well
as networking and technology transfer
opportunities. Let's look at what was
envisioned, and where we are:
THE CLEAN STREAMS
CLEARINGHOUSE
People working on cleaning streams need a
central source of information. OSM has
established such a source in the
Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center
in Pittsburgh. The Clean Streams
Clearinghouse (CSC) can be contacted at
(412) 937-2849, and includes the
following:
The OSM World Wide Web (WWW)
Site - Like many government agencies
and private concerns, the information
superhighway has a "rest stop" hosted
by OSM. OSM's WWW Home Page is
accessible through the Internet at
http://www.osmre.gov to any
computer user with the proper
telecommunications gateway and Web
software. The OSM Homepage will
provide a full range of menu services,
ACSI information and links to other
appropriate Web-sites . The Web
address is publicly accessible; should
problems occur, the OSMRE Support
Center at (202) 208-2929 can be
contacted to answer questions and
resolve access problems.
The OSM Mine Drainage Library - this
definitive collection of literature on
mine drainage technology had origins in
the former Bituminous Coal Research,
Inc. holdings. This library contains the
single largest number of articles on
mine drainage information in one
location. In addition to the most
complete holdings anywhere of data
written up to 1980, the library is
currently acquiring major works
published from 1980 to the present
which are not among the existing
holdings. Holdings will be available
using standard inter-library loan
procedures through participating local
libraries.
AMD Electronic Bibliography - A
description of the holdings of The Mine
Drainage Library will ultimately be
available in digital format. The plan is
to have annotated abstracts of each
article or publication on disk and also
accessible through the Internet. The
file will be in WordPerfect or ASCII
format so that key-word search
capabilities will allow the user to search
for particular authors, topics, etc.
Currently, the abstracts of several
27
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thousand document titles through 1980
are available. Updates to the present
are being pursued for inclusion. The
federal government mandate to provide
easy access to digital information has
also resulted in plans for this data to be
available on the Internet. OSM's
WWW site will ultimately have
hypertext links to the Electronic
Bibliography at an FTP server.
In addition, a new bibliography by the
US Bureau of Mines will provide
abstracts of post-1977 technical papers
related to mine drainage treatment
technologies. This bibliography will
also contain several complete papers,
identified as the most comprehensive,
on each of the 21 treatment
technologies studied. This document
should be available early in 1996.
The Clean Streams Contact List -
People cleaning streams need to know
who else is out there working on the
problem. Building a network of persons
with common goals results in better-
informed efforts to restore streams.
Shared information creates many
intangible efficiencies and other
benefits. On-the-ground track records,
community support, funding
information, technical support, and
many other useful things can be found
out by using such a telephone/address
listing. The Clean Streams Contact
List, available on disk, through the
WWW, or as a paper copy, reads like a
Who's Who of the clean streams
community. Listings of citizens, local,
state, and federal government contacts
who are involved in the clean streams
effort have been compiled and are
28
regularly updated. For a copy, contact
the OSM Clean Streams Clearinghouse.
The Clean Streams Watershed-based
Directory of Information - Those
persons cleaning streams need to know
of available data sources in their area
and also need to be aware of other past
or planned ACSI-related activities in
their watershed of interest. A directory
of such information, organized by
drainage basins, is under development
by OSM's CSC. This dynamic
document will be available on disk,
electronically, and in paper copy
through the CSC and the WWW.
The AMD Geographic Information
System (AMDGIS) - A GIS is a
relatively new computer-based data
repository that can be evaluated
graphically with a series of maps. The
GIS technology has spread rapidly
throughout government as an exciting
and versatile planning and analysis tool.
Any data that has a component of
latitude and lognitude coordinates can
be located and illustrated as
information on a computer-generated
map. For instance, if a stream has
been sampled for water quality and
measurements have been made of
flows, this information can be displayed
on a map of the watershed. The water
quality data can be "filtered" in any
number of ways to show data of
particular interest. As an example, let's
say you want to know where the water
quality of a stream is below pH of 6.0
and flows are less than 250 gallons per
minute (gpm). By asking the GIS this
type of query, a map is generated on
the computer screen showing where
the streams in the area survey met the
conditions of the query (pH less than 6,
flows greater than 250 gpm).
Andrew MdEiwaine, Program Director of
Hie Heinz Endowments, at the signing of
Hie Statement of Mutual Intent: "ft's a
very good day for the environment,
especiaffy m the Appalachian region/"
-------
Lawrence Hoffman, Pennsylvania Fish and
Boat Commission; "Working together as
partners we can achieve many goafs... for
our citizenst their children, and their
children's children, We hope we can
enhance these waters...so that we can get
back to fishing, boating, and swimming.'
By adding data to the GIS on active and
abandoned mine locations, AMD
discharges, geology, land use, roads,
topography, property ownership, etc.,
groups trying to clean streams have an
extremely powerful tool to analyze the
scope of AMD problems and prioritize
cleanup efforts.
EPA Region 3 has begun to enlarge its
GIS data base beyond the fisheries
impacted stream data described earlier
in this report. The remediation projects
and watershed association locations
listed in the earlier tables have also
been created as a GIS layer by EPA.
The states of West Virginia and
Pennsylvania have also been very
active in enhancing their GIS
capabilities and increasing their data
layers,such as mine sources. A
cooperative effort among the states
and OSM to add their GIS data layers
into EPA's GIS repository has been
spearheaded by EPA.
OSM, in cooperation with the
Stoneycreek Conemaugh Rivers
Improvement Project (SCRIP), is
developing a pilot GIS for two
watersheds of the Conemaugh River in
western Pennsylvania (Shade Creek
and South Fork) that will demonstrate
the potential for the use of GIS in
planning stream cleanup. If
successfully demonstrated as a
planning tool, this GIS will be the
prototype for other groups beginning to
scope out their watershed mine
drainage problems.
The Clean Streams List Server-People
cleaning streams need to have access
to the latest clean stream news and a
way to seek answers to questions.
Any persons with an Internet address
may subscribe to the Cleanstream
Listserver by sending the message
"subscribe cleanstream" to the Internet
address: majordomo@osmre.gov. The
listserver administrator will respond
with a brief subscriber questionnaire
used for approval processing, and then
the free subscription will begin. The
Listserver is simply a broadcasting
mechanism to repeat any message sent
to the Internet address:
cleanstream@osmre.gov. For instance,
if a researcher has useful findings on
constructed wetlands to distribute, a
message can be received by all
Cleanstream Listserver subscribers by
e-mailing information to
cieanstream@osmre.gov. If EPA or
OSM wants to announce selection of a
cleanstream project for funding, or
opening of a window for 319 project
proposals, the message can be
circulated by e-mail to the listserver.
Announcements of upcoming
conferences are periodically posted to
the listserver. If you experience any
trouble reaching the listserver to
subscribe or send messages, contact
the Cleanstream Listserver
administrator at (412) 937-2863.
EPA IMONPOINT SOURCE
BULLETIN BOARD (NPS BB)
The EPA Region III Philadelphia office has
loaded the Statement of Mutual Intent and
related Strategic Plan onto the national
Nonpoint Source Bulletin Board (NPS BB)
for interested parties to read and
download. EPA Region III plans to load
additional mine drainage information and
has included similar information on EPA's
Region III Homepage. To become a NPS
BB member dial (301) 589-0295 to connect
-------
your computer with the EPA server. To
access the bulletin board a PC or terminal,
telecommunications software (such as
Crosstalk or Pro Comm), a modem, and a
phone line are necessary.
Robert K. Kaufman, Western Pennsylvania
Coalition for Abandoned ,Mine Lands; "/
got interested in this business 15 or so
years ago and there weren't any grass
roots... there was rock, and shale, and red
water..."
CITIZENS' GUIDE FOR
WATERSHED RESTORATION OF
MINE DRAINAGE-IMPACTED
STREAMS
Communities wanting cleaner streams need
to know where to start. The Citizens'
Guide will help point the way with a step-
by-step process. Clear explanations of the
mine drainage problem and simple
overviews of the abatement technology will
be provided in the guide. Directions for
evaluating the scope of the problem; advice
on how to organize a coalition; and
information on potential funding sources
will be included along with references of
other publications with more detailed
information. The guide, designed by
citizens who have undertaken their own
mine drainage projects, is planned to be
available by late 1996.
THE CLEANSTREAMS
NEWSLETTER
Arrangements have been initiated with the
National Mined Land Reclamation Center in
Morgantown, West Virginia to publish a
newsletter about efforts to control mine
drainage problems. The newsletter, if
funding is successfully secured by West
Virginia and other states, will contain
profiles of clean-up efforts, technological
news, and other articles of general interest.
EFFECTIVE REMINING PROGRAM
An important aspect of the AMD cleanup
effort is the remining of abandoned mines
for salvageable coal while providing
reclamation and AMD reduction. The Clean
Water Act allows less stringent limits for
remining but requires compliance with
water quality standards which creates an
obstacle. EPA and OSM are committed to
promoting effective remining programs in
the states. Eliminating barriers to remining
and increasing environmentally acceptable
incentives for the pracice are important for
enticing industry to remine more
abandoned mines and provide reclamation
and pollution reduction at no cost to the
public. As required by the Energy Policy
Act of 1992, OSM has proposed
rulemaking for some remining incentives.
The most notable proposal is to exclude
remining violations from permit blocking.
OSM and EPA are seeking input on an
expanded list of barriers and incentives,
and have met with state agencies to
identify attributes of good state remining
programs. A guidance report will be
developed for approval by OSM and the
EPA Office of Science and Technology.
* Legislation is pending in Pennsylvania for
several incentives, including monitoring and
other assistance, particularly if remining
occurs in impacted watersheds targeted for
cleanup.
* West Virginia and Maryland now have
water quality standards variance
procedures which may increase remining
activity.
* On October 9th., OSM Director Bob
Uram announced the new "Remining for
Real" initiative, in which states, industry,
watershed groups and OSM will strive to
remove site-specific barriers to remining.
30
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Ron Donlan, Southern Allegheny
Conservancy: "it's not just about clean
water, it's about the people."
MINE DRAINAGE CONFERENCES,
TOURS, AND FORUMS
Where do you go to find out more about
clean stream efforts? Tour a constructed
wetland that is part of a successive alkaline
producing system (SAPS) at the Mill Creek
site in central Pennsylvania, near Clarion.
Visit the brand new Blackwater River
limestone drum and doser facility, or the
world's largest anoxic limestone drain at
the nearby Davis Highwall reclamation site
near the towns of Davis and Thomas, West
Virginia.
OSM, EPA, and various states regularly
host tours to showcase the latest in
effective AMD abatement techniques. The
OSM and EPA will continue to support and
organize these events as an excellent way
of technology transfer for on-the-ground
effectiveness.
Meetings and conferences remain one of
the most productive ways to transfer
technology, share experiences, and to
foster the SMISP precepts.
OSM and the USBM were sponsors and
organizers of the 3rd International Mine
Drainage Conference as part of the
American Society for Surface Mining
Reclamation (ASSMR) annual meeting in
Pittsburgh in April 1994. This meeting,
attended by over 1200 mining and
technical professionals involved in
reclamation around the world, centered
around AMD issues and technology.
EPA and OSM conducted the first AMD
Summit in Johnstown, Pennsylvania on
September 28, 1994. More than 300
people, including citizens, state, county,
and federal government, consultants, etc.
attended the meeting to discuss the extent
of the problem and to share current and
planned activities to combat the problem.
EPA hosted an Acid Mine Drainage
Workshop in Morgantown, West Virginia
on November 1-2, 1994 to brainstorm
possible approaches to increase stream
restoration activities.
In April, 1995, more than 300 people
attended the West Virginia Surface Mining
Drainage Task Force Symposium in
Morgantown.
A regional conference on Mine Drainage
and Watersheds, hosted by eight
Pennsylvania organizations and attended by
over 200 people, was held from June 1-3,
1995 at Clarion University.
In July 1995 a clean streams organizational
and scoping meeting was held in
Chattanooga, Tennessee with
representatives from nine OSM field
offices, three EPA Regions, the US Army
Corps of Engineers, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, Fish & Wildlife
Service, and nine states (PA, WV, MD, OH,
KY, TN, VA, AL, IN). Ninety five
recommendations/ideas were offered for
future action by governmental agencies to
further the SMISP goal of restoring streams
adversely affected by AMD.
On September 13, 1995 Bruce Babbitt,
Secretary of the U.S. Department of the
Interior visited the Scrubgrass Run project
site near Pittsburgh. As part of the visit,
he conducted a town meeting that included
discussion with representatives of other
watershed groups from Pennsylvania, Ohio,
and West Virginia to learn of their progress,
problems, and future plans.
The Annual Meeting of State Abandoned
Mine Land Agencies was held in French
Lick, Indiana in October 1995 with a
technical session on AMD reclamation.
31
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As part of the SMISP, these types of
meetings will continue to receive support
from the federal government. Future
meetings include the 1996 ASSMR meeting
which will partly focus on AMD when it is
held in Knoxville, Tennessee in April 1996.
Additionally, a workshop/conference is
planned for June of 1996 at Wilkes
University, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.
Also the Blacklick Creek Watershed
Association of Pennsylvania is planning an
education and awareness conference on
AMD problems for March, 1996.
SPEAKERS AND EXHIBITS
OSM, EPA, USBM, COE, NRCS, NMLRC,
and various state AML-related agencies can
provide speakers, displays, and literature
for organized events related to AMD
abatement. If your watershed organization
is having a meeting, contact the OSM
Clearinghouse in Pittsburgh or EPA Region
III office in Philadelphia for possible
scheduling of these resources.
32
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VISION TO THE FUTURE
As the first year of efforts draws to a dose, we should reflect on the past with satisfaction,
even though there is much yet to do, and remember the promise the future will hold.
We must constantly rededicate ourselves to the hard work that lies ahead-visualizing
the potential of our streams and rivers running clear and clean.
In Future Years
The partners to the Statement of Mutual Intent are committed to its goals and through
our collective efforts we will make clean streams a reality. No one agency or group can do it alone,
and reaching these goals will involve efforts by each of the partners. Many projects and initiatives
have been started and many new ones will be added in future years.
INCREASE EFFORTS TO FUND REMEDIATION PROJECTS
Maximize potential of the AM L fund for clean-stream
uses.
increase state utilization of AML funds for mine
drainage cleanup through the flexibility given in the
OSM expanded definition of a Priority 2 project.
Continue efforts by Federal agencies to provide more
funding by streamlining grant program procedures.
Assist watershed groups with the various grant
processes.
Obtain increased industry support for SMISP.
Continue to fund projects through the EPA's 319 &
104(B)3 grants.
Seek funding support to implement the IAFWA pilot
projects.
Provide technical assistance to help resolve specific
AMD problems.
DEVELOP PARTNERSHIPS
Develop in each state a networking of state, local,
and federal groups together wtth the grassroots
groups.
Build grassroot support by raising awareness of
citizens on the magnitude of the problem through
education.
Identify ways for public
involvement in the
cleanup effort and
outreach.
Gary A. Marqhein, NRCS:
"It's been said that the protection of our
environment is not the job for just a few
-but, for all of us."
Initiate State-wide
forums next year to bring
grassroot groups
together to share
successes and concerns.
Coordinate with other entities and interest groups in
a holistic approach to avoid duplication and produce
a synergistic effect.
Continue SMISP efforts by Federal and State
agencies despite budget cuts.
CONTINUE EPA AND OSM INITIATIVES
Continue information transfer activities such as the
OSM's ACS! Clearinghouse and conducting
meeti ngs/co nf erences.
Provide more information electronically via the EPA
and OSM bulletin boards and listserver.
Expand stream indicator coverage to all states with
AMD problems.
Continue development and use of Geographic
Information Systems on the watershed and
regional/national levels.
33
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APPENDIX
-------
Restoration and Protection of
Streams and Watersheds
Polluted by
Acid Mine Drainage
From Abandoned Coal Mines
Statement of Mutual Intent
Sponsored by the Office of Surface Mining's
Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative
AND THE
Environmental Protection Agency's
Region III - Mine Drainage Program
February 9, 1995
Washington, D.C.
-------
I. STATEMENT OF MUTUAL INTENT
The Office of Surface Mining, the Environmental Protection Agency - Region III, and
all other parties to this Statement of Mutual Intent share a concern with improving
and restoring water quality that has been polluted by mine drainage from abandoned
coal mines in the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. We
will increase the efforts, cooperation and partnership among us to restore and protect
the streams and watersheds affected by mine drainage.
STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES
The parties agree to:
1- Cooperate as a clearinghouse to share and exchange data and
information as it relates to identifying mine drainage sites and
establishing abatement techniques to restore and improve water quality
within watersheds adversely affected by mine drainage.
2. Raise the level of awareness of government agencies, private
organizations, and the general public on the serious environmental
problems associated with mine drainage from abandoned coal mines.
3. Work with federal, state, and local government agencies, watershed
organizations, mining organizations, environmental groups and other
public and private organizations to target streams and watersheds which
have been degraded by mine drainage.
4- Work to increase the understanding and applications of the best
technology available for remediating and preventing mine drainage, and
to support the development of new technologies.
5. Support efforts to establish and implement an effective remining
program that reclaims abandoned coal mines.
6. Provide a forum for the purpose of transferring technologies and other
information about improving, restoring, and preventing further harm to
watersheds that have been degraded by mine drainage.
7. Develop shared information management systems to minimize overlap
in data collection and development, to save resources and maximize the
usefulness of data developied.
8. Prepare periodic reports describing the extent and severity of the mine
drainage problem and the current status of ongoing efforts by all parties
to this Statement of Mutual Intent to improve and restore dearaded
watersheds.
-------
GENERAL PROVISIONS
1. This Statement of Mutual Intent does not alter, amend, or revise the
authority or rights of any of the parties to this statement.
2. This Statement of Mutual Intent does not reflect a particular policy
relating to the regulation of AMD, nor does it reflect an initiation or
implementation of AMD policy from individual parties to the Statement
as a group.
3. All activities referred to in this Statement of Mutual Intent shall be
carried out in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
4. Any party may withdraw from this Statement of Mutual Intent by
notifying the other parties in writing.
-------
STATEMENT OF MUTUAL INTENT
FEBRUARY 9, 1995
NAME
ORGANIZATION
DATE
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-------
STATEMENT OF MUTUAL INTENT
FEBRUARY 9, 1995
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-------
zmnTTTONAL TmTVTDUATiS ZATI°NS
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TP THE ppTTJr.IPLES
OF THE .
STATEMENT OF MUTTTAL INTE—
Congressman John P. Murtha, 12th. District, Pennsylvania
Congressman Frank Mascara, 20th. District, Pennsy
The Conemaugh Valley Conservancy
The Casselman River Task Force
The Loyalhanna Creek Watershed Association
The Loyalhanna Abandoned Mine Drainage Coalition
Mr. Mike Dombeck, Acting Director , Bureau of Land Management,
Department of the Interior(DOI)
Mr. Ron Pulliam, Director, National Biological Survey,(DOI)
Mr. Paul Johnson, Chief, National Resource Conservation Service,
Department of Agriculture
Ms. Rhea Grahm, Director, Bureau of Mines, DOI
Ms. Molly Beattie, Director, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, DOI
Mr. Alan H. Vicory, Executive Direct,or. Ohio:River Valley Water
Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) , Cincinn ,
Ms. Wyona Coleman, Representing the Pennsylvania Chapter of the
Sierra Club
Dr. Jeri L. Berc, State Conservationist, National Resource
Conservation Service, Annapolis, Maryland, Department of
Agrilculture
Mr. Kenwood E. Giffhom, Executive Director, Pennsylvania
Environmental Defense Foundation and Pennsylvania
Organizations of Watersheds and Rivers
Mr. Paul Ziemkiewicz, Director, National Mine Land
Reclamation Center, Morgantown, WV
-------
A COOPERATIVE STRATEGIC PLAN
FOR THE
STATEMENT OF MUTUAL INTENT
SPONSORED BY THE OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING'S
APPALACHIAN CLEAN STREAMS INITIATIVE
AND THE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY'S
REGION ID - MINE DRAINAGE PROGRAM
FEBRUARY 9, 1995
WASHINGTON, D.C.
-------
PREFACE
The Office of Surface Mining (OSM) and the Environmental Protection Agency's Region III
(EPA) have developed this strategic plan to implement the provisions of the Statement of
Mutual Intent Specific tasks associated with each provision of the Statement of Mutual
Intent are identified and targeted for completion by the next AMD Summit (Summit II). Future
strategic plans will be developed at the end of this initial period that are multi-year and built
upon the successes of the initial effort.
OSM, under the Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative (ACSI), and EPA Region Ill's Mine
Drainage Program, have recognized, in part, that these two initiatives compliment and support
each other. It is further understood that States in EPA Regions IV and V are participating in
the ACSI, therefore, OSM and EPA will continue to work together to achieve the mutual goals
and objectives of this plan.
Although this document refers only to acid mine drainage (AMD), the initiative recognizes that
mine drainage includes additional sources of pollution from abandoned coal mines such as
excessive metal loading, sedimentation and other pollutants. As this initiative is implemented,
these other sources of pollution will be included.
2
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COOPERATE AS A CLEARINGHOUSE TO SHARE AND EXCHANGE DATA AND
INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO IDENTIFYING MINE DRAINAGE SITES AND
ESTABLISHING ABATEMENT TECHNIQUES TO RESTORE AND IMPROVE WATER
QUALITY WITHIN WATERSHEDS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY MINE DRAINAGE.
DEVELOP SHARED INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TO MINIMIZE
OVERLAP IN DATA COLLECTION AND DEVELOPMENT, TO SAVE RESOURCES
AND MAXIMIZE THE USEFULNESS OF DATA DEVELOPED.
GOAL: Establish a national clearinghouse and library for all data and information
relating to AMD.
GOAL: Establish an Internet address for the clearinghouse.
GOAL: Develop a joint EPA/OSM GIS that identifies AMD sites, sources, and
affected watersheds.
RAISE THE LEVEL OF AWARENESS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PRIVATE
ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC ON THE SERIOUS
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH MINE DRAINAGE FROM
ABANDONED COAL MINES.
GOAL:
Develop an AMD Newsletter.
GOAL: Sponsor conferences and workshops.
GOAL: Develop a Citizens Guide to AMD and Reclamation that will provide a
layman's guide to evaluating AMD sites, identifying remediation options,
and considering potential funding sources.
GOAL: Assist the States in sponsoring forums for government and non-
government organizations involved in AMD efforts within the State.
GOAL: Promote tours of AMD sites and reclamation projects.
WORK WITH FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES,
WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONS, MINING ORGANIZATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL
GROUPS AND OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS TO TARGET
STREAMS AND WATERSHEDS WHICH HAVE BEEN DEGRADED BY MINE
DRAINAGE.
3
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GOAL: OSM will seek to increase funds available and EPA will continue to
provide funding and technical assistance for State directed clean-up
projects and strategies.
GOAL: Provide technical and financial assistance to the International Association
of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA) projects in restoring aquatic
resources.
GOAL: Compile an index of potential funding programs for AMD projects.
GOAL: Develop a directory of all government and non-government representatives
for AMD related programs, projects, and other activities.
PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRANSFERRING TECHNOLOGIES
AND OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT IMPROVING, RESTORING, AND
PREVENTING FURTHER HARM TO WATERSHEDS THAT HAVE BEEN DEGRADED
BY MINE DRAINAGE.
GOAL: OSM will coordinate a Technical Notes section for technology transfer
within the AMD newsletter.
GOAL: Place AMD related information on Electronic Bulletin Boards.
WORK TO INCREASE THE UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATIONS OF THE BEST
TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE FOR REMEDIATING AND PREVENTING MINE
DRAINAGE, AND TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
GOAL: Support research efforts and demonstration projects that promote the
science of AMD reclamation.
SUPPORT EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT AN EFFECTIVE REMEVING
PROGRAM THAT RECLAIMS ABANDONED COAL MINES.
GOAL: Develop a remining program that provides incentives for reclamation
while protecting environmental quality.
PREPARE PERIODIC REPORTS DESCRIBING THE EXTENT AND SEVERITY OF
THE MINE DRAINAGE PROBLEM AND THE CURRENT STATUS OF ONGOING
EFFORTS BY ALL PARTIES TO THIS STATEMENT OF MUTUAL INTENT TO
IMPROVE AND RESTORE DEGRADED WATERSHEDS.
4
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GOAL: Produce an annual report that relies on measurable environmental and
programmatic indicators, accountability measures, and performance with
this Statement of Intent.
5
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Acknowledgements: Mr. James Boyer, OSM (retired), and Bernie Sarnoski,
EPA, for principal authorship of this document.
Mr. Dale Wismer, EPA (retired),
for the leadership in carrying the joint EPA and OSM
initiative forward in the past year.
All who reviewed and commented on the draft document.
Photo credits Front Cover Effects of mine drainage on the West Branch,
Susquehanna River, downstream of Clearfield, PA
Photo by Lee Murphy, EPA
Page 15: Discharge from anoxic limestone drain in Middle Fork
watershed in West Virginia
Photo by Katherine Attwood, EPA
Page 19: Mine drainage seep in Clearfield County, PA
Photo by Lee Murphy, EPA
Page 32:
Effects of mine drainage on a tributary to the Cheat
River in West Virginia
Photo by Katherine Attwood, EPA
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