Welcome to the 2011 PA AMR Conference Website – TreatMineWater.com

The Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), acting as the host for the 13^th Annual PA Conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Coal Mine Heritage in the Anthracite Region, will again join forces with the State-wide Conference Planning Committee August 4-6^th, 2011 at the Best Western Genetti Inn & Suites, Hazleton, PA. This year’s conference will focus around the theme “Working Together for Innovation and Success”.

This year’s Conference, will also coincide with celebrating EPCAMR’s 15^th Anniversary, as a State-wide leading environmental organization committed to reclaiming PA’s abandoned mine lands, restoring streams impacted by abandoned mine drainage, building coalitions and partnerships to address water quality problems in PA associated with mining, and educating PA’s youth and communities inherently impacted by past mining practices on ways in which they can become an active part of restoration of their watersheds. A Dinner/Fundraiser Event being held on the Thursday evening, August 4^th, prior to the start of the Conference (on Friday morning)  to mark this special occasion. Artwork commissioned by local artists and created utilizing recovered iron oxides harvested, collected, and processed by the EPCAMR Staff will be auctioned off and several awards and certificates of recognition will be presented to partners. The EPCAMR Staff will present highlights of EPCAMR’s success and growth over the last decade and half.

Discounted block room rates are available at the Best Western Genetti Inn & Suites, Hazleton, PA for $70 plus taxes until June 30, 2011. A Conference Pre-Tour is planned for the early arrivals including a boxed lunch, on Thursday afternoon prior to the EPCAMR Anniversary celebration that will bring folks to various reclamation and abandoned mine drainage (AMD) treatment systems that are both innovative and successfully treating polluted water from the underground mines within the Anthracite Region. Tentative stops will take tour attendees to AMD sites, possibly Eckley Miner’s Village, and treatment systems in the Catawissa Creek, Nescopeck Creek, and Schuylkill River Watershed led by volunteers and community leaders from the Schuylkill Headwaters Association, Friends of the Nescopeck, Schuylkill County Conservation District, the Catawissa Creek Restoration Association, and the PA Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation.

The presentations will begin on Friday morning, August 5^th, run through the evening, and again on Saturday morning through lunch on August 6^th. Twenty-two (22) presentations will be divided into two tracks to run simultaneously and a ½-day workshop on Grant Writing and Seeking Community Foundations for Support will run concurrently with the Conference.  The PA Department of Environmental Protection’s acting Secretary-Michael Krancer, the Director of the Federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation & Enforcement- Joe Pizarchik, and Renew Growing Greener’s Executive Director-Andrew Heath will be invited to attend.

The presentations will vary from topics such as the Marcellus “Gas Rush” and ties to AMD / Mine Pool Use, Successful TMDL Implementation, PA Coal Mining History, Watershed Implementation Projects utilizing Landscape Architecture, Developing Qualified Hydrologic Unit Plans, Coal Mine Heritage, Mine Pool Mapping, Sustainable Alternative Energy Initiatives, Showcases of Successes in AMD Treatment, Partnerships between Watershed Groups and Industry, Geothermal Projects utilizing underground Mine Pools, Operation, Maintenance, & Repairs (OM + R) of AMD Treatment systems, the status of State funds for maintaining existing AMD Treatment systems, and Future Coal Market Predictions in PA.

Professional development hours will be offered and certificates will be presented by EPCAMR Staff and members of the PA AMR Conference Planning Committee for authorized signature approval. Presenters at the Conference are eligible to receive additional credits beyond attending sessions presented throughout the Conference.

Travel scholarships, to be reimbursed for hotel stay only, will be offered to members of non-profit and community watershed organizations, historic preservation, and conservancy groups. Please be aware that financial assistance will only be granted as a reimbursement basis, as funding allows. In certain instances, discounted registration prices will be provided to groups that can show need, to be determined by the EPCAMR and the AMR Conference Planning Committee.

Friday evening, August 5^th, as a part of the 13^th Annual AMR Conference, there will be a formal dinner where the Annual Mayfly Award will be presented to this year’s yet to be announced winner. The Mayfly Award is presented to those individuals who exhibit long-term efforts in addressing mine drainage remediation projects in PA and has contributed greatly towards cleaning up PA’s environment from abandoned mine drainage impacts.

EPCAMR is actively looking for sponsorship of this year’s Conference at the following levels: Platinum ($2500+), Gold ($1000+), and Silver ($500+). Details of the benefits of each of the levels of Sponsorship can be found on the Sponsors Page. A sponsorship wish list is also being created to assist with covering costs of the Conference expenses such as the Pre-Conference Tour, Meals, Breaks, Box Lunches, Entertainment, and Travel Scholarships. Exhibitors can set up at the Conference at a cost of $200-$400 for a space near the hustle and bustle of the Conference happenings in the major hallways and within the large banquet room. Non-profit, community groups, student poster presentations, historic preservation groups, and watershed groups will be allowed to exhibit for free, however, will not have access to electricity.

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