About
Welcome to the homepage of the 2011 Pennsylvania Statewide Conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation, the longest running annual conference dealing with abandoned mine related issues in Pennsylvania.
This Year’s Conference:
The Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), acting as the host for the 13th Annual PA Conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation in the Anthracite Region, will again join forces with the State-wide Conference Planning Committee August 4-6th, 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”.
Thursday, August 4th, will be a tour of Abandoned Mine Lands and Mine Drainage sites in the Tamaqua / Hazleton area led by a team of local watershed groups. For a minimal price of $10, bus transportation and a boxed lunch will be provided. Tentative stops will take tour attendees to AMD sites, and treatment systems in the Catawissa Creek, Nescopeck Creek, and Schuylkill River Watershed.
This year’s Conference, will also coincide with celebrating EPCAMR’s 15th Anniversary. A dinner/fundraiser event being held to mark this special occasion on Thursday Night. Come Join us as we celebrate 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.
Friday, August 5th, the presentations will begin in the morning, run through the evening, and start up again on Saturday morning through lunch on August 6th. 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.
Friday evening, August 5th, as a part of the conference, there will be a formal dinner where the 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.
Discounted block room rates are available at the Best Western Genetti Inn & Suites, Hazleton, PA for $70 plus taxes until June 30, 2011.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.
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.
EPCAMR and the Planning Committee are 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.
Conference Planning Committee:
The conference is planned in cooperation with many individuals and organizations which comprise the Conference Committee:
Robert Hughes, Michael Hewitt & Wren Dugan, EPCAMR Lead Organization
Andy McAllister & Anne Daymut, WPCAMR Co Lead Organization
Donna Carnahan, PA DEP Non-Point Source Section, Harrisburg
Tom Grote, AMR Conference Planning Committee
Mark Killar, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy: Watershed Conservation Program
Beth Kern, PA DEP Bureau of District Mining Offices, Ebensburg
Missy Reckner, Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team
John Stefanko, PA Department of Environmental Protection
Arielle Avishai & Lois Uranowksi, US Office of Surface Mining & Reclamation Enforcement, Pittsburgh