System in Tioga County, Pennsylvania.
Photo courtesy of Western Pennsylvania Coalition
for Abandoned Mine Reclamation.
WASHINGTON – As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to clean up legacy pollution and revitalize the environment and economy of coal communities, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has awarded $100,000 in a cooperative agreement to the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation. OSMRE’s Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program provides funds to nonprofit organizations for the construction of acid mine drainage treatment facilities that help restore the health of local streams.
“Healthy watersheds are essential for communities, supplying water for municipal, industrial, agricultural and recreational uses,” said OSMRE Regional Director Tom Shope. “WCAP funds help restore watersheds that have been negatively impacted by abandoned mine lands and support citizen-based conservation in coal communities.”
WPCAMR is the fiscal sponsor for Pennsylvania’s Quick Response program, which provides emergency or urgent maintenance repair assistance for abandoned mine drainage treatment systems throughout Pennsylvania. More than 300 AMD treatment systems in Pennsylvania are eligible to apply for a Quick Response grant to address emergency situations that arise or correct emergent issues before they can cause treatment system failure and impact water quality.
“WPCAMR is excited about its WCAP grant in support of our Quick Response program, said Andy McAllister, WPCAMR regional coordinator. “Keeping these treatment systems in good working order helps to maintain healthy streams across the commonwealth, while encouraging recreation, tourism, and economic development.”
About the WCAP Program
WCAP grants are selected through a competitive merit review process and can fund the installation of passive or active water treatment systems, as well as the reclamation of lands that contribute sediment or acid forming materials to streams. WCAP grants result in partnerships that encourage long-term commitment to projects through engagement with local communities and nonprofit groups.
– OSMRE –
OSMRE carries out the requirements of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 in cooperation with states and Tribes. OSMRE’s objectives are to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in a manner that protects citizens and the environment during mining, to ensure that the land is restored to beneficial use after mining and to mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing reclamation of abandoned coal mines.