Glenn H. Rider II, "A New Bureau…A New Mission: PA DEP Bureau of Conservation and Restoration Moving forward in Abandoned Mine Drainage Remediation"

1. A New Bureau…A New Mission
Moving forward in
Abandoned Mine Drainage Remediation
Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine
Reclamation Conference
Aug. 9, 2013

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AMD: A Leading Cause of Impairment

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AMD: A Leading Cause of Impairment

4. • Stream miles assessed – 84,571
• Stream miles impaired by AMD – 5,517
• Mostly due to pH and metals
• Second only to agriculture as the leading
cause of impairment
AMD: A Leading Cause of Impairment

5. • Reauthorization of SMCRA with 30 percent
set-aside
• Growing Greener (GG) established
• Two new active treatment systems
(Lancashire and Hollywood)
Progress

6. • More than 300 passive systems installed
• 2,182 miles of streams previously impaired by
AMD are no longer impaired
• West Branch Initiative
• New Bureau of Conservation and Restoration
(BCR)
Progress

7. • Finalize Set-Aside Guidelines
• New Active Plants: Wherum (development)
and Cresson (design)
• Completion of New QHU Plans (Clearfield,
Sugar, Little Conemaugh, Hazle, Schuylkill sub-
basin and Bennett Branch)
Bureau Priorities

8. • System rehabs and upgrades: (Marsolino,
Brandy Camp, Oven Run B, Joller, Rausch
Creek, Ravine, Loyalsock and Falls Creek)
• Review, scoring and oversight of new GG and
Set-Aside projects
• Operate existing active treatment systems
Bureau Priorities

9. • Growing Greener
– Waste tipping fees and Oil and Gas fees
– $18 million available for project implementation
(approximately 15 percent available for AMD
projects)
– Solicitation ends Aug. 16
AMD Funding

10. • Set-Aside Program:
– 30 percent of Federal Office of Surface Mining
grant ($15.9 million)
– Must be expended in a QHU or on QHU activities
– $2 million available to grantee’s through GG
– Set-aside program and treatment system
operations
AMD Funding

11. • Federal 319 Program
– Federal Nonpoint Source Implementation Grant
– Projects solicited through GG for use in 36 WIP-
approved watersheds
– ½ are AMD watersheds
– $3.2 million available for implementation of
projects
AMD Funding

12. • Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA)
– Act 13 provided a portion of Oil and Gas fees for
project implementation including AMD and AMLs
– $29 million available over multiple programs and
agencies
– Non-profit and for-profit eligibility (non-O&G
producer)
AMD Funding

13. • CFA
– $1 million cap
– Trust funds for long-term O&M are eligible (65
percent of project cost)
– $100 application fee
– Annual grant rounds (just ended July 31)
– Over a dozen AMD applications received
AMD Funding

14. Glenn H. Rider II, Director BCR
grider@pa.gov
Pamela Milavec, Chief Watershed Restoration Division
pmilavec@pa.gov
or
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/watershe