ARIPPA Offers Abandoned Mine Reclamation Grants

Now in its fourth year, the Western and Eastern Coalitions for Abandoned Mine Reclamation partnered with the Anthracite Region  Independent Power Producer's Association to offer a competitive grants to watershed organizations working on Abandoned Mine Land and/or  Abandoned Mine Drainage remediation projects.

Grant proposals are due June 30.

Grants at a maximum of $2,500 will be awarded  to at least one eligible environmental organization or Conservation District in the Anthracite Region and one eligible environmental organization or Conservation District in the Bituminous Region in Pennsylvania actively working on AML/AMD issues.

Grant proposals should be for on-the-ground AML/AMD construction projects with a completion date between August 2012 and August 2014.  

The amount granted is dependent upon  demonstrated need.  Applying  organizations must support the mission of ARIPPA, including the removal and conversion of waste coal into alternative energy and the beneficial use of CFB ash for  AML/AMD reclamation.

In the past three years, the  ARIPPA Award has funded these projects:

-- Clearfield Creek Watershed Association (2010): $8,000 for Swank 13 AMD Passive Treatment

-- Evergreen Conservancy (2010): $2,000 for Alternative Energy development at Tanoma Wetlands

-- Earth Conservancy  (2010): $460 to replace informational signage on the Mocanaqua Loop Trail  developed on abandoned mine lands.

-- Schuykill  Headwaters Association (2010): $4,770 to repair the Glendower Breech which will  return a stream back to its original channel avoiding contact with coal  sediment.

-- Eastern Middle  Anthracite Region Recovery, Inc. (2010): $4,770 for construction of a raw water  intake on the Audenreid Treatment System to increase flow to the micro-hydro  turbines.

-- Blackleggs Creek  Watershed Association (2011): $2,500 for the construction of a concrete pad for  a lime dosing silo in the Bear Run Treatment complex.

-- Stream  Restoration Incorporated (2011): $2,500 for project costs associated with  removing waste coal refuse to be used in energy production and the construction  of an AMD treatment system.

-- Schuylkill  Headwaters Association (2011): $3,000 for the Wagner Run Restoration project to  keep water in the stream channel, reducing the volume of the Pine Knot AMD  discharge.

-- Huber Breaker  Preservation Society (2011): $1,000 for the Huber Memorial Park Pedestrian  Access Gate project to place a gate in a wrought iron fence surrounding the  property.  

-- Eastern Middle  Anthracite Region Recovery, Inc (2011): $1,000 for the Audenreid Micro-Hydro  AMD Treatment System Raw Water Intake project to provide reliable flow to the  system.

-- Sewickley Creek  Watershed Association (2012): $2,500 for Iron Sludge Recovery in the Marchand  AMD Treatment System.

-- Chestnut Ridge  Chapter of Trout Unlimited (2012): $2,500 for lime dosing.

-- Babb Creek  Watershed Association (2012): $1,000 offset cost of micro-hydroelectric  turbines that utilize 2 billion gal/day of the Antrim AMD to generate electricity.

-- Eastern Middle  Anthracite Region Recovery, Inc (2012): $1,000 for refurbishment of  hydroelectric components on the Audenried AMD Treatment System.

-- Loyalsock Creek  Watershed Association (2012): $2,500 to purchase and apply limestone to  continue treatment of a large AMD seep at WALA Lake.

-- Shamokin Creek  Restoration Alliance (2012): $500 to restore roadway, remove silt from pond 2,  block entrances, and install signs at Carbon Run Site 42 AMD Treatment System.

For more information, download the grant application.

(Reprinted from Abandoned Mine Posts, published by the Western Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation.)

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