The AMR Conference Planning Committee is developing a great conference program! Here is a list of presentations in chronological and track order.
PA AMR Conference Day 1 (10/23/24):
9:15AM – Keynote Address -PA DEP Secretary, Jessica Shirley followed by remarks from Elliot Copeland at Senator Fetterman’s Office
Introduction to the 26th PA AMR Conference. Keynote Speaker PA DEP Secretary, Jessica Shirley addressed the audience with updates concerning Active and Abandoned Mine Operations in Pennsylvania. Elliot Copeland from Senator John Fetterman’s Office addressed the audience to share statements from the Senator.
9:30AM – “Demonstrating Clean Energy Projects on Former Mine Lands”, Tiffany Mayville, Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, US Dept. of Energy
Tiffany Mayville leads Stakeholder Engagement for the Clean Energy Demonstration Program on Current and Former Mine Land under US Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). Prior to joining DOE, Tiffany was a Senior Associate at Clean Energy Buyers Association where she supported the Decarbonizing Industrial Supply Chain Energy (DISC-e) Initiative. In this role, Tiffany drove efforts to address barriers to clean energy procurement for low-credit and un-rated offtakers. She also led engagement with domestic steel manufactures to identify barriers and develop recommendations for clean energy procurement within this crucial supply chain. Tiffany holds a Master’s in Environmental Management from Yale University with a focus on energy and climate policy and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
10:30AM Track 1 – “Navigating Difficult Site Constraints for Passive AMD Remediation”, Tim Denicola, Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc
Tim is a Geologist and Project Manager for Civil & Environmental Consultants. Mr. Denicola’s background emphasizes AML reclamation, AMD remediation, and stream, wetland, and ecosystem restoration throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia. He’ll be speaking on overcoming physical and hydrogeologic site constraints to design a passive AMD treatment project in an impaired watershed having potential for ecological uplift.
10:30AM Track 2 – “Treating abandoned mine drainage is cost-effective and benefits vulnerable communities”, Jeremy Weber, University of Pittsburgh
Some communities endure environmental hazards from abandoned mines and job loss from the energy transition away from coal. Recent US legislation provides an historic appropriation for addressing abandoned mine hazards like the acidic water that often drains from them. Who the investment will benefit and what it will accomplish is unclear. We answer these questions in the case of abandoned mine drainage in Penn-sylvania. We find that communities most exposed to mine drainage have incomes 30 percent below that of unaffected communities and are twice as vulnerable to the energy transition. Within affected communities, exposure is associated with a greater urban, non-white, renter population. Past investments addressing mine drainage have been relatively cost effective, protecting streams for about $6,200 per kilometer per year. The federal funds currently appropriated for Pennsylvania could address all impaired streams for 25 years but would leave insufficient funding to address other abandoned mine hazards.
10:30AM Track 3 –“Pennsylvania’s 2024 Integrated Water Quality Report”, Dustin Shull, PA DEP
This presentation will focus on the components of Pennsylvania’s 2024 Integrated Water Quality Report and how to use them.
Dustin Shull is an Environmental Group Manager in Pennsylvania DEP’s Water Quality Division. He holds a MS in Biology from Shippensburg University, where he focused on aquatic ecology. He has been with DEP for 14 years and is currently responsible for developing Pennsylvania’s assessment methodology and Integrated Water Quality Report.
11:15AM Track 1 – “Passive Treatment of Mn: Results from an Experimental Pilot System”, Robert Hedin, Benjamin Hedin, Neil Wolfe, Hedin Environmental
An experimental passive treatment system was installed in 2023 at the Brandy Camp AMD treatment plant in Elk County in order to study the passive removal of Mn with an oxic aggregate system. The pilot system was operated for 10 months and reliably decreased Mn from 5-6 mg/L to less than 0.3 mg/L. The presentation will provide results of the study and suggestions about the improved design and operation of passive Mn-removal systems.
Bob Hedin has worked in the AMD/AML field for 37 years. Between 1986 and 1994, Bob was a research ecologist with the USDOI Bureau of Mines where his research focused on passive mine drainage technologies. In 1994 he formed Hedin Environmental, a small PA firm that has designed 80 passive treatment systems. Bob has remained an active research scientist with projects involving iron oxide recovery, manure management, manganese treatment, and mine water carbonation.
11:15AM Track 2 – “Permitting, Codes and Ancillary Engineering – The other side to completing a successful AMD/AML Project”. Joshua Glace, Quay Schappell, Larson Design Group
Determining the proper method to treat a mine discharge or reclaim mine lands is always at the forefront of everyone’s minds and is often the only aspect talked about for a successful project. But what about the environmental permitting, building codes or access road and culvert designs that are needed to complete the overall project. These ancillary services are necessary to achieve the overall goals of the project and are sometimes the causes to project delays and re-designs. This presentation will discuss these additional project criteria and how to determine and anticipate them to avoid costly delays, redesigns and change orders, along with building a team to achieve the project goals at the planning phase of each project.
11:15AM Track 3 – “Dealing with Unanticipated Design Challenges – Case Study – Eagle Eye School AML Reclamation”, Stephanie Hoover, Cedarville Engineering Group, LLC
Designing a reclamation project on paper or even conceptually can be fairly straightforward and without issue. However, most projects have at least one unanticipated issue that can present challenges to a successful design. This presentation, based on a case study at the Eagle Eye School AML reclamation site in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, will highlight several issues, including those related to landowners and utilities, that were not identified in the scope of work and how these issues influenced changes in the design of reclamation for the site.
1:00 PM Track 1 – “Loyalsock Creek Passive Treatment System Redesign: Upgrading 1990s treatment systems to treat larger abandoned mine drainage flows and improve operational efficiency”, Aaron Pontzer & Tom Clark, Klienfelder
Loyalsock Creek in Sullivan County Pennsylvania (PA) is a high-quality major sub-watershed to the West Branch Susquehanna River. However, the headwaters flow through the Semi-Anthracite Coal Region and are impacted by two large-flow mine tunnel abandoned mine drainage (AMD) discharges, which supply a significant level of acidity loading to the Loyalsock. The B-Vein and C-Vein passive treatment systems were designed and constructed in the late 1990s by the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) and resulted in limited initial success but have since deteriorated in efficacy.
In 2023, Kleinfelder received a BAMR contract to design two new passive treatment systems to increase efficiency hopefully leading to improved water quality and biological communities downstream on Loyalsock Creek. The new passive treatment systems will treat higher flows, improve the quality and temperature of the treated effluent discharged, and will offer simpler and more efficient operations and maintenance strategies for the system operator. Currently, the B-Vein system is completely offline due to sediment plugging issues within the buried limestone bed and the C-Vein system, while still discharginghigh-qualityy water, is bypassing significant flow untreated to Loyalsock Creek due to loss of permeability through the original Vertical Flow Wetland.
1:00 PM Track 2 – “Coal Mining Towns of Northeast Pennsylvania; Reconsidered and Revitalized in the Post-Industrial Era”, Stephanie Golden, Marywood University
Many towns in Northeast Pennsylvania have developed a widespread issue of abandonment and dormancy due to their shared anthracite coal mining heritage that dates back to the late 1800s. As the mining industry dissipated in the area in the mid-20th century, laborer’s homes and communities were left without their original purpose. These places now face the challenges of maintaining community engagement, safe public spaces, affordable housing, and an identity besides the obvious negligence.
A thorough investigation of two small towns in Northeast Pennsylvania, McAdoo and Dickson City, which sit on two opposing ends of the mining region have been studied over the course of two academic years and have been compared to one another. The essential qualities that characterize the two existing conditions were observed, including key artifacts that will play a role in proposing revitalization strategies.
1:00 PM Track 3 – “Flowing Forward: Successful Stream Restoration on Mine-Scarred Land”, Elizabeth Hughes, Earth Conservancy
Early maps of Nanticoke in Luzerne County show Espy Run making its way down Wilkes-Barre Mountain towards the Susquehanna River. By the 1940s, however, a large section of the stream had disappeared. Mining at the Bliss colliery had diverted flow underground. Moreover, when the water did resurface, it was contaminated with acid mine drainage (AMD). In response, Earth Conservancy (EC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental and economic revitalization through reclamation of abandoned mine lands, initiated Espy Run’s restoration. Early project development started in 2013 with reclamation of Bliss Bank. In 2016, reconstruction of nearly 6,500LF of channel began. The stream was successfully reconnected to its headwaters in December 2022. Espy Run serves as a prime example of the multiple benefits of addressing legacy mine lands. Beyond fostering economic development on Bliss Bank, the project achieved significant environmental improvements through implementing hydrological controls, preserving wetlands, using natural channel design, and mitigating the production of AMD. Building on this success, EC is now set to restore another 15,000LF in the Nanticoke Creek watershed, backed by nearly $20 million in grant funding.
1:45 PM Track 1 – “The Banning/West Newton Coal Logistics Coal Refuse Pile Reclamation Project’, Eric E. Cavazza, Tetra Tech
Tetra Tech was selected by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) in August 2023 to prepare design plans and specifications and to obtain all required permits and authorizations for the Banning/West Newton Coal Logistics (Banning/WNCL) Coal Refuse Pile Reclamation Project. The abandoned bond forfeiture site was originally part of the Banning #4 underground mine and coal preparation facility which mined the Pittsburgh Coal Seam near the town of West Newton in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County PA. The primary project goal is – ameliorating public health and safety hazards associated with the coal refuse pile, including unstable coarse refuse embankments of the pile and three slurry impoundments contained within. Two of the slurry impoundments are classified and permitted as jurisdictional, low-hazard dams.
1:45 PM Track 2 – “Implementation of Recycled Concrete Aggregate for Mitigating Acidic Drainage”, Allison Fenske, PSU
This study compares RCA to limestone with laboratory tests focused on neutralizing capability in multiple solutions, an environmental impacts analysis, and an analysis of economic implications. Results of laboratory work show RCA to dissolve at a statistically similar rate during a dissolution test, consistently have an equal to or higher pH in batch experiments, but a lesser ability to generate dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) than limestone. This provides evidence suggesting utilizing RCA in a treatment system instead of limestone will have a greater or equal effect on the pH, with a decreased capacity to add alkalinity. Both the environmental and economic analyses advocate recycled concrete as the more environmentally friendly and economical on a per ton basis; however, the analyses also show the total impacts of implementation will be heavily dependent on location. The proximity of the aggregate supplier to the proposed or existing passive treatment site will determine the environmental and economic implications of implementation.
1:45 PM Track 3 – ”Successful AML Partnerships in Swoyersville”, Hank Zielinski, Northampton Fuel Supply Company / Keystone Reclamation Fuel Management LLC
EPCAMR, PA DEP, the Borough of Swoyersville Pennsylvania, and landowners partnered with Keystone Reclamation Fuel Management, LLC to initiate a reclamation project at the former site of the Harry E. Colliery. The project’s site is categorized as Abandoned Mine Land (AML) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. The waste coal on this AML property towers over the local residents, encroaches Abrahm’s Creek, and consumes 50 acres of useful space in the heart of a densely populated community. Over 400,000 cubic yards of waste coal material was excavated, removed, and mitigated from this site to date. The initial reclamation has produced a 7 acre donation property that is scheduled for transfer in September 2024. The restoration effort has left a parcel that’s template is ideal for the expansion and development of a recreational zone in the community. The next step includes the reclamation of a significant pile of waste coal that is located within the central portion of the property. The partnerships established over the past few years of this project need to continue to achieve full reclamation of the site. Our goal is to reach the finish line and return the full 50 acres as useful land.
2:45 PM Track 1 – “Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program (WCAP) Update”, Robbie Fulton, OSMRE
An update to the Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program (WCAP) to include updated policies and guidelines to federal funding that involve WCAP recipients. The presentation will also cover updates to the Passive Treatment Protection Program, and the Federal effort to create an online GIS database of all passive treatment systems in the country.
Robbie Fulton is an Environmental Protection Specialist with the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. He previously worked for the PADEP at the Moshannon District Mining Office as a Surface Mine Inspector. He holds a Bachelors’ Degree from the Pennsylvania State University in Environmental Resource Management.
2:45 PM Track 2 – “Rare Earth Element Extraction: Legal and Institutional Challenges”, Hélène Nguemgaing, West Virginia University
In this research, we surveyed acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment operators in Pennsylvania and West Virginia to determine their perceptions and attitudes towards extraction of rare earth elements (REE). AMD treatment is conducted by various entities (non-profit organizations, private companies, local and state government agencies) under different ownership structures (landowner agreements versus surface and/or mineral right ownership). In addition, Pennsylvania and West Virginia have different legal frameworks for ownership of REE extracted from AMD. The findings suggest that the views on ownership of rare earth elements (REE) are not substantially different in both states, with generally more positive perspectives in West Virginia. Most AMD operators in both states operate under the landowner agreement. Additionally, there is a shared belief in both states that the rightful owner of REE should be whoever operates or maintains the AMD treatment systems and that any profits derived from REE extraction should be directed toward supporting AMD treatment. In both states, there is agreement that these laws would greatly aid in the development of the REE industry.
2:45 PM Track 3 – “Regional Documentary & Public Engagement: Experiences Making & Sharing NEPADOC”, David S. Heineman, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania – Bloomsburg
How might documentary film be used to generate public interest and investment in future AMR work? NEPADOC’s director will discuss the strategies behind the documentary feature’s creation, execution, and exhibition. The presentation will highlight the relationship between the film’s unique approach to telling the story of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s environmental and industrial history and the range of reactions audiences have had to the film at its public screenings around the region.
3:30 PM Track 1 – “Obtaining a Line of Credit as a Nonprofit”, Will Fisher, First National Bank
With the advent of increased federal funding for AMD/AMR projects through the Infrastructure Law and other sources, non-profits have an opportunity to receive funding from these sources by way of grants through PA DEP. The funding is on a reimbursement basis so having the funding to pay the contractors may prove troublesome for some groups. A line of credit may prove useful to pay contractors while you are waiting for reimbursement. This presentation by First National Bank discusses what a line of credit is and who qualifies and how it works.
6:00 PM Track 1 – Mayfly Award
The Pennsylvania Abandoned Mine Reclamation (AMR) Conference’s coveted “Mayfly Award” recognizes individuals who have dedicated a lifetime of knowledge and expertise to the reclamation of abandoned mines in Pennsylvania. The mayfly was selected as the symbol for this award because its presence in a stream signifies clean water. This year’s award winner is Bill Reichert!
8:00 PM Track 1 – “NEPADOC screening with Director Q&A”, David S. Heineman, Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania – Bloomsburg
“NEPADOC” is an acclaimed feature-length documentary about intersections of environment, industry, and identity in Northeastern Pennsylvania over the past 300 years. Inspired by non-verbal documentary film landmarks such as “Koyaanisqatsi” and “Baraka,” “NEPADOC” blends newly-shot 4K cinematography, local historical footage of the lumber and coal industries, and a sweeping synthesizer-driven score into a dizzying and contemplative meditation on culture, place, and public memory. Created in cooperation with EPCAMR, the film was a Main Stage selection at the 2023 Black Bear Film Festival and was awarded with a Top Film designation at the National Communication Association’s 2023 Conference. A Q&A will follow the screening. More info here: http://www.nepadoc.com
PA AMR Conference Day 2 (10/24/24):
9:30AM Track 1 – “Community-Based Watershed Organizations Role in AML/AMD Projects in PA”, Cliff Denholm, SRI, & Bobby Hughes, EPCAMR
Bobby Hughes is the Executive Director of EPCAMR. Cliff Denholm is the Executive Director of Stream Restoration Incorporated. Bobby and Cliff are presenting the study on behalf of the AMD Team which includes Anne Daymut of WPCAMR, Mike Hewitt and Frank Sindaco of EPCAMR, and Natalie Lamagna of SRI.
10:30AM Track 1 – “Tips for Success in the AML/AMD Grant Program”, Jon Smoyer and Cindy Wolfe, PA DEP
As the Abandoned Mine Lands and Acid Mine Drainage (AML/AMD) Grant Program moves into its third year, common mistakes, misconceptions or misunderstandings of the process and procedures regarding the Grant Program are materializing. This presentation will highlight and explain common errors or incorrect assumptions regarding the Grant Program to help prevent and rectify issues in the future. The process for applying for, accepting, executing, and completing a grant from both the subrecipients’ and PADEP’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation’s point of view will also be discussed. Anyone currently administering or interested in applying for a grant is strongly encouraged to attend.
10:30AM Track 2 –“Geochemical Modeling to Understand and Mitigate Impacts of AMD”, C. A. Cravotta III, Cravotta Geochemical Consulting
Abandoned mine drainage (AMD) from legacy coal mines can have a range of pH values (2 to 8) along with elevated concentrations of SO4, Fe, Al, Mn, and other constituents. The pH of AMD is unstable; CO2 outgassing causes pH to increase, while Fe oxidation and hydrolysis cause pH to decrease. Although net-alkaline AMD generally has sufficient alkalinity to maintain pH 6, elevated Fe, Mn, and SO4 may persist for decades. A specific treatment strategy may be appropriate depending on the AMD flow rate and chemistry, site characteristics, funding, and operational logistics plus the chemical and biological characteristics of the receiving water body. Nevertheless, AMD sources typically become less acidic with decreasing concentrations of contaminants over a decadal timeframe and, eventually, may not warrant treatment. As the AMD evolves, management strategies and funding requirements may be adjusted. Because of varying conditions by site, accurate predictions and effective solutions to AMD problems may warrant study and experiments to understand hydrochemical interactions that influence the chemistry of untreated and treated AMD. Such understanding is needed to explain spatial and temporal variations in AMD quality.
11:15 AM Track 2 –“High Definition Stream Survey of Hurricane Creek, AL: A rapid inventory and assessment of a full stream system to identify legacy mine impacts”, Brett Connell, Trutta Environmental Solutions
In collaboration with Cawaco RC&D and the Geologic Society of Alabama (GSA), the Hurricane Creek High Definition Stream Survey (HDSS) is being used to address the complex water quality challenges facing the entire watershed. The Abandoned Mine Land Economic Reclamation (AMLER) Program uses fees paid by present‐day coal mining companies to reclaim coal mines abandoned before 1977. Located in central Alabama, Hurricane Creek has a long history of coal mining and many ongoing water quality issues due to historical mining operations. In an effort to prioritize which individual streams in the Hurricane Creek Watershed are in greatest need of reclamation, an HDSS will provide a continuous meter resolution data set that can be used for multiple water resource issues. This presentation will provide a summary of HDSS along with highlights from completed fieldwork and assessment.
The HDSS approach was created to rapidly gather continuous, 1-meter resolution GIS data in a single pass for a broad range of stream corridor metrics. By integrating GPS, video, depth, side scan sonar, and water quality sensors, water resource managers now have a continuous baseline condition inventory that reaches as far upstream and downstream from a project as needed. With each second of video linked to a specific GPS point, you are now able to identify, select, and prioritize areas of the river for multiple different water resource issues. The results can be used to determine the most economical location and methods for mitigation, monitor restoration results, determine the extent and distribution of instream habitat, define the geomorphic condition for the stream, identify infrastructure impacts, and provide a powerful “virtual tour” experience.
1:00 PM Track 1 –“Alternative Pollution Abatement of the Old Forge Borehole and Duryea Breach Discharge Outfalls to the Lackawanna River”, Tom Clark, Kleinfelder
The Old Forge Borehole and Duryea Breach mine discharge outfalls impair the final three-miles of the Lackawanna River and may be the single most visually apparent source of mine drainage in the Susquehanna River Drainage. For many years, treatment plans for these two outfalls have difficulty gaining support due to the immense amount of funding necessary to construct and operate the massive plant required to accommodate the intense combined flows of the two outfalls (~100-cfs). Consequently, and due to these outfalls being highly net alkaline with only elevated iron as a loading issue, and alternative abatement dilution idea could be considered.
1:00 PM Track 2 –“Extraction, Landscapes, and Resiliency: Environmental Justice and AMR”, Jordi Comas, PADEP
This presentation has two goals. First, share the state of EJ policy and tools PA DEP uses. Second, to connect that to current or emerging case studies about how Environmental Justice policy and implementation can be part of solutions. I will look for some partners to share a case study or learning example.
1:45 PM Track 1 –“Capacity Building for Repurposing Energy Assets: Producing Green Hydrogen on Previously Impacted Mine Lands”, Deborah Pontzer, Grow Rural PA
Grow Rural PA, an Elk County-based nonprofit, was awarded a $100,000 grant from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management in February of 2024. The purpose of the grant program, Capacity Building for Repurposing Energy Assets, is to assist communities in repurposing their energy assets, assets such as retired mine lands. Grow Rural PA is developing a concept to use previously impacted mine lands to produce clean energy and to derive raw materials, as well as to expand workforce opportunities and to provide a domestic supply chain for regional advanced manufacturers. Grow Rural PA is one of only eight organizations from across the nation to have received an award from this DOE program.
Grow Rural PA has engaged the technical expertise necessary to develop a roadmap for future energy infrastructure development on reclaimed mine lands. The concept is to produce green hydrogen, to derive feedstocks, and to clean the water that has been contaminated by acid mine drainage. Grow Rural PA has engaged over twenty-five stakeholders to ensure that this project creates economic opportunity and builds prosperity for our communities. This concept envisions producing Pennsylvania energy and then keeping the energy produced and the minerals recovered right here, in our local ecosystem. Pennsylvania power to power Pennsylvania’s economy.
1:45 PM Track 2 – “Oven Run B – Large Scale Passive System Rehabilitation with Remote Monitoring”, Tim Danehy, BioMost, Inc.
The Oven Run B Passive Treatment System was likely the largest passive system on record when completed in 1999. Pre-construction flow rates were in excess of 1,000 gpm. The original design included two SAPS with about 10,000 tons of limestone each and two sedimentation ponds to treat up to 350 gpm of 3 pH water with acidity up to 800 mg/L and elevated concentrations of iron and aluminum. Within the first two years of operation, the system experienced performance issues, though partial treatment was still achieved. After several attempts to improve system function, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) requested that a system evaluation and alternatives analysis be completed by Stream Restoration Incorporated (SRI) through its Growing Greener-funded O&M Technical Assistance program. SRI worked with BioMost, Inc. in cooperation with Saint Francis University to assess the system and make recommendations. Due to the volume and severity of the raw water, both active and passive options to improve system performance were considered. The passive system upgrade was completed in early 2022 that included three batch operating-type 3,000-ton limestone automatic flushing vertical flow ponds (AFVFPs), two 2,800-ton Jennings-type Vertical Flow Ponds, three settling ponds, a holding pond, and a sludge dewatering basin. A telemetry system was installed that monitors flow, water levels in each AFVFP, and pH after each acid neutralizing step. The telemetry system has been used to monitor system function as well as evaluate performance using different hold times in the AFVFPs. Post-construction flow rates up to 1,500 gpm have been treated while maintaining a final pH above 6.8.
2:45 PM Track 1 – “Funding Your Reclamation Project: A Whole-of-Government Approach”, Briggs White, Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization
Briggs White, Ph.D., serves as deputy executive director of the Biden Administration’s Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization (Energy Communities IWG). In this role, he works hand in hand with the dozen federal agency members of the IWG to advance its mission. The IWG is identifying and coordinating opportunities to connect energy communities with federal investments to help ensure the shift to a clean energy economy creates good-paying union jobs, spurs economic revitalization, remediates environmental degradation and supports energy workers in coal, oil and gas, and power plant communities. Prior to being appointed deputy executive director, White was central to a multi-agency effort to prepare the IWG’s initial report, which described existing mechanisms and provided recommendations for future actions that could support and revitalize the economies of energy communities. White joined the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in 2007 and most recently served as a technology manager for three research and development programs, on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management: High Performance Materials, Water Management and Energy Storage. He is currently based out of NETL’s Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, site and worked at NETL’s Morgantown, West Virginia, site from 2007 to 2015. White holds degrees in materials science and engineering from Alfred University (B.S.), the University of Florida (M.S., Ph.D.) and the University of Rome (Ph.D.) with an emphasis on solid-state high-temperature electrochemical devices.
3:30 PM Closing Keynote Address – OSMRE Principal Deputy Director, Sharon Buccino
On January 2, 2024, Sharon Buccino joined the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement as the Principal Deputy Director. While leading the agency, Sharon will focus on advancing OSMRE’s mission of ensuring that coal mines are operated in a manner that protects citizens and the environment, land is restored to beneficial use following mining, and that the impacts of historic coal mining are addressed in order to improve the health, environment, and economic opportunities of communities in coal country. Sharon comes to OSMRE from Laramie, Wyoming, where she has been teaching as an adjunct at the University of Wyoming’s College of Law and served on the City of Laramie’s Planning Commission. On the commission, Sharon focused on housing, growth management, and local economic development, and was selected as the Wyoming Planning Commissioner of the Year for 2023. Sharon has over 30 years of experience practicing administrative, environmental, and energy law. She has been an active member of the Foundation for Natural Resource and Energy Law. Sharon is originally from Lakeland, Florida, where she grew up surrounded by cattle, orange groves, and phosphate mines. She has two adult daughters and currently lives with her husband in Laramie.
Request for Presentations
Currently, the AMR Conference Planning Committee is no longer requesting proposals for presentations for this conference. We encouraged a wide range of topic submissions, including but not limited to:
- New abandoned mine drainage (AMD) treatment system technologies, tools, and products
- Construction case studies and lessons learned
- Land remediation, reforestation, and reuse
- Water quality monitoring
- Operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation of treatment systems
- Non-profit organization capacity issues
- Community involvement, special events, education, and outreach
- Coal mining history and heritage preservation
- Mapping, drones, equipment, and other helpful new technologies
- Legislative updates and concerns at all levels of government
- Economic redevelopment, health and safety, and quality of life topics
- Climate change, energy, and AMD
In the past, we have had such varied topics as the history of baseball in coal patch towns, prevention of Lyme disease, preserving collieries, computer software designed technologies, reauthorization of the Abandoned Mine Land (AML) Fund, economic benefits of reclamation, abandoned mine land issues in Germany and Bolivia, the establishment and support of non-profit organizations, and everything in between. If your topic can be related to what our community does, we would love to consider it for the conference!
Submissions and questions should be emailed to Anne Daymut at anne@wpcamr.org.