WPCAMR 

Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation

Quarterly Meeting Minutes 

Nov 9, 2005

Eat’N’Park, Indiana, PA

 

In attendance:

Bob Eppley (President)

Bruce Golden (Staff)

LeeRoy Vatter (Past President)

Dave Steele (S. Alleghenies RC&D)

Heather Fowler (Fayette CD)

Jeff Fliss (DEP)

Ron Horansky (DEP)

Pam Meade (Armstrong CD)

Linda Fickinger (WPCAMR)

Tom Clark (Armstrong/Indiana CDs)

Beth Dillon (SRBC)

Greg Phillips (Treasurer)

Garry Price (319 Grant Advisor)

Deb Simko (Staff)

Lance Bowes (Venango CD)

Tom Grote (KC Stream Team)

Josh Lensbouer (KC Stream Team)

Bobbi Bailey (Penns CornerRC&D)

Dennis Hawley (Armstrong CD)

Kim Lanich (Elk CD)

Dave Kemp (Somerset CD)

 

Meeting was called to order by Bob Eppley at 10:10 am, who chaired the meeting. 

 

Bob offered the minutes from the previous quarterly meeting held May 12, 2005 for discussion.  Motion to accept minutes as presented made by LeeRoy Vatter/Greg Phillips.  Motion passed.

 

Greg Phillips  read the treasurer’s report.  Motion to accept the treasurer’s report by LeeRoy Vatter / Pam Meade  passed.

 

 

Regional Coordinator’s report was presented by Bruce Golden (Attached)

 

Comments regarding report:

 

  • Re: Quick Response Grant

 

    • Address issues through Pam Milavec, DEP; check to see if Title IV 10% set aside as a possible source of funds

 

  • Re: Progress on Reauthorization of Title IV

 

    • Greg suggested distributing report info to Conversation Districts

 

  • Re: WPCAMR 319 Grant,  Garry Price made the following points:
    • No need to worry any more than normal for funding due to change in prodedure.
    • Biggest problem is uncertainty of 319 budget
    • WPCAMR grant is capped at $125,000, never to be exceeded.
    • WPCAMR no longer under 319 base grant (non-competitive), and will be under incremental funding (competitive) in the future
    • PA 319 program selects projects in which  WPCAMR is likely to be looked upon favorably.
    • A possibility that maximum grant award will be decreased in the future.
    • All efforts will be made to continue funding WPCAMR
    • All PA 319 projects under same rules.
    • Must now submit annual application through the GG process.

 

  • C-SAW
    • Jeff Fliss – what about PR for program?
    • Be careful to not duplicate services with other orgs, e.g. WPC
    • Dave Steele – likes web based training in addition to in-person presentatinons
    • Bob Eppley - ASTD  American Soc for Training and Development is a good resource
    • Greg – Get the word out; make sure needs are not being met elsewhere
    • Talk with watershed managers to do some PR
    • Pam Meade – some duplication is not necessarily bad.

 

  • Move to GreenForge
    • Greg: more space for same dollars

 

Watershed Coordinator’s report was presented by Deb Simko (Attached)

 

Comments regarding report:

 

  • Re: Water Resources Committee
    • Ohio River basin not getting funding from DEP as are other basins

 

  • Re: Coalbed Methane Brochure
    • Heather Fowler described brochure

 

  • Dave Steele complemented Deb on support in leading River Conservation Plan activities in Laurel Hill

 

 

Presentation:  Tom Grote and  Josh Lensbouer (KC Stream Team) of made a presentation on a new multi-institution study of mercury and its effects in the Kiski-Connemaugh  Basin using advanced instrumentation.

 

Reports and updates of local efforts were given by attendees.

 

Discussion of Growing Greener II type grant restrictions, namely no salaries or administration categories allowed for funding.

 

Comments:

 

  • Lance Bowes said the restrictions represent a hardship for conservation districts and watershed groups.  Suggested that contacts be made with state legislature to voice concerns.  Also, watershed specialists have not been updated on the new rules and should be.

 

Motion: LeRoy Vatter/Greg Phillips:  Send a letter to Glenn Rider of DEP Watershed Management and applicable others requesting clarification of Growing Greener II requirements and outlining problems associated with current rules.  Passed

 

Other discussion

 

  • Tom Grote stated that his group has a licence for Grant Station Pro, software that allows searching of potential grant sources nationwide.  Tom said that KC Stream Team would aid watershed groups, etc. by allowing use of the software at their office.
  • Dave Steele suggested that groups be aware of EPA’s Regional Geographic Initiatives, and the bio-energy initiatives in particular.  He noted that each EPA regional director has discretion to target projects and to supplement funding.  The projects are meant to be results oriented.  More info can be found on the EPA website.

 

 

On a motion by LeeRoy Vatter , the meeting was adjourned at 2:10 pm.

 

Minutes taken and assembled by Bruce Golden.