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Last Updated: November 16, 2005 |
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Minutes from the Eastern Coal Regional Roundtable Second Steering Committee Meeting December 7, 2004 Watershed representatives from Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia gathered in Athens, OH along with agency officials from OSM and Ohio DNR to discuss the Eastern Coal Regional Roundtable and its direction. Attendees included- Craig Hartsock, District Manager of the Allegany Soil Conservation District Mike Steinmaus, coordinator of the Monday Creek Restoration Project Tim Braun, VISTA for Monday Creek Restoration Project Rebecca Black, Monday Creek Restoration Project Harry Payne, Ohio DNR Max Luehrs, Ohio’s OSM Clean Streams Coordinator Bruce Golden, Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation Amy Wolfe, Trout Unlimited Coordinator of the Kettle Creek Project Dewey Houck, Rural Appalachian Improvement League Keith Pitzer, Director of Friends of the Cheat Lisa Harris, OSM/VISTA for Haysi Kiwanis/Russell Fork River Restoration Group Martha Podren, OSM/VISTA for Coal Country Watershed Coalition Jenny Wampler, OSM/VISTA for Daniel Boone SWCD Kellee Gomola, OSM/VISTA for Youghiogheny River Watershed Association Amy Stout, OSM/VISTA Watershed Team Supervisor Jim Mahrer, OSM/VISTA Coordinator of the Eastern Coal Regional Roundtable Discussion began with Jim Mahrer’s explanation of the Eastern Coal Regional Roundtable (ECRR) and its purpose. ECRR’s mission statement: to help watershed organizations alleviate environmental problems in mine-scarred watersheds in Appalachia by being a unified voice for all stakeholders, encouraging collaboration and information-sharing among watershed organizations, disseminating information about relevant funding opportunities, and providing resources to help watershed organizations write successful proposals. The next topic was the reauthorization of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). Harry Payne and Max Luehrs explained how the current SMCRA law works and how it funds watershed AMD remediation projects. The new Congress will take office in late January. The extension of the AML tax will continue until June 30, 2005. All prior bills died in various committees. New bills should address both health & human safety and water quality. Watershed organizations of Appalachia need to voice their “wish list” to Congress members. Proposed Watershed Wish List
(this should not supplant General Welfare from consideration)
There was census for the development of a plan for the ECRR to educate watershed organizations, the media, and the public about the importance of SMCRA legislation. ECRR should develop “SMCRA for Dummies” for educational purposes. ECRR and individual watershed organizations should also present documentation (letters, email, phone calls) to our congressional representatives regarding how SMCRA has benefited us. They need to hear our perspective (“This is why SMCRA is important to us”). Sharing success stories about AMD treatment projects that are helping to transform contaminated watersheds is another function for the ECRR. Bruce Golden discussed the OSM Cooperative Agreement funding situation. He recommended a letter writing campaign to OSM’s Director Jeff Jarrett which will stress the importance of that program. By-Laws Debate Interim Chairperson Craig Hartsock called to order the meeting for the adoption of the by-laws. Everyone read over the by-laws. Alterations were suggested, debated and decided upon. Hartsock called for a vote. Houck motioned to adopt by-laws as amended. Pitzer seconded. Hartsock called for vote- All ayes. Identified chartering Board of Directors from last meeting: Evan Hansen, Craig Hartsock, Mike Steinmaus, Judy Rodd, Keith Pitzer, and Dewey Houck. A quorum from the last meeting was responsible for the voting (Craig Hartsock-MD, Mike Steinmaus-OH, Keith Pitzer-WV, and Dewey Houck-VA). There shall be a minimum of seven members of the Board and a maximum of thirteen. There shall be at least one board member from each state (Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama, Maryland, and Indiana). There shall be at least two at-large members of the Board. Houck motioned to for voting members to establish an eight member Board. Evan Hansen-WV “At-Large”, Craig Hartsock-MD, Dewey Houck-VA, Keith Pitzer-WV, Judy Rodd-WV “At-Large”, Mike Steinmaus-OH, Bruce Golden-PA, Amy Wolfe-PA “At-Large”. Hartsock called for a motion. Pitzer motioned to adopt charter Board members. Houck seconded. Hartsock called for vote- All ayes. Hartsock called for election of officers. Houck motioned to retain present officers until annual meeting. Golden seconded. Hartsock called for vote- All ayes. It was decided to eliminate a few states from ECRR’s original thirteen (Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois) because few contacts have been found in these states. Golden motioned that the original Board of Directors will serve a three year term (Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Treasurer, and Secretary). Members of the Board will serve two year staggered terms, so the entire Board isn’t up for election all at once. Pitzer seconded. Hartsock called for vote- All ayes. It was decided that the annual meeting shall take place within the first quarter of the fiscal year. Other meetings will be planned as necessary with a month’s notice. First Annual Meeting to be held on March 2, 2005 in Charleston, WV. Discussion will focus finances, the acquisition of liability insurance, and the election of officers. Amy Wolfe of Trout Unlimited spoke briefly of TU’s mission to conserve, protect, and restore the nation’s trout fisheries. TU has 400 volunteer chapters and 135,000 members. TU’s Home Rivers Initiative funds restoration project of cold water river systems. Some TU chapters have been working on AMD issues for years. Mrs. Wolfe coordinates the Kettle Creek AMD restoration project. Trout Unlimited is developing larger partnerships with other nonprofits and agencies like the Office of Surface Mining. TU’s Embrace-A-Stream program provides small grants to TU chapters for watershed restoration. Hartsock called for adjournment. |