At
its May 27, 1999 meeting in Brockway, the Ad Hoc Committee for Reclamation
Issues discussed a number of issues and makes the following report and recommendations
to the Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board:
1.
We
again raise the need for better interbureau and interprogram cooperation. Many sites, both traditional reclamation and
some not-so-traditional, have multiple problems and/or innovative solutions
which would be best addressed by multi‑media and multi-program coordination
and cooperation.
This issue has been discussed
numerous times in the past (e.g., Bark Camp), but needs to be continually
reinforced. DEP needs to break out
of the medium-specific program-specific mode and attack environmental problems
and issues with multi‑media coordination.
One example, which was the
impetus for this discussion, is a local 'dump' (closed landfill) which has
multiple problems, including the fact that it was previously mined. The multiple problems at this site need the
involvement of multiple programs to address them.
Each of these sites may be unique, but their existence is not; many
such sites may exist across the Commonwealth.
Such sites, even if not primarily
reclamation sites, need to be included in setting priorities on a watershed
basis. The Comprehensive Mine Reclamation
Plan cannot operate in a vacuum, but must coordinate with other programs for
overall impact in a watershed; watershed restoration (which may need to address
other quality concerns such as sewage) should be our focus, not just reclamation.
A related question was raised
about how local groups can find out what information is available, and what
is being/has already been done to study/address a situation. We would hope that information such as water
quality test results, etc., would eventually be available on GIS, but how
can we make this information available (or even let others know it exists)
now?
We expect to soon receive further
information on the specific site, but the committee felt that these questions
should be raised generically as soon as possible. We ask the Board to formally urge better interprogram
coordination and cooperation on a site-specific basis. There needs to be more coordination, communication
and cross-training between the deputates, bureaus and programs.
2.
We also discussed some issues related to independent power producers.
By burning waste coal piles, these facilities are remediating some
significant environmental concerns, and simultaneously producing power.
We question why the efforts being conducted by these facilities are
not included in incentives being provided under Reclaim PA.
We need to discuss some of the issues further but the committee generally
supports the concept of incorporating these efforts into Reclaim PA and hopefully
developing some means of providing incentives, since many recent actions have
worked against the continued existence of these beneficial facilities.
We ask the Board to recommend that
DEP consider this recommendation and report back to the Board at its next
meeting on how it could be implemented.
3.
Finally,
we discussed the need for the Department to help facilitate the exchange of
materials that have potential uses for reclamation and remediation. For example, the Sweet Soil site is successfully
using locally derived paper waste and by-product lime for reclamation purposes.
These 'waste' streams would otherwise be destined for disposal in a
landfill, but can instead be used to address another environmental problem. Unfortunately, matching sources with users has not occurred since
wastes are traditionally disposed of, not considered as a resource. This wastes potentially valuable resources
while also taking up landfill space that could be better reserved for waste
actually requiring disposal.
The Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) has initiated a
project on how to promote the recycling of organic materials rather than dispose
of all of them. CAC has raised the
idea of creating a 'resource listing' on DEP's web site for the reuse of certain
organic materials. The Ad Hoc Committee
for Reclamation Issues feels this would also aid reclamation efforts.
An organics resources clearinghouse would allow organizations
to find and trade sources of materials for reuse rather than disposal.
The Department could develop a pilot that would allow sources and users
of a limited number of 'safe' waste streams (e.g., paper waste, by-produce
lime, etc.) that could be used to aid in reclamation.
If this pilot has a positive impact in expediting the transfer of such
resources, then it could be expanded to include other types of waste, always
in keeping with the priority of protecting public and environmental health
and safety.
The Committee asks the Board to lend its support to the exploration of such a resource exchange.