Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board
Minutes from July 12
The
MRAB met on July 12 at 8:00 a.m., in the Lower Conference Room of the
Pottsville District Mining Office, Pottsville, Pa. Thirty-two people attended, including 14 MRAB board members
and/or alternates, representation of Pa. Anthracite Council, Pennsylvania Coal
Association, Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation
(WPCAMR) and DEP.
After
the introduction of members and visitors, and the adoption of minutes from the
last meeting, the meeting was opened to committee reports. None of the committees had met since the
last meeting.
Brian
Bradley, from the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation presented the bid
proposals for May and June as requested at the last meeting. He explained the figures for July were not
available at the time of the mailings but would now be on the web for
reference. It was agreed that he
provide a report such as this at every MRAB meeting.
A
power point presentation was given by Scott Perry on the Environmental
Laboratory Accreditation Act. He
explained that this sets up standards and registration requirements for
environmental laboratories. The
regulatory program is still being designed.
Bruce
Golden, WPCAMR, provided a summary of
the PA Conference on Abandoned Mine Reclamation. This year the conference had an outreach to teachers to show them
how to use water plans in the classroom.
It was suggested by Mr. Roberts that the next summers MRAB meeting be
held to coincide with this conference.
Chairman
Wolf and Nevin Strock addressed the obligations from the prior meeting. OSM Acting director, Bob McKenzie was in
attendance at the meeting.
The
draft revisions to the Technical Guidance Document – Insurance Requirements and
Water Supply Assurance (TGD # 562-2500-702) had been tabled at the last meeting
to be discussed at this one. Mike Young
questioned the particular section that had to do with the amount of insurance
coverage needed. The main concern was
over the wording and the need for everyone to have liability insurance when
only certain cases make actually require it.
After discussion it was decided to bring insurance professionals to a
future committee meeting for further discussion on the particulars.
Chairman
Wolf stressed that he was not getting cooperation from some areas and felt he
had disappointed the board. Dave Strong
stated that more members need to become involved in meetings and issues. The general consensus of the group was that
Chairman Wolf should stay on as the chairman but form an Ad Hoc Committee to
review the mission statement and by-laws.
David Mankamyer was selected to head the committee and asked for
volunteer. This committee may meet at
the same time as the Regulation, Legislation and Technical Committee noted above.
Paul
Hummel from the Bureau of Deep Mine Safety gave a brief presentation of the
“Stay Out and Stay Alive” program. He
handed out posters and offered to come to any meetings or gatherings to talk
about the program. It was suggested
that MRAB and Mr. Hummel become partners in their effort to educate the public.
The
next meeting is scheduled for October 24 in the Delaware Conference Room at the
Rachel Carson State Office Building at 10:00 am. The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 am.
James Brahosky
Roderick Fletcher
Nevin Strock
Fred Wolf