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U.S. EPA Technology Innovation and Field Services Division

Ehrenfeld AML Pilot Reclamation/Recreation & Watershed Improvement Project

Sponsored by: U.S. EPA, Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, Technology Innovation and Field Services Division

Archived: Wednesday, December 1, 2021
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Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Ehrenfeld AML Pilot Reclamation and Recreation & Watershed Improvement Project was awarded the 2020 OSM Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Award. The 2020 Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards honor the most exemplary AML reclamation projects in the nation each year. In this presentation, Patrick Webb of PA DEP's Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation Pennsylvania will present details of this project. Approximately 70 acres of coal refuse piles located along the "Johnstown Path of the Flood Trail," posed multiple environmental threats to the area. Frequent erosion clogged an unnamed tributary to the Little Conemaugh River, as a result, highly acidic water leached into and subsequently impaired local streams, burning areas of refuse piles and degrading air quality for the residents. To address these hazards, Pennsylvania's AML Program removed the refuse piles, eliminated the surface burning conditions and improved the Little Conemaugh watershed. The reclamation project has resulted in new opportunities for recreation and tourism with the addition of a community park and safer walking trails.

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Presenters:

A photograph of Michele MahoneyMichele Mahoney, U.S. EPA Technology Innovation and Field Services Division (mahoney.michele@epa.gov or 703-603-9057)
Michele Mahoney is a Soil Scientist working on issues related to remediation and reuse of contaminated sites within EPA's Superfund program. In order to support practitioners, she researches and reports on knowledge related to treatment technologies for mining sites, use of soil amendments for remediation and redevelopment/reuse, ecological revitalization, ecosystem services, phytotechnologies, and urban gardening. Michele develops and delivers training for the world-renown EPA Clean-Up Information Network (www.cluin.org), particularly a Mining Webinar Series, and topics related to Superfund Redevelopment, Ecological Revitalization, Ecosystem Services, and Phytotechnologies. She also creates and manages content development for the EcoTools and Mining pages on CLU-IN.org.

Michele has worked with EPA for over 20 years. Prior to her current responsibilities, Michele served the Agency as the lead for food waste composting issues and as an environmental fate and ecological risk assessor for pesticide registration. Michele also has experience as a Contractor for EPA and a Laboratory and Field Researcher.

Michele earned a M.S. in Soil Science from the Washington State University, and a B.S. in Agronomy & Environmental Science from Delaware Valley University.


A photograph of Patrick M. Webb, P.E.Patrick M. Webb, P.E., Assistant Director, PA DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (pawebb@pa.gov)
Pat Webb is a licensed professional engineer and is the Assistant Director of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Projection Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (PA-DEP-BAMR) program. Pat coordinates interactions between PA-DEP-BAMR and the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) in all abandoned mine lands aspects of P.L. 95-87 (SMCRA) through the administration of the Title IV Reclamation Grants. In addition, he is also an instructor for OSMRE’s National Technical Training Program (NTTP) for the AML Realty and AML Dangerous Highwall Workshop classes. In 1997, Pat graduated from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown with a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering Technology. He was previously employed by the Navy Petroleum Office in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for approximately 1 year; then by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for 7 years; and has been working for PA-DEP-BAMR in the abandoned mine land program for the past 16 years.


Moderator:

A photograph of Jean BalentJean Balent, U.S. EPA Technology Innovation and Field Services Division (balent.jean@epa.gov or 202-566-0832)
Ms Balent is on the staff of the EPA's Technology Innovation and Field Services Division where she has worked to collect and disseminate hazardous waste remediation and characterization information since 2003. Ms Balent manages the Clean Up Information Network website and actively supports online communication and collaboration resources available to EPA. She formerly worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Engineering Division in the Buffalo District. Ms Balent was also a member of the SUNY-Buffalo Groundwater Research Group where she constructed and tested large scale models of groundwater flow. Ms Balent has also conducted research relating to the Great Lakes, environmental remediation, and brownfields re-development. She holds a Bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from SUNY-Buffalo and a Master's degree in Information Technology from AIU.



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If you have a suggested topic or idea for a future CLU-IN internet seminar, please contact:

Jean Balent
Technology Integration and Information Branch

PH: 202-566-0832 | Email: balent.jean@epa.gov
Michael Adam
Technology Integration and Information Branch

PH: 202-566-0875 | Email: adam.michael@epa.gov