OSM NEWS
U. S. Department of the Interior
Office of Surface Mining

For Release:  June 5, 2000                   Jerry Childress (202) 208-2719
                                             jchildre@osmre.gov
     

     OSM FUNDS MARYLAND APPALACHIAN CLEAN STREAMS PROJECT
          UNDER WATERSHED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM

     Kathrine L. Henry, Acting Director of the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), has approved $53,000 in funding for an  Appalachian
Clean Streams Initiative project in Allegany County, Maryland.  The project is funded under
OSM's Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program.

     Henry announced that the Western Maryland Resource Conservation and Development
Council will receive $53,000 in funding for the Fazenbaker acid mine drainage (AMD) project in
Barton township.    

     "Funding for local watershed groups like the Western Maryland Resource Conservation
and Development Council through the Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative is a top priority for
OSM," Henry said.  "Local groups are doing tremendous work to clean up acid mine drainage
problems in their own communities.  This year Congress provided us increased funding to assist
local clean water initiatives like these projects."           
     
     A passive treatment system will be installed to abate an AMD seep that originates from
an abandoned surface mine site on the property of Harry Fazenbaker.  The property was also the
site of an emergency AML mine closure project completed in 1995.  The project will result in
downstream improvements in water quality both in George's Creek and the North Branch of the
Potomac, an American Heritage River.  The site is not far from where an AMD Diversion well
project is currently being constructed and which was funded by a watershed cooperation project
last year.  Both projects will be used for education purposes to show both active and passive
treatment systems.  The project will also include the assistance of an OSM intern for the summer
of 2000.

     Total cost for the project is $121,300.  The project is supported by George's Creek
Watershed Association, Western Maryland RC&D Council, Maryland Department of the
Environment (Bureau of Mines), Westmar High School, Upper Potomac Tributary Team,
Allegany Soil Conservation District, Tri-Start Mining Company,  and others.

     As part of OSM's fiscal year 2000 Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative, $1,750,000 is
available to fund cooperative agreements between OSM and not-for-profit groups, especially
small watershed organizations, for local acid mine drainage projects.  Eligible applicants are not-
for-profit, established organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status.  Applicants must have other
partners, contributing either funding 
or in-kind services.  The partners must provide a substantial portion of the total resources needed
to complete the project.

     For this year, proposed  projects from the following Appalachian Clean Streams states are
eligible: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

                              -OSM-
                                 
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