Reserved: KLONDIKE TREE PLANTING RECLAMATION Students mark Arbor Day with new trees April 7, 2006
Reserved: KLONDIKE Area students joined Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Kendl Philbrick on Thursday in planting trees native to regional forests at the TD Mining Reclamation Project in Klondike. Students from Westmar High School, the Center for Career and Technical Education, and the Meadow Mountain Boys Camp and members of the state’s Land Reclamation Committee, Maryland Coal Association and Georges Creek Watershed Association began planting 2,000 red oak, green ash, black cherry and red maple trees in recognition of Arbor Day. The event included the presentation of the 2005 Excellence in Reforestation Awards recognizing the environmental contributions of two local coal- mining firms -- Pine Mountain Coal Co. of Frostburg and G&S Coal Co. of Bloomington. “We are here today to transform this mined land back to a managed and productive forest,” Philbrick said. “This will enable us to continue to reap the benefits of trees as they provide us with food, wood, paper and oxygen to breathe. Increasing the tree population and restoring surface mine land makes our job easier at the Maryland Department of the Environment, especially because trees mitigate flooding and improve air and water quality.” Pine Mountain Coal Co., owned by Bob Rayner and his sons, was recognized for its alliance with the Georges Creek Watershed Association to promote the reforestation of mined land and its cooperation with MDE’s Bureau of Mines to prepare the land planted Thursday as a Forestry Reclamation Approach demonstration plot. The company has been part of the Georges Creek community for 47 years. It received its first coal- mining permit in 1959 and has maintained an exemplary environmental record ever since. Pine Mountain has taken part in the Bureau of Mines tree-planting cost-share program since it was enacted in 1988 and has planted tens of thousands of trees on hundreds of acres. G&S Coal Co. was recognized for the actions of its vice president, Tim Schwinabart. Recently, Schwinabart volunteered to participate in the Land Reclamation Committee’s subcommittee to review the regulatory and environmental issues regarding the use of the Forestry Reclamation Approach. He was instrumental in developing the guidelines for the use of the program. Those guidelines have been distributed to Maryland’s coal mine operators to help make the shift from traditional methods of heavy grading, compacting and thick grasses to reclaimed mine sites that provide short- and long-term environmental and economic benefits of a well-managed forest. “MDE fully recognizes the importance of reforestation and we appreciate the hard work and planning efforts of the reclamation and restoration committees and the two exemp1ary Maryland companies that we honor today,” Philbrick said. “It is a true reflection of the caring and intelligence put into creating a balance between industry and preserving our natural resources.” The event also promotes the goals of the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, a multi-state effort of the Appalachian region states and the federal Office of Surface Mining designed lo promote and encourage the planting of more economically viable trees on active and abandoned mined lands. Arbor Day, a nationally celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care, will be observed officially in Maryland on April 28.

Students and members of the State’s Land Reclamation Committee, Maryland Coal Association and Georges Creek Watershed Association began planting 2,000 red oak, green ash, black cherry and red maple trees in recognition of Arbor Day Tree planting operations.