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

                                                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                   
For Release: June 25, 1999                   Jerry Childress (202) 208-2719 
                                   jchildre@osmre.gov
     
       OSM FUNDS VIRGINIA APPALACHIAN CLEAN STREAMS PROJECT
        UNDER NEW WATERSHED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAM

     Kathy Karpan, Director of the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), today approved $80,000 in funding for an Appalachian
Clean Streams Initiative project in Virginia.  The project is be funded under OSM's Watershed
Cooperative Agreement Program, announced in January 1999.

     Karpan announced that Black Diamond Resource Conservation and Development, Inc.,
will receive funds to improve a source of acid mine drainage (AMD) in the upper Guest River
watershed in Wise County, Virginia.

     "I applaud the hard work by the members of the Black Diamond Resource Conservation
and Development group to find solutions for acid mine drainage in their communities.  These
projects directly benefit the people who are working to make their home towns better places to
live," Karpan said.  "I have seen first hand the effects of acid mine drainage on water quality and
what local groups can do to make dramatic improvements.  I was determined to find a way to
help those who make a difference.  The Watershed Cooperative Agreement program and these
projects do just that," Karpan continued.  

     The Guest River watershed Virginia has been extensively mined by surface and
underground coal mines; these operations have resulted in deteriorated water quality in the upper
watershed of the river.  Substantial progress in improving water quality has been made through
Virginia's AML Program and also through remining.  However, serious problems such as acid
mine drainage and barren and eroding slopes continue to impact water quality in the Guest.

     OSM officials said the goal of the project is to create an alkalinity cell, raise pH of a
pond, create a habitable environment, and allow metals to precipitate prior to entering the Guest
River.  The Black Diamond group is partnering with the Guest River Restoration Project and the
Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy on this project.  The partnering
organizations will provide support such as project design, construction inspection, and
monitoring.

     As part of OSM's  FY 1999 Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative, $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, Pennsylvania,
Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

                              -OSM-