OSM NEWS U. S. Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining For Release December 27, 1999 Don Nolan 202.208.2534 dnolan@osmre.gov OSM HELPS CLEAN STREAMS Kathy Karpan, Director of the Interior Department's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), announced an increase that more than doubles the funding for non-profit watershed associations which undertake local acid mine drainage projects. In fiscal year 2000, the Watershed Cooperative Agreement Program of the Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative will provide up to $1.75 million for cooperative agreements between OSM and not-for-profit groups, especially small watershed organizations, for local acid-mine- drainage projects. Last fiscal year, when the program began, $750,000 in grant funds was available. Overall, the fiscal year 2000 appropriation for the Appalachian Clean Streams Initiative is $8 million. "Funding for these local organizations and for the Clean Streams Initiative is a high priority for this agency. Local groups are doing tremendous work to clean up acid-mine-drainage problems. I am pleased Congress gave us increased funding to help these local clean water initiatives," said Karpan. 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. A new feature of this year's program, made possible by the doubling of funding, is that some administrative costs relating to the construction project will be supported. "We listened to the watershed groups saying there is a real need for help with administrative costs. While the majority of funding is for project construction, we realize that administrative expenses are necessary to be able to properly plan, monitor, and implement a project," said Karpan. Proposed projects are limited to the following Appalachian Clean Streams states: Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Applications will be accepted starting February 1, 2000, and will be accepted until June 1, 2000, or until all available funds have been awarded, whichever is sooner. For further information and requests for an application package, which includes additional information on the program, the application forms and evaluation criteria contact your local Appalachian Clean Streams Coordinator. A list of the local coordinators is available on OSM's website at www.osmre.gov/acsicontacts.htm, or by fax on demand on 202-219-1703, or by calling OSM Headquarters on 202-208-2534. Appalachian Clean Streams Coordinators: Alabama: Jeannie O'Dell, Birmingham Field Office, 135 Gemini Circle, Suite 215, Homewood, AL 35209, Telephone 205-290-7282, ext. 21; Illinois: Ken Foit, Indianapolis Field Office, Minton-Capehart Federal Building, 575 N. Pennsylvania Street, Room 392, Indianapolis, IN 46204, Telephone 317-226-6166 ext 230; Indiana: Michael Kalagian, Indianapolis Field Office, Minton-Capehart Federal Building, 575 N. Pennsylvania Street, Room 392, Indianapolis, IN 46204, Telephone 317-226-6166 ext 234; Iowa: Stephen Preston, Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center, Alton Federal Center, 501 Belle Street, Room 216, Alton, IL 62002, Telephone 618-463-6463 ext 120; Kentucky: Dave Beam, Lexington Field Office, 2675 Regency Road, Lexington, KY 40503, Telephone 606-233-2896; Maryland: Peter Hartman, Appalachian Regional Coordinating Center, 3 Parkway Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15220, Telephone 412-937-2905; Missouri: Jeff Gillespie, Mid-Continent Regional Coordinating Center, Alton Federal Center, 501 Belle Street, Room 216, Alton, IL 62002, Telephone 618-463-6463 ext 128; Ohio: Max Luehrs, Columbus Area Office, 4480 Refugee Road, Suite 201, Columbus, OH 43232, Telephone 614-866-0578 ext. 110; Oklahoma: Daniel Trout, Tulsa Field Office, 5100 East Skelly Drive S-550, Tulsa, OK 74135, Telephone 918-581-6430 ext 25; Pennsylvania: David Hamilton, Harrisburg Field Office, 415 Market Street, Suite 3, Harrisburg, PA 17101, Telephone 717-782-2285; Tennessee: Danny Ellis, Knoxville Field Office, 530 Gay Street, Suite 500, Knoxville, TN 37902, Telephone 423-545- 4193 ext 147; Virginia: Ronnie Vicars, Big Stone Gap Field Office, 1941 Neeley Road, Suite 201, Compartment 116, Big Stone Gap, VA 24219, Telephone 540-523-5053; West Virginia: Rick Buckley, Charleston Field Office, 1027 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV 25301, Telephone 304-347-7162 ext 3024. -OSM-