Stewards VISTA: Energy Communities OSM Pilot - EPCAMR Y1

As energy opportunities expand, coal and power facility jobs are declining across the United States. This VISTA project will develop and advance programs that increase environmental awareness and stewardship, job training, employment pathways, and access to existing federal and community resources for low-income individuals living in energy transition communities.

The general purpose of the organization [EPCAMR] is to encourage the reclamation and redevelopment of land affected by past mining practices. This includes reducing hazards to health and safety, eliminating soil erosion, improving water quality, [and] returning land affected by past mining practices to productive use, thereby improving the economy of the region. We are located in Ashley, PA, in Luzerne County, the heart of the Northern Anthracite Coal Region.

EPCAMR is looking to continue to build partnerships in Northeastern and North Central Pennsylvania around impacts not just from abandoned coal mines but also abandoned quarries, limestone, sand and gravel, and other natural resource extraction activities. We encourage membership from other organizations, conservation districts, individuals, and businesses to become involved with our regional organization to address the important issues associated with achieving clean water, land reclamation, economic development, job opportunities, and environmental education and outreach throughout the region.

The VISTA Project will help us develop a process that we need to properly monitor our AMD and water quality issues in our mining impacted watersheds and to access federal resources. The project will allow for further education and outreach opportunities and capacity of our organization to reach additional schools that we currently cannot achieve with limited organizational capacity.