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          Appalachian Region Reforestation Initiative
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# Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative

 

## Save The Date for the 2024 Joint Conference, June 2-5, 2024 in Knoxville, TN

## Call For Abstracts

 

##         About ARRI      

The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) is a coalition of groups, including citizens, the coal industry, and government dedicated to restoring forests on coal mined lands in the Eastern United States.

ARRI is a cooperative effort between OSMRE, state agencies in Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, industry partners, environmental organizations, academia, and landowners.

ARRI advocates using a technique known as the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) to plant trees on coal mined lands. Highly productive forests can be created on reclaimed mine lands under existing laws and regulations by using the Forestry Reclamation Approach.

ARRI works on three categories on mine lands; Active Mining Operations, AML projects (Abandoned Mine Lands), and Legacy Sites (previously mined and reclaimed sites where reforestation opportunities exist). 

##         Goals and Objectives      

The goal of ARRI is to:
                            - Plant more high-value native trees on coal mine lands in Appalachia
                            - Increase the survival rates and growth rates of planted trees
                            - Expedite the establishment of forest habitat through natural succession

Why is ARRI important?
                            - Trees are a renewable resource and a good investment. High-quality timber can offer substantial revenue for landowners and job opportunities for local residents. 
                            - Trees are environmentally important. They minimize soil erosion, remove carbon dioxide from the air, provide wildlife habitat and diverse plant species, and help to conserve water resources. 
                            - Reforestation restores our forests which are important recreational areas for hunting, hiking, mountain biking, camping, bird watching, backpacking, and ATV riding.

ARRI seeks to change the existing Cultural, Technical, and Regulatory barriers surrounding the forestry reclamation of coal mined lands.
                            - *Cultural: *change the perception that tree planting is more expensive and riskier than conventional reclamation, provide education on the impacts of compaction, and change the perception of what good forestry reclamation should look like
                            - *Technical: *eliminate excessive surface compaction, ground cover competition, and inappropriate growth medium; plant high value native trees
                            - *Regulatory:* change the perception that regulations impede effective reforestation techniques and interfere with bond release

### ARRI FRA Planting Sites within Appalachian Regions 1 and 2

**This interactive map is a work in progress and is being updated as ARRI partners provide data. If any omissions are noted, or if corrections or additional information is needed, please contact gis@osmre.gov.  Please note: on active mining operations the coal industry plants the trees and shrubs, on AML projects the state AML programs plant the trees and shrubs, and on legacy sites, ARRI fiduciary partners plant the trees and shrubs.******

### Upcoming Tree Planting Events

Are you interested in attending an ARRI tree planting event this spring?** **Events will be taking place across the Appalachian Region.

***View the 2024 Volunteer Tree Planting Schedule***

 

##         Planting Trees on Legacy Mines      

ARRI is “looking forward,” working diligently to educate and train the active mining industry and regulatory personnel about the Forest Reclamation Approach (FRA) and the ways to reclaim surface coal mines to mitigation past and future disturbances to forests. 

ARRI is also “looking backward” at the estimated 1 million acres of non-forested, bond released mined lands that could be available for reforestation in the Eastern US. The reforestation guidelines developed by ARRI Scientists are being applied by ARRI to selected mined sites for restoring mined land to native forests.  Starting in 2009, ARRI has partnered with state and federal agencies, watershed groups, coal operators, conservation groups, environmental organizations, faith-based groups, and numerous universities, colleges, and high schools to coordinate volunteer tree planting projects/events throughout Appalachia.  

These events involve ARRI partner organizations, volunteer and professional tree planters, and result in the planting of trees on previously reclaimed mine lands where reforestation opportunities exist.  ARRI’s role in these endeavors is to facilitate communication, provide technical assistance, and to match funding sources with suitable mined land and volunteer groups.  ARRI foresters coordinate site selection and evaluation, herbicide treatments, ripping activities, species selection, tree planting, and follow-up surveys. ARRI's main fiduciary on legacy sites is Green Forest Works. This post-reclamation reforestation effort has the additional benefit of outreach and awareness that is being created for proper mine land reforestation with the public, industry, and regulatory authorities.  Reforestation efforts, including ripping and tree planting, with several mining companies on their previously reclaimed mine lands have led them to embrace the FRA on their active mining operations. Many state and federal regulators involved in the volunteer tree planting projects have expressed positive attitudes for the forestry post-mining land use and employing the FRA on the ‘front-end’ of the reclamation process instead of as an ‘after the fact’ process.After a few years of piecing together tree planting projects with donated trees, in-kind services, volunteer tree planters, and very limited funding, the ARRI tree planting events have evolved into large scale projects funded by grants, cost share programs, utility companies seeking carbon credits and corporate donations. Most of this funding is used for site preparation, tree seedings, and planting. 

Learn more about reforestation here: **Reforestation Guidelines for****Surface Mined Lands in the Eastern United States 460-144**.

Please check out Green Forest Work's website

##         Forestry Reclamation Approach      

### **ARRI Advocates Using the Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA) to Reclaim Coal Mined Lands**

#### **The 5 Steps of the FRA:**

                            - Create a suitable rooting medium for good tree growth that is no less than 4 feet deep and comprised of topsoil, weathered sandstone, and/or the best available material
                            - Loosely grade the topsoil or topsoil substitutes established in step one to create a non-compacted growth medium
                            - Use ground covers that are compatible with growing trees
                            - Plant two types of trees – 1) early succession species for wildlife and soil stability, and 2) commercially valuable crop trees
                            - Use proper tree planting techniques

The FRA technique described above is based on the forestry research and scientific studies of several leading universities.  Current Federal and State regulations support the FRA technique for establishing forests as a post-mining land use. ARRI has determined that when FRA is implemented, bond releases are not delayed. 

##         Tree Seedling Nurseries      

##  State Nurseries

**Kentucky Department of Natural Resources**Division of Forestry627 Comanche TrailFrankfort, KY 40601Phone: (502) 564-4496Fax: (502) 564-6553Website

**Maryland Department of Natural Resources **3424 Gallagher RoadPreston, MD 21655Telephone: (800) 873-3763Website

**Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry (Penn Nursery) **137 Penn Nursery RdSpring Mills, PA 16875Telephone: (814) 364-5150

**Tennessee Division of Forestry **East TN Nursery9063 Hwy 411PO Box 59, Delano, TN  37325Telephone: (877) 868-7337Website

 **Virginia Department of Forestry**Augusta Forestry Center90 Forestry LaneCrimora, VA 24431Telephone: (540) 363-7000Website 

 

## Private Nurseries

**ArborGen Inc.**2011 Broadbank CourtRidgeville, SC 29472Phone: (843) 851-4129Fax: (843) 832-2164

*Servicing PA, MD, VA, and WV***RPM Ecosystems LLC**Contact: Leslie Carrere2150 Dryden RoadP.O. Box 6Dryden, New York 13053-9998Phone: (607) 844-9590Fax: (607) 844-9591Toll Free: 1 (888) 776-9590

**Williams Forestry & Associates**Contact: Rick WilliamsP.O. Box 1543377 Sunset Dr SeCalhoun, GA 30701Phone: (706) 629-0353Cell: (404) 229-0598E-mail: rjwfa@mindspring.com

**Itasca Greenhouse, Inc.**Contact: William Sayward26385 Blackwater RoadPO Box 273Cohasset, MN 55721Phone: (218) 328-6261Fax: (218) 328-9843Toll Free: 1 (800) 538-8733E-mail: info@itascagreenhouse.com

If you would like your nursery added to this list, please contact seggerud@osmre.gov

 

##         Contacts and Information      

## For More Information

ARRI was established in early 2004 with the formation of the Core Team. The mission of the team includes:
                            - To develop a Statement of Mutual Intent in order to clarify the goals of the initiative and to make a pledge between the ARRI partners to promote the re-establishment of forestland on mine sites in Appalachia.
                            - To serve as a contact for outreach, trainings, event planning, monthly meetings to discuss progress reports and new strategies.

### Core Team Members

Scott Eggerud - OSMRE Team LeaderOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and EnforcementState and Federal Programs BranchP. O. Box 703Ona, WV 25545(412) 266-0726(304) 633-5263 (alternate)seggerud@osmre.gov

State Team Leader(Vacant)

### OSMRE Regional Contacts

#### Appalachian Region

Scott Eggerud (see above)

Cliff Drouet - ARRI ForesterOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement Lexington, KYWork phone: 303-549-7249Work email: cdrouet@osmre.gov

Jim Taitt Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement3 Parkway CenterPittsburgh, PA 15220Work phone: 412-937-2106Work email: jimtaitt@osmre.gov 

Brian Dailey, EcologistOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation & EnforcementTechnical Support DivisionWater, Geological & Geospatial BranchThree Parkway Center Drive South,Pittsburgh, PA 15220(412) 510-6923bdailey@osmre.gov

 

#### Mid-Continent Region 

 

Frank McCoyOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement501 Belle Street, Suite 216Alton, IL  62002Work phone: 618-463-6463 ext. 5126Work email: fmccoy@osmre.gov

#### Headquarters

(vacant)

 

### State and OSMRE Contacts

#### **ALABAMA**

Mike JonesAlabama Surface Mining CommissionP.O. Box 2390, Jasper, AL 35502-2390(205) 221-4130mike.jones@asmc.alabama.gov

Jennifer NicholsonOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement135 Gemini Circle Suite 215Homewood AL 35209(205) 290-7288 ext.1400jnicholson@osmre.gov

#### **KENTUCKY**

Joel S. WhismanDivision of Abandoned Mine Lands300 Sower Blvd.Frankfort, KY 40601(502) 782-6804 (Office)(606) 594-4549 (Cell)joel.whisman@ky.gov

Owen MichelsKY Division of Mine Reclamation and Enforcement502-782-7199owen.michels@ky.gov

Janice Zimmer, Environmental Scientist VDivision of Mine PermitsDepartment for Natural Resources300 Sower BlvdFrankfort, KY 40601Office: 502-782-6812Janice.Zimmer@ky.gov

James D. Sherrod, Environmental Control SupervisorKentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet300 Sower Boulevard, Frankfort, KY 40601Office: 502-782-6766James.Sherrard@ky.gov

Courtney MastinOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and EnforcementLexington Field Office2675 Regency RoadLexington, Kentucky 40503(859) 260-3912cmastin@osmre.gov

#### **MARYLAND**

Matt Rowley Environmental Compliance Specialist IIIMaryland Department of EnvironmentBureau of Mines DivisionFrostburg, Maryland 21532(301) 689-1444matthew.rowley@maryland.gov

Shayla LewisNatural Resources Planner IAbandoned Mine Land Division, Maryland Department of the Environment 160 South Water Street Frostburg, Maryland 21532 shayla.lewis@maryland.gov 301-689-1461 

Stefanie MillerOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement3 Parkway CenterPittsburgh, PA 15220(412) 952-0850smiller@osmre.gov

#### **OHIO**

(Vacant)

#### **PENNSYLVANIA**

Mike StayrookPennsylvania Department of Environmental ProtectionBureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation286 Industrial Park RoadEbensburg, PA 15931Phone: (814) 472-1888mstayrook@pa.gov

Ethan CreeEngineerPennsylvania Department of Environmental ProtectionBureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamationecree@pa.gov 570-490-0090

Michael MyersReclamation SpecialistOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement3 Parkway CenterPittsburgh, PA 15520717-919-3709 (cell)mmyers@osmre.gov

Christian CanaryOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and EnforcementPittsburgh Field Office3 Parkway CenterPittsburgh, PA 15220Phone: (814) 341-2926crcanary@osmre.gov

#### **TENNESSEE**

William DeBordOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and EnforcementKnoxville Field Office710 Locust Street, 2nd floorKnoxville, Tennessee 37902(865) 545-4103 ext. 185wdebord@osmre.gov

Whitney Nash, Surface Mining Reclamation SpecialistOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and EnforcementKnoxville Field Office710 Locust Street, 2nd floorKnoxville, Tennessee 37902office: 865 545-4103 ext 150, cell: 865 310-1307wnash@osmre.gov

#### **VIRGINIA**

Lawrence Tankersley, Co-Team LeaderVirginia Department of Mines, Minerals and EnergyDivision of Mined Land ReclamationP.O. Drawer 900Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219(276) 523-8204Lawrence.Tankersley@dmme.virginia.gov

Cody ZirkleReclamation SpecialistOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement1947 Neeley Road, Suite 220Big Stone Gap, VA 24219276-523-0000 ext. 20szirkle@osmre.gov

#### **WEST VIRGINIA**

Kevin QuickWest Virginia Department of Environmental ProtectionDivision of Mining and Reclamation601 57th Street SE, Room 2136Charleston, West Virginia 25304(304) 926-0499 ext. 1508kevin.g.quick@wv.gov

Greg MitchellReclamation SpecialistOffice of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement1027 Virginia Street East,Charleston, WV 25301304 347-7158gjmitchell@osmre.gov