Areas designated by other state or federal agencies where mine reclamation would contribute to overall improvements to the area. An areal focus, however, cannot be an absolute. There will need to be some flexibility to address site specific, high profile problems as they arise. C. Institutional Partnerships As discussed earlier, the magnitude of the abandoned mine land problem in Pennsylvania is greater than any one institution can address in the foreseeable future. Therefore, partnerships among public and private institutions are essential to accomplishing the goals of this comprehensive plan.
Partnerships can develop at any phase in the planning process.
The leadership role among the partners is the most important decision the partners must make. The earlier partners establish a leader and define their individual roles, the more effective they will be. For the most part, leadership should lie with a local organization where there is strong, local support and commitment to long-term solutions. There is no formula for developing partnerships. Most likely a single institution will become interested in an area and bring other institutions into a partnership as needs and interest arise.