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Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Secretary Kendl P. Philbrick joined students and coal companies April 6 to plant 2,000 native trees and issue reforestation awards to two western Maryland coal companies. The students hailed from WestMar
High School, the Center for Career & Technical Education and the Meadow Mountain
Boys Camp. Members of the state’s Land Reclamation Committee, the Maryland Coal
Association, and the George’s Creek Watershed Association also marked this
year's event on Arbor Day 2006 on April 28. The tree planting promoted the goals
of the Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI). The ARRI, a
multi-state effort of the Appalachian region states and the federal Office of
Surface Mining, is designed to encourage the planting of more economically
viable trees on active and abandoned mined lands.
Secretary Philbrick, the student and others met at the TD Mining Reclamation Project site about 10 minutes south of Frostburg to begin planting 2,000 trees native to regional forests. Red oak, green ash, black cherry and red maple were among the species planted.
“We are here today to transform this mined land back to a managed and productive forest,” Secretary Philbrick said. “This will enable us to continue to reap the benefits of trees as they provide us with food, wood, paper and oxygen to breathe. Increasing the tree population and restoring surface mine land makes our job easier at the Maryland Department of the Environment, especially because trees mitigate flooding, and improve air and water quality.”
Maryland Companies Receive Excellence in Reforestation Awards
The Secretary also used the occasion to announce the 2005 Excellence in Reforestation Awards, recognizing the environmental contributions of two local mining firms.
Pine Mountain Coal Company in Frostburg, owned by Bob Rayner and his sons, was recognized for its alliance with the Georges Creek Watershed Association to promote the reforestation of mined land. It's in cooperation with MDE’s Bureau of Mines to prepare the land planted today as a Forestry Reclamation Approach demonstration plot. Pine Mountain Coal Company has been part of the Georges Creek community for 47 years. They received their first coal mining permit in 1959 and have since maintained an exemplary environmental record. They have taken part in the Maryland Bureau of Mines’ tree planting cost share program since it was enacted in 1988 and have planted tens of thousand of trees on hundreds of acres.
G & S Coal Company, of Bloomington, was given a 2005 Excellence in Reforestation Award for the actions of its Vice President, Tim Schwinabart. Recently, Schwinabart volunteered to participate in the Land Reclamation Committee’s subcommittee to review the regulatory and environmental issues regarding the use of the Forestry Reclamation Approach. Schwinabart provided an industry perspective and performed trials on his company’s active mining permits to give the sub-committee insight on implementing the Forestry Reclamation Approach. He was also instrumental in developing the guidelines. The Forestry Reclamation Approach guidelines have been distributed to Maryland’s coal mine operators and contains invaluable direction. The shift from traditional methods of heavy grading, compacting and thick grasses to reclaimed mine sites will provide short and long term environmental and economic benefits of a well managed forest.
“MDE fully recognizes the importance of reforestation and we appreciate the hard work and planning efforts of the reclamation and restoration committees and the two exemplary Maryland companies that we honor today,” Philbrick added. “It is a true reflection of the caring and intelligence put into creating a balance between industry and preserving our natural resources.”
Arbor Day is National Celebration of Trees
Trees provide food, wood, paper and oxygen to breathe. They stabilize soil, reduce erosion, mitigate flooding, improve air quality, water quality and provide habitat for wildlife. In Allegany and Garrett counties, one of the largest employers is New Page Pulp and Paper Mill, who will realize long-term economic importance of the planted trees, as they are commercially valuable.
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