OSMRE Presents Pennsylvania with the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Award for the Appalachian States Region

WASHINGTON - The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, or OSMRE, has awarded the 2026 Appalachian States Regional Abandoned Mine Land, AML, Reclamation Award to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for the Forest City East - Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission Access project. This project demonstrates exemplary reclamation work in 52.3 acres of abandoned mine land spanning both Susquehanna and Wayne Counties.

The award was presented to Pennsylvania by OSMRE Deputy Director Tom Shope during the National Association of AML Programs conference in Park City, Utah, on Sept. 21st. This is the seventh consecutive year Pennsylvania has been recognized by OSMRE for outstanding reclamation, earning national awards in 2020, 2022,and regional awards in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025.

"The Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards highlight the exceptional work being done by our State and Tribal partners to restore lands, protect communities and strengthen local economies," said Shope. "Pennsylvania continues to lead the way with reclamation projects that make communities safer, improve quality of life and support America's energy dominance by putting lands and resources back to productive use."

The Forest City East AML Reclamation Project reclaimed more than 50 acres of abandoned mine land, including Dangerous Piles and Embankments and Gob Piles that were impairing the adjacent Lackawanna River, a high-quality, naturally reproducing trout stream. The project preserved 4 acres of existing wetlands, created 0.8 acres of new wetlands, revegetated more than 38 acres, and planted 2,100 native tree seedlings. In addition to addressing significant environmental and safety hazards, the project transformed a previously degraded area prone to trespassing and littering into a safe, attractive public recreation and river-access area. Improvements included a parking area, gravel access road, and non-motorized boat launch for kayaks and canoes. Although the property remains privately owned, the owner has opened the site to public recreation, and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission has expressed interest in securing a long-term agreement to preserve public access. The project was completed April 3, 2024, at a final cost of $3,352,259.25, with approximately 40 percent funded through Title IV AML Non-Water Program funds and 60 percent through the Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program.

"It's been wonderful because it's really brought people to this area now, getting the accessibility to the river, just fishing and the outdoors," said Dr. Katie Zefran, Secretary of Greater Forest City Industries.

The Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards, established in 1992, recognize exemplary state and Tribal reclamation projects that reclaim coal mine sites abandoned prior to the signing of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977.

Pennsylvania is one of five recipients of the 2026 Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Awards recognizing reclamation excellence. The national award is presented to the State or Tribe with the highest scoring overall reclamation project. The small project award is presented to the State or Tribe that receives less than $6 million annually in AML fee-based funding that has the highest scoring project costing less than $1 million. Regional awards are presented to the State or Tribe with the highest scoring project within each of the following regions: Appalachian States, Interior States, and Western States and Tribes.

Other Award-Winning Reclamation Programs

National Award
Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program, Thaynes and Silver King Shaft Safeguard and Stabilization Project; Park City, Summit County, Utah

Small Project Award
Railroad Commission of Texas - Surface Mining & Reclamation Division; Wise Richey Emergency AML Project; Bridgeport, TX

Regional Awards

Interior States Award
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Mines and Minerals Bureau, BOS AML Reclamation Project (IA-172); Wapello County, Iowa

Western States and Tribes Award
Montana Department of Environmental Quality - Superfund, AML and Construction Bureau; Belt Water Treatment Plant; Belt, Montana

To learn about these award-winning projects, visit AML Reclamation Awards.