Coal and Water in Central Appalachia: The Challenge to Balance

2011 Water Research Symposium

The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center

Blacksburg, Va. - November 15, 2011

The institutes for water resources in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentuckyare pleased to announce this one-day symposium that will focus on the challenges of balancing the management of coal and water in central Appalachia. 

Invited experts from the region and beyond will provide contemporary insights into policies and scientific information associated with water resources and coal mining in the central Appalachians. Representatives of federal and state agencies will provide perspectives on water-protection policies that affect mining operations. Technical presentations by university scientists will address the influences of coal mining practices on total dissolved solids, selenium, aquatic biota, and hydrology of rivers and streams in the region. Symposium participants will be able to ask questions and contribute to group discussions.

Invited Speakers:

•  Nancy Stoner, Acting Assistant Administrator for Water, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (invited)
•  Joseph Pizarchik, Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
•  Richard Davis; Abandoned Mine Land Projects Coordinator; Division of Mined Land Reclamation; Virginia
• Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy
•  Tom Clarke, Director, Division of Mining and Reclamation, West Virginia Department of Environmental
• Protection
•  Gene Kitts, Senior Vice President, Environmental Affairs, Alpha Natural Resources
•  W. Lee Daniels, Professor, Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
•  Richard Warner, Extension Professor, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, University of Kentucky
•  Carl Zipper, Associate Professor, Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech
•  Paul Ziemkiewicz, Director, West Virginia Water Research Institute
•  Todd Petty, Associate Professor, Forestry and Fisheries Resources, West Virginia University

For More Information:
More information is available at http://www.wvwaterconference.org//. Please contact Jane Walker at janewalk@vt.edu or 540-231-4159 if you have questions.


Professional Development Opportunity

A certificate of attendance for 5 contact hours will be awarded to registered attendees who participate in the full symposium. It is the responsibility of the certificate holder to seek approval from the licensing agency to receive continuing education credit for participation in the symposium. For more information, please contact Jane Walker at janewalk@vt.edu or 540-231-4159.

BRFAL Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalist wants you to get outside, explore and see something new today. Don't forget your camera!

If you are interested in the Virginia Master Naturalist program and want to learn more about it, or when the next training will be held, click here. BRFAL Chapter will be holding the next basic training course beginning in March 2012 in downtown Rocky Mount at The Franklin Center. email: contact@brfal.org for more info!