Robindale Energy Services, Inc. entered into a Government Financed Construction Contract (GFCC) and contributed to the process of watershed improvements.

1. Robindale Energy
Services, Inc.

2. SEANOR GFCC-
A POSITIVE IMPACT
Pennsylvania’s 2014 Abandoned Mine
Reclamation Conference
June 26-27, 2014
State College, PA
Jeff Polenik, Manager - Engineering

3. But first…… A Thank you
• To the 2014 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation
Conference Committee
• ARIPPA and Congratulations on your 25th Anniversary
• Sponsors for the Conference

4. Who we are
• Robindale Energy Services, Inc. is a western
Pennsylvania company that primarily deals with the
permitting and mining, and transportation of waste coal
from 8 counties in the bituminous coal fields to waste coal
burning plants in the state. Robindale’s operations over
the past 22 years have helped clean miles of streams and
remove millions of gallons of acid mine drainage in
Pennsylvania at no cost to the taxpayers. From 1991
through 2013, Robindale (and its affiliate RNS Services)
has reclaimed over 40,080,744 tons of waste coal and
has completely reclaimed 1,018 acres of abandoned mine
land.

5. Background Information of the
Seanor Site
Located in Loyalhanna Township, Westmoreland County
The Site is approximately two (2) miles southwest of
Saltsburg, PA.
The Loyalhanna Creek basin is the major drainage basin
for the site and is bordered on the west by Getty Run which
meets with Loyalhanna Creek just north of the site. To the
east the site borders Loyalhanna Creek.

6. General Location

7. Prior Site Conditions
The refuse pile, consisting of two (2) main piles and two (2)
smaller piles, was generated from the abandoned Loyal
Mine.
It appears there was a coal tipple and rail load out
associated with the deep mine.
The deep mine complex was situated on the Upper
Freeport coal seam.

8. Existing Conditions

9. Project Description
• Located within the Loyalhanna Creek Watershed, the 46.6
acre Seanor site is situated in Loyalhanna Township,
Westmoreland County consisted of approximately 18.6
acres of abandoned refuse piles scattered throughout the
area with little to no vegetation existing. The abandoned
waste coal piles were up to the edge of the stream bank
on a portion of Getty Run and placed nearby Loyalhanna
Creek providing a direct flow path for waste coal and
acidic runoff during precipitation events to enter into the
waters of the Commonwealth. Additional hazards / risks
included steep slopes that pose a threat to hikers and ATV
riders. Also, bisecting the site is a Westmoreland County
owned Rails to Trail pathway that is frequently utilized.

10. Pre-Existing Conditions

20. Evaluation for Removal Authorization
• Typically have 4 Avenues to pursue
• 1 – Exploration Permit
• 2 - Consent Order and Agreement
• 3 – Surface Mine Permit for Refuse Removal (SMP)
• 4 – Government Financed Construction Contract (GFCC)
• For the Seanor Project, the GFCC was the preferred
choice

21. Why GFCC?
• Typically quicker to receive DEP approval
• Designed for site such as Seanor
• Preparation is less intense / involved
• Allows for quick start up
• Liability is minimized
• Ash Back – (at one time)
• Bond release time is reduced.

22. The Process
• To evaluate the site qualifications, a GFCC Pre-
Application was prepared and submitted to the
Greensburg District Office on 12/26/07
• 1/29/08 – Site meeting with OSM, DEP, BMAR,
Consultant. Result site qualifies.
• 10/7/09 – GFCC application to DEP, with provisions for
beneficial ash placement
• 11/25/09 – DEP notifies Robindale that no ash is
permitted on GFCC’s now and going forward

23. The Process - continued
• 12/18/09 – revisions to remove ash submitted
• Throughout 2010 – caught up in Department shuffle,
notifications, Government shutdown and new fees
• 1/3/2011 – Contract Issued – still not quite ready to go….
• Filed for NPDES Permit through the Westmoreland
County SCS in 1/21/11
• 2/10/11 – SCS Approval received – site is now ready to
activate

24. Summary
• Total time to obtain Contract Approval almost - 3 years
and 2 months
• Other GFCC’s – 12 to 18 months
• For comparison: Length of time to conduct refuse removal
– started 3/3/2011 ended 8/27/12 followed by reclamation.
• Total time – 1 year and 5 months
• Tons of Waste Coal removed – 305,000

25. Exhibit Map

26. Site Entrance

27. Pre-Contract Crossing

28. Crossing Improvements

29. August 29, 2012

30. Destination
Waste Coal was delivered to Seward Power Plant operated
by NRG
Still remains as the largest CFB Power Plant in the country
(515 NMw)
Receives on average 600 loads of waste coal and 120
loads of limestone per day – 5 days per week
Removes on average 580 loads of beneficial ash and
rejects per day – 5 days per week

31. Left Behind
• Not all of the waste coal was considered useable material.
Portions that were not usable remained on site and mixed
with lime and soil like material excavated on-site and
contoured into the proposed final grade for the site.
Typically, traditional topsoil from these sites are limited
and virtually non-existent. As the waste coal is removed to
the original ground, the soil beneath the material is tested
for potential cover material and if results are positive, the
material is stockpiled and utilized for cover material at the
completion of the project. Proper nutrients are added to
the soil during the reclamation process to provide for
successful revegetation.

32. Active Operation

33. Loading Material

34. Reclamation

41. The Trail

42. Trail Background
• The Westmoreland Heritage Trail follows the rail bed of
the former Penn Central RR, which fell into disuse in
1972. The rail line was originally opened in 1852 by a
subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, led by
George Westinghouse, Jr. to connect Saltsburg and
Export. Currently the trail travels between Saltsburg and
Slickville, but plans call for a 20 mile trail all the way to
Trafford. The next phase of construction will extend the
trail another 4 miles from Slickville towards Delmont and
is expected to be completed by the Fall of 2013. In
Saltsburg this trail converges with the West Penn Trail at
the Saltsburg Playground.

47. Project Partnerships
• During the active operation of the Seanor GFCC, the site
was monitored monthly by the assigned Mine
Conservation Inspector from the Greensburg District
Office of the Department of Environmental Protection.
During the life of the project, excellent communication
was conducted between Robindale Energy personnel and
the MCI to assure was project was completed as planned
with no environmental incidents occurring during the
operation.

48. Economic Impact
• The estimated cost of the project was determined to be
$250,034. All of which was completed at no cost the
Commonwealth. During the project life, Robindale
employed 3 employees at the site with a combined gross
payroll of $210,000. The waste coal was removed from
the site and transported by truck to the Seward
Generating Station, which yielded a gross income of
$1,586,504 for the various trucking companies contracted
by Robindale Energy throughout the life of the Seanor
GFCC project

49. Environmental Results
• Several positive results occurred upon the completion of
the project. A lush vegetative cover has been established
to improve surface water runoff leading into the nearby
streams. The approximate original contour of the land fits
in well with the existing topography of the surrounding
area. Small game species have been seen throughout the
site feeding on various grasses planted. The individuals
who frequent the trail now have a nice area to pass
through to observe wildlife and discuss the improvements
and enhancements that took place prior to remembering
the area as a barren wasteland it once was.

50. A Nomination for Consideration
• Given all the positive results of the project, Robindale
nominated the site for the Governor's Award for
Environmental Excellence for 2014

51. The Results
• I am pleased to inform you that your organization has
been selected to receive a 2014 Governor’s Award for
Environmental Excellence! Each year, projects that
encourage and promote environmental stewardship are
selected to be recognized at the Pennsylvania
Environmental Council’s Annual Dinner. This year we
received 37 applications for consideration and selected 19
projects to receive an award. Your project was one of
those selected for recognition
• Jessica Shirley | Executive Policy Specialist
• Department of Environmental Protection | Policy Office

52. The Award