State of the Region Roundtable 

ECRR invites you to participate in the first State of the Region Roundtable - a new event that will create a model of relationship and consensus-building among stakeholders in balancing the demand for energy development and the need for clean water.

In March 2011, 150 diverse stakeholders from Appalachia will converge in West Virginia to discuss the demand for energy development and the need for clean water. We seek comprehensive viewpoints to address these issues in a thoughtful/respectful, discussion-based conference. Attendees should plan to spend the entirety of March 22 and 23 in session.

What's in it for you?

Business Leaders: When business is engaged in finding better, more environmentally friendly ways of doing business, they can meet regulation requirements while reducing political wherewithal to enact stronger regulation.  When they help out in the communities where they do business, they are viewed as community leaders and friends.

Watershed Coordinators: By interacting with business, government and academia, these non-profits can explore new partnerships, funding opportunities, and support for their clean-up efforts. Non-profits can also impart their on-the-ground experiences with the challenges they face to other stakeholders.

Government Regulators: Watershed-based ecologies often cross state lines. Best practices within each state may further be improved upon by the best practices of other states. By working in collaboration with their colleagues in other states, regulators can build the foundation for a translatable method of environmental monitoring throughout Appalachia.

Policy Makers: Policy makers can learn what other policy makers are doing to preserve environmental quality and enhance economic and community prospects. They will engage directly with the concerns and interests of their constituents from all perspectives. Attendees from coal caucus areas are especially encouraged attend. 

Academics: Academic researchers can gain a diversified set of listeners at this event. Academics who are interested in researching how partnerships are formed and their effectiveness in developing solutions may wish to attend as observers to the event.

Topics and Tracks

For more detailed information on the format and content of these topics, please visit the ECRR website.

Track 1: Triple E - Energy, Environment and Economics

• Ecological Economics (Mike Steinmaus/ECRR)                                                                        Dr. Matt Heberling/EPA National Risk Mgmt Lab                                                                      Dr. Ben Stout/Wheeling Jesuit University                                                                         William Luppold/US Forest Service
• Energy & Clean Water (Mike King/ECRR)                                                                              Phil Mullins/VP Regional Manager Skelly Loy                                                                       Eddy Grey/COO Trianna Energy                                                                                        David Bowling/TVA River Forecast Center
• The Value of Energy (Michelle Decker/ORA)                                                                        Dale Arnold/Director of Energy Policy, OH Farm Bureau Federation                                          Dr. Jerry Hutton/Hocking College Energy Institute

Track 2: From the Earth - Energy & Resource Extraction

• Our Energy Portfolio - Env. & Econ. Stewardship (Moderator: Robert First/Buckeye Hills RC&D)Mark Dempsey/VP fpr AEP External Affairs                                                                            Dr. Dave Matchen/Concord University
• Water Re-Use Potential & the Ohio River Basin Study (Moderator: Martha Podren/ECRR)           Eric Mathis - The Jobs Project                                                                                       Stephen "Mike" Worley/USACE    
• Existing & Emerging Water Problems & Solutions (Moderator: Brad Kreps/The Nature Cons.)     Dr. Herb Fredrickson/NRMRL EPA Associate Director for Ecology                                    Katherine Wood-Pugh/Murray Energy

Track 3: Watershed Groups - Remediation and Coordination

• Community Health, Unlikely Partnerships, & NPS Teamwork (Moderator: Kristyn Robinson)Anthony Delucia/ETSU                                                                                                        Jan Jarrett/Penn Future                                                                                                   James Roe/KY Non-Point Source Team
• Partnerships for Clean Water (Moderator: Dr. Allan Comp/OSM)                                              Dr. Natalie Kruse/OU Voinovich School                                                                               Constance White/OH Division of Soil & Water                                                                     Michael Schwartz/The Conservation Fund
• Living Downstream, a Film by The Ceres Foundation (Moderator: Ellen Mee/OEC)

Track 4: Restoration in Action

• Paths to Project Success (Moderator: Jeff Skousen/WV)                                                          Dr. Jess Jones/Powell River Project (VA); Heather Lukacs/New River Clean Water Alliance (WV); Constance White/Raccoon Creek (OH); Kelly Martin/George's Creek (MD);                  Mark Carew/The Rock Creek Task Force (KY); Margaret Stuckard/Lyons Run (PA);                Gary Barrigar/Boone Lake Watershed (TN)
• Restoring Forests on Appalachian Mine Sites (Moderator: Dewey Houck/ECRR)                          Dr. Carl Zipper/VT                                                                                                              Dr. Patrick Angel/OSM ARRI                                                                                              Scott Eggerude/OSM ARRI
• Operations and Maintenence: After the Dirt is Moved (Moderator: Rick Buckley)                   Sheila Vukovich (WV); Pam Milavec (PA); Mitch Farley (OH); Joe Mills (MD);                         Roger Williams (VA);  Earl Bandy (TN); Mark Meade (KY)

Track 5: Regulatory Impacts on Resource Extraction & Remediation

• EPA's Conductivity Ruling, Nationwide Permit 21 & Other Actions under the Federal MOU
• AML Reclamation Fee, OSM's Stream Protection Ruling
• The Keeley Decision & the Viability of a Federal "Environmental Good Samaritan Act"

Final Topic Session: Energy, Water and Community Sustainability - Working Together for Our Future