Trout Unlimited is seeking a consulting firm that specialize in acid mine drainage remediation to assist with technical services for its AMD Technical Assistance Program.  Proposals are due August 10.

Trout Unlimited has been providing technical assistance to watershed groups, TU chapters, conservation districts, municipalities, and other groups working to address abandoned mine drainage (AMD) through its AMD Technical Assistance Program since 2004.

TU staff, along with consultants specializing in AMD remediation, fulfill the requests for assistance which cover a variety of needs in the AMD restoration community.

TU’s AMD Technical Assistance Program will be available statewide; however, projects located on coldwater streams and in targeted watersheds across western Pennsylvania may be prioritized due to the program’s funding support.

The types of projects TU is seeking consultants to assist with technical services include the following:

1) Rapid watershed snapshots: Typically requires a one-time site visit of AMD problems on a specific stream or small watershed (may include water sampling) and review of mining history, water quality data, and other available information to provide further recommendations and guidance for developing a monitoring plan or a more comprehensive assessment.

2) Rapid watershed assessments: An assessment of AMD problems on a specific stream or small watershed that typically includes water sampling (and possibly fish and/or macroinvertebrate surveys) for a determined length of time, which can be implemented by TU, consultant, or requesting group, and review of mining history, water quality data, and other available information to develop a report that summarizes the AMD problems and recommends potential remediation solutions.

3) Conceptual remediation design plan: Requesting group should have all the information it needs to apply for funding for the full-scale design and permitting phase.

4) Treatment system evaluation and recommendations: Evaluation and recommendations for improvement of existing treatment systems that may not be performing up to expectations or show signs of declining performance. May also include assistance with developing long-term operation and maintenance plans if necessary.

5) Monitoring plan development: Developed to assist groups with monitoring biological conditions or prioritizing remediation plans and goals. Monitoring plans will contain instructions for collecting water samples and measuring flows, along with GPS coordinates and a map of sample locations, sampling frequency, and chemical parameters for field and lab analysis. May also include evaluation and recommendations for improving or updating existing monitoring plans.

6) Watershed restoration plan development: DEP requires that projects are located within an approved hydrologic unit plan or qualified hydrologic unit to be eligible to receive funding from the Title IV AMD Set-Aside Program. This type of assistance will assist groups with the data collection and compilation and development of a watershed restoration plan, according to the guidelines set forth in DEP’s AMD Set-Aside Program: Program Implementation Guidelines.

The process for providing technical assistance to groups begins with a simple two-page form that the requesting group fills out and sends to TU. TU staff will contact the group to determine its eligibility and to further refine the type of assistance the group is requesting.

An initial site visit with the requesting group might be necessary and TU will coordinate this between the group and the selected consultant. The consultant will then be required to develop a scope of work and budget, which must be approved by TU and the DEP grant advisor prior to beginning the project.

TU staff will work with the selected consultant to provide services for projects that require biological assessments such as stream habitat, fish, and/or macroinvertebrate surveys. TU staff may also be available to assist the consultant with field work.

TU staff will coordinate each project from its inception through to completion of the final report, thus the consultant will be working directly for TU as its contractor and must coordinate all meetings and activities with the requesting groups with TU first.

Technical assistance requests are expected to be fulfilled relatively quickly, dependent upon the nature of the request, and will be reimbursed upon satisfactory completion.

If interested in contracting for TU as a technical service consultant for its AMD Technical Assistance Program, please submit a proposal that contains the following:

-- Company’s experience working with volunteer-based watershed groups, conservation districts, TU chapters, etc.; reference contact information for a minimum of three organizations, conservation districts, or other entities.

-- Company’s detailed experience developing watershed assessments and remediation plans specifically relating to AMD; a minimum of three specific examples are required and may be included on a CD, hard copy, or website links.

-- Company’s detailed experience designing AMD treatment systems; specific examples are required that contain location, construction date, influent and effluent water quality, and current reference contact information.

-- Resumes for company personnel that will be providing services.

-- Cost estimates (ranges are adequate) for each type of project listed above.

-- Company’s Federal Tax ID # so we can obtain contractor clearance from DEP.

Proposals are due by August 10, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. EST. Please email proposals as a PDF document to Amy Wolfe, Director of Trout Unlimited’s Northeast Habitat Program, at amy.wolfe@tu.org.  Hard copy submissions must be postmarked no later than August 10, 2018 and mailed to Amy Wolfe, Trout Unlimited, 18 East Main Street, Suite 3, Lock Haven, PA  17745.

For more information on the program, visit TU’s Eastern Abandoned Mines Program webpage.

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7/23/2018