Minutes of last meeting read. Maggie Grove, DOE, spoke to group last month about teaching environment in schools through the association. This would pertain mainly to k-5.

Grant money is available but can't be gotten without aligning with MillRun Association since 501c3 status isn't approved yet.

Mill Run can be shown to students as an example of what can be done throughout the watershed. Joe Mills will be needed to coordinate with grant and funding. Construction on Mill Run should be photographed and publicized as the project unfolds.

Treasurer's Report down to $1844.04 after disbursement for 501c3. No action lately.

Some reimbursement of expenses of members attending meetings and hearings was approved.

Much correspondence last two weeks.

• RC & D accepted application for a passive system (at Mill Run?). Will have to be fed so will involve helpers and tending. Will need limestone periodically. Right across from the church. Construction (Joe) will start in about 30 days. Mill Run hasn't been done before. Will be something people will come to see.
• Received letter from 501c3 (IRS): money received, employer identification number, has been sent for review and states that some applications could be approved after this review. Normally, this takes 4-6 months for whole process.
• Neff Run Work Group meeting last week: Ursula has written a very complete report with ideas of what could be done there. Joe has permission for some drilling to monitor conditions there. They ask GCWA to be the 'point guard' on Neff Run. The report will also help as a reference on other applications. They ask that GCWA essentially take over Neff Run endeavors at this point. These are big money items that will run $100-200,000 in the long run. Committee being formed = Everett Spiker, Larry Crossland, Ken Baxter, Judy Miller. These folks will try to keep GCWA apprised of Neff status and see what they can do to push some of the Neff Run agendas ahead. Ursula will be informed of the committee.
• Through Office of Surface Mining, GCWA has worked to get an intern. Randy Richardson has applied for this and been approved and funded. He will be doing a newsletter for GCWA. Will be doing water testing for a couple things we're interested in - McDonald Mine - pH, water flow.
• Chesapeake Bay Trust has contacted us re approving a grant which no one seems to know anything about.
• GCWA is looking for areas to clean up and for partners who need areas done or want to help out.
• Project Impact survey was read and passed out to group. Looking at ways to do some field work in the watershed. Different areas for garbage pickup.
• Will be a workshop 28-29-30 March on Georges Creek and GCWA at Frostburg Library for college students and AmeriCorps. Bill Richmond and Bob Miller will be doing this and also later in Westernport with elementary students.

Sam - working on getting some dumpsters distributed and then get an 'amnesty day' for trash to make it inviting for people to clean up backyards, neighborhoods. Will be for Georges Creek folks as a service of GCWA. Will be good PR. Maybe tie it to other things during Earth Week. Virginia McGann will try to tie in a Project Impact cleaning day same week. Will look to coal companies for funding and some donations. FSU is doing Earth Day April 15 since real date falls on Easter and most of college kids are gone. May go with first week in May from a planning/logistical standpoint.

Virginia McGann - all money is in for the Coney Park just off Rt 36 - four properties were bought - plan to do some stream restoration work on exposed sewer line and bank cutting - expand flood plain and put in a greenway park. DNR is funding for a small wetland area. Westmar High is very close and this will be available to them. Plan is to do more greenway development as more areas, like the RR, becomes available. Design proposals are being sought. Should be started by end of summer. GCWA has volunteered some hours toward this.

Elaine, a studentfrom FSU, spoke about Earth Day endeavor at FSU. Her group will be donating proceeds from t-shirt sales to GCWA. A variety of groups will be attending. They are striving for more community involvement. More children's activities. Would like GCWA to have a table there and provide a speaker at some point. GCWA is officially invited.

Craig Hartsock and Alison spoke on Floodplain Management - Fazenbaker Acid Mine Drainage Remediation Project targeted for August 2000-2001. AMD problems on area above Fazenbaker place. pH - 2.7-3.8, iron about 20 lbs per day. This will treat a significant source of AMD in Georges Creek. Install a SAP system with a limestone drain. Partnering with Westmar High. Successive Acid Producing (SAP) will be monitored by GCWA for at least a year after completion. Site is near Moscow cemetary. Many partners involved on project. Total cost will be about $121,300. Contract should be awarded around May 2001 with completion by August 2001.

Virginia mentioned possibility of watershed becoming a 'Green Community' and whether there interest in pursuing this. Makes getting some grants more likely.

Next meeting 18 April 2000.