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A Winning Site: AMD&ART, a Phoenix in Appalachian Coal Country
Vanessa C. Kauffman
09/08/05

VINTONDALE, PA—On September 1, 2005, AMD&ART was named a winner of the Phoenix Award™, which recognizes exceptional projects in Brownfields redevelopment work. According to The Phoenix Awards™ Executive Committee, "The awards are widely recognized as the outstanding award for achievement of excellence in Brownfield redevelopment, and often are called "the Brownfields equivalent of Hollywood's Oscar." AMD&ART is the recipient of the Community Impact Award for Mine Scarred Lands.

"This is the first Community Impact Award to be given to a mine scarred lands project" and the only national award of this kind, stated Denise K. Chamberlain, Esq., creator and coordinator of The Phoenix Awards. In the competition with larger corporations, like BP Oil, AMD&ART, the non-profit, came out on top. The AMD&ART staff, comprised of AmeriCorps* VISTA volunteers, are overwhelmed with excitement by this recent accomplishment.

A 10-year success story, AMD&ART has been working with the community of Vintondale, Pennsylvania to develop the former Vinton Colliery site into a 35-acre public park and AMD (acid mine drainage) treatment system. The Phoenix Award is the second award presented to AMD&ART this year, in May the organization received the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Western Pennsylvania Environmental Award for Green Design. In a letter of support for the Phoenix Award Congressman Murtha writes, "I believe that they (AMD&ART) deserve the Phoenix Award for actively addressing the problem (of mine scarred lands) by not only restoring these areas, but by creating these recreational areas for all to enjoy."

The award, a crystal sculptor of a rising flame, will be presented at the National Brownfields Conference, November 2-4, 2005, in Denver, Colorado. During the environmental conference with an expected crowd of 4,000 participants, these Phoenix Award winners will showcase their projects with case study presentations and exhibits. To learn more information about The Phoenix Awards™, visit www.phoenixawards.org.

Media Contact for AMD&ART:
Dana Zufall
AMD&ART, Inc.
411 Third Ave.
Johnstown, PA 15906
814.539.5357
amdandart@amdandart.org
www.amdandart.org

Associated Link:
Five Star Restoration Grant Program