Guide to the Wyona S. Coleman Papers, 1971-2005 AIS.2000.21
Arrangement
Repository
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Title
Wyona S. Coleman Papers
Creator
Coleman, Wyona S.
Collection Number
AIS.2000.21
Extent
21.25 Linear Feet(17 boxes)
Date
1971-2005
Abstract
The Papers of Wyona Coleman document a period of escalating environmental activism. A dedicated environmentalist, Coleman has campaigned on the local, state, and federal levels of government for effective means to protect and to mitigate harm to the environment caused by the acquisition of natural resources and refuse disposal. The bulk of Coleman's papers relate to coal mining and detail her position as a representative of the Sierra Club of Pennsylvania on various committees of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), formerly known as the Department of Environmental Resources (DER). These committees addressed such issues as the impact of coal mining (especially longwall mining), solid waste disposal, and oil and natural gas drilling on the environment. Materials include committee meeting minutes and notes, correspondence, drafts of legislation, evidence of lawsuits resulting from changes in legislation, educational publications, and newspaper clippings.
Language
English
.
Author
Mike Oliveira. Carrie Smith and Jessica Mirasol in March 2006. Revisions occurred to the finding aid as a part of the encoding process in March 2006.
Publisher
ULS Archives & Special Collections
Address
University of Pittsburgh Library System Archives & Special Collections Website: library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections Contact Us: www.library.pitt.edu/ask-archivist URL: http://library.pitt.edu/archives-special-collections
Biography
Coleman began life as Wyona Smith on March 23, 1932 in Steeleville, Illinois. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois. Coleman joined The Courier of Urbana, Illinois in 1956 and after four years left the paper for a public relations position with the Illinois Geological Survey.
In 1967, Coleman relocated to western Pennsylvania, where she became increasingly involved in the environmental movement. She campaigned to expand the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System in western Pennsylvania. She also participated in the first national Earth Day, April 22, 1970 on the campus of California State College, California, Pennsylvania. During the same year Coleman joined the Brownsville Telegraph as a freelance reporter and editor. In 1972, she contributed to the formation of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club. Coleman became more active on the state level representing the Sierra Club on a number of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (DER) committees. She participated on various committees including the Mining Legislative Task Force, Mining and Reclamation Advisory Board, Coal Work Group, and the Bonding Advisory Board. The purpose of the committees was to formulate legislation and regulations in response to the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), which allowed states greater regulatory control over surface mining.
In 1980, the Pennsylvania DER created the Solid Waste Advisory Committee in response to the growing issue of solid waste disposal. Coleman participated in this committee and played a significant role in the creation of Getting Involved, a DER publication on public participation in the siting of waste facilities. Coleman also participated in a number of supplementary committees such as the Hazardous Waste Facilities Planning Advisory Committee, Hazardous Waste Siting Committee and the Recycling Fund Advisory Committee. In 1981, Governor Thornburgh recognized her participation among others in a "Decade of Service" to the DER proclamation with a ceremony and luncheon.
While serving on the DER committees, Coleman also chaired the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club from 1981 to1983 and again from 1985 to 1986. During her terms she established a full-time lobbyist position in Harrisburg for the Pennsylvania Chapter.
As coal companies turned to long-wall mining, the removal of large panels of coal that cause subsidence affecting natural features and man-made structures, Coleman sought to protect citizens' rights in the coalfields of Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. She contributed to the organization of the Tri-State Citizens Mining Network in 1994 to create awareness and advocate for the protection of citizens, their rights and the environment. The Network has protested long-wall mining activities, such as those that have undermined Interstate 70, and advocates for victims of subsidence and water loss. In 2000, the Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation awarded her the Gail Rockwood Public Service Award. On the state level, Coleman coordinated Sierra Club Training to develop the next generation of leaders for the environmental movement. From 2000 to 2005 she served as the Mining, Oil, Gas Conservation Issue Chair. Coleman continued to work for environmental rights until her death in 2005.
Scope and Content Notes
The papers of Wyona S. Coleman document the impact of the environmental movement, primarily in western Pennsylvania, on state and federal regulations. Much of the material concerns mitigating the harmful effects of procuring natural resources. In an effort to minimize damage caused by coal mining, groups, such as the Sierra Club, participated with the DER in the drafting and amendment of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMRCA) of 1977. Since Pennsylvania had an established version of this federal mandate (SMCRA, 1945), Coleman and other members lobbied for stricter regulations on the federal SMCRA, especially during the drafting of the "State Window" legislation that allowed states the opportunity to relax their existing rules as long as they were no less strict than the federal legislation.
As the demand for coal increased in the 1990s, Coleman worked with activist groups that focused on longwall mining, which had become the method of choice for mining companies. The collection also includes information on safety regulations imposed on solid waste disposal in Pennsylvania, as well as studies, research materials, and articles on many other environmental topics. The collection is rich in information about how environmental degradation affected the safety of homes and property value, water, and wildlife.
Arrangement
The Coleman papers have been arranged into the following series. Extensive scope notes on each topic are available in the container list.
Series I: Coal Mining
Series II: Solid Waste Disposal
Series III: Oil and Natural Gas Drilling, 1980-1998
Series IV: Longwall Mining
Series V: Research
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Acquisition Information
Gift of Wyona S. Coleman on December 20, 2000, and Phillip Coleman in 2005.
Previous Citation
Wyona S. Coleman Papers, 1971-2005, AIS.2000.21, Archives Service Center, University of Pittsburgh.
Preferred Citation
Wyona S. Coleman Papers, 1971-2005, AIS.2000.21, Archives & Special Collections, University of Pittsburgh Library System
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Mike Oliveira, Carrie Smith, and Jessica Mirasol in 2006.
Copyright
The University of Pittsburgh holds the property rights to the material in this collection, but the copyright may still be held by the original creator/author. Researchers are therefore advised to follow the regulations set forth in the U.S. Copyright Code when publishing, quoting, or reproducing material from this collection without the consent of the creator/author or that go beyond what is allowed by fair use.
Subjects
Corporate Names
Environmental Law & Policy Center
Pennsylvania. Department of Environmental Protection
Pennsylvania. Department of Environmental Resources
Citizens Coal Council
Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Group
Tri-State Citizens Mining Network
Sierra Club. Pennsylvania Chapter
United States. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977
Sierra Club. Pennsylvania Chapter. Allegheny Group
Personal Names
Coleman, Wyona S.
Geographic Names
Appalachian Region
Pennsylvania
Greene County (Pa.)
Allegheny National Forest (Pa.)
Other Subjects
Longwall mining -- Pennsylvania
Hazardous waste sites -- Pennsylvania
Environmental policy -- Pennsylvania
Waste disposal sites -- Pennsylvania
Personal papers
Environment
Women
Environmentalists -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
Women environmentalists -- Pennsylvania
Environmental protection -- Pennsylvania -- Allegheny National Forest
Strip mining -- Appalachian Region
Coal mines and mining -- Environmental aspects -- Pennsylvania
Coal mines and mining -- Law and legislation -- Pennsylvania
Coal mines and mining -- Waste disposal -- Pennsylvania
Gas wells -- Environmental aspects -- Pennsylvania
A number of factors caused the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to examine its regulations concerning solid waste: the additional use of Pennsylvania landfill sites by other states, the environmental burden of waste disposal, and a lack of regulation to ensure safe disposal of waste. The DER formed committees of the various stakeholders to draft regulations for the safe disposal of solid waste. This included the regulation of facilities siting and of disposing of hazardous waste.
Scope and Content Notes
This sub-series contains committee materials collected by Coleman during her participation in the Solid Waste Roundtable, Hazardous Waste Facilities Planning Advisory Committee (HWFPAC), the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC), the Hazardous Waste Siting Committee (HWSC), and the Recycling Fund Advisory Committee (RFAC). The committees cooperated to recommend to the Department of Environmental Protection regulations to implement a Pennsylvania Hazardous Waste Facilities Plan. The creation of the Pennsylvania Hazardous Waste Facilities Plan was mandated by the Solid Waste Management Act to regulate hazardous waste and plan for the future. HWFPAC and SWAC consisted of a variety of stakeholders including representatives from a waste treatment facility, a waste generator, local governments, environmentalists and academic scientists. The files consist of committee agendas, minutes, correspondence, and supporting materials. The HWFPAC files contain a plan edited by Coleman. The HWSC files contain information on the development of a citizen primer, Getting Involved, concerning public participation in the siting of waste facilities. RFAC, part of SWAC, advised the state on the expenditure of funds generated from fees assessed on the dumping of waste to benefit recycling programs.
Containers
box 4, folder 13
Containers
box 4, folder 14-18
Containers
box 4, folder 19-28
Containers
box 4, folder 29-32
Containers
box 5, folder 1-2
Containers
box 5, folder 3
Containers
box 5, folder 4
Scope and Content Notes
This sub-series contains documents in support of Coleman's participation with the DER Solid Waste committees and the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club. These files include documents from other stakeholders, and those not directly attributable to one of the DER Committees. The documents were produced by a number of different agencies and organizations including the Environmental Resources Management (ERM) Group, the League of Women Voters, and the Sierra Club. The files consist of various documents including articles, comments, conference materials, correspondence, legislation, newspaper clippings, reports, and testimony collected by Coleman.
Containers
box 5, folder 5
Containers
box 5, folder 6
Containers
box 5, folder 7-8
Containers
box 5, folder 9-12
Containers
box 5, folder 13-15
Containers
box 5, folder 16
Containers
box 5, folder 17-18
Containers
box 5, folder 19-20
Containers
box 5, folder 21
Containers
box 5, folder 22
Containers
box 5, folder 23-24
Containers
box 5, folder 25
Containers
box 5, folder 26
Containers
box 5, folder 27
Containers
box 5, folder 28
Containers
box 5, folder 29
Containers
box 5, folder 30
Containers
box 5, folder 31
Containers
box 5, folder 32
Containers
box 5, folder 33
Containers
box 5, folder 34
Containers
box 5, folder 35
Containers
box 5, folder 36
Scope and Content Notes
This series focuses on the environmental effects of oil and natural gas drilling predominately in western Pennsylvania. The documents include correspondence and materials from environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club and the National Citizen's Network as well as newspaper clippings.
Containers
box 5, folder 37
Containers
box 6, folder 1
Containers
box 6, folder 2
Containers
box 6, folder 3
Containers
box 6, folder 4
Containers
box 6, folder 5-7
Containers
box 6, folder 8
Containers
box 6, folder 9
Containers
box 6, folder 10
Containers
box 6, folder 11
Containers
box 6, folder 12-13
Containers
box 6, folder 14
Containers
box 6, folder 15-16
Containers
box 6, folder 17
Containers
box 6, folder 18
Containers
box 6, folder 19
Containers
box 6, folder 20
Scope and Content Notes
The series deals primarily with the efforts of environmental groups to limit and control damage caused by longwall mining in Pennsylvania. Longwall mining is an efficient form of underground mining in which a cutting machine removes coal from a seam in large blocks or "panels". As the machine advances, leaving a gap, support structures are removed and the roof of the mine collapses. The resulting subsidence can have a severe impact on homeowners, leading to fissures and bumps in roads, cracked foundations and walls, broken pipes, or permanent loss of well water. Acid mine drainage and disrupted water sources can also harm local ecosystems.
Coleman worked with groups such as the Sierra Club, the Tri State Citizens Mining Network, and the Citizen's Coal Council to amend state and federal mining regulation and on enforcement of these laws. Most materials in this series reflect the environmentalists' perspective, but Coleman also collected information and articles from coal companies and from local miners, who feared for the security of their jobs.
This series has been arranged into five subseries: SMCRA, BMSLCA, Court Cases and Other Legal Issues, Bonding, and Groups.
Scope and Content Notes
There are two Acts referred to as SMCRA: one is a Pennsylvania statute passed in 1945 called the Subsidence Mine Conservation and Reclamation Act; the other is a federal statute passed in 1977 called the Subsidence Mine Control and Reclamation Act. Both of these acts have been through several attempts at amendment and this collection contains information about those amendments and the work surrounding them. One major attempt to amend SMCRA of 1977 is referred to as "State Window" Strip Mining Regulations. This was very controversial because it allowed states to create their own mining rules as long as they were no more or no less strict than the federal laws. Coleman and the groups to which she belonged were heavily involved in fighting this amendment and the papers reflect their work in this area.
Containers
box 7, folder 1
Containers
box 7, folder 2
Containers
box 7, folder 3
Containers
box 7, folder 4
Containers
box 7, folder 5-7
Containers
box 7, folder 8
Containers
box 7, folder 9
Containers
box 7, folder 10
Containers
box 7, folder 11
Containers
box 7, folder 12
Containers
box 7, folder 13
Containers
box 7, folder 14
Containers
box 7, folder 15
Containers
box 7, folder 16
Containers
box 7, folder 17
Containers
box 7, folder 18
Containers
box 7, folder 19
Containers
box 7, folder 20
Containers
box 7, folder 21
Containers
box 7, folder 22
Containers
box 7, folder 23
Containers
box 7, folder 24
Containers
box 7, folder 25
Containers
box 7, folder 26
Containers
box 7, folder 27
Containers
box 7, folder 28
Containers
box 7, folder 29
Containers
box 7, folder 30
Containers
box 7, folder 31
Containers
box 7, folder 32
Containers
box 7, folder 33
Containers
box 7, folder 34
Containers
box 7, folder 35-36
Scope and Content Notes
In 1966, Act 31, also known as the Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act (BMSLCA), was passed in Pennsylvania. It addressed the damage caused to people and property by underground coal mining. Act 31 underwent a series of amendments, the most significant being Act 54. Throughout the legislation changes, Coleman and the groups in which she participated, mainly the Sierra Club and the Tri State Citizens Mining Network, were heavily involved in the deliberation surrounding the amendments and much of their correspondence regarding these activities is included in this section of the collection.
Containers
box 8, folder 1
Containers
box 8, folder 2
Containers
box 8, folder 3-4
Containers
box 8, folder 5
Containers
box 8, folder 6
Containers
box 8, folder 7
Containers
box 8, folder 8
Containers
box 8, folder 9
Containers
box 8, folder 10
Containers
box 8, folder 11
Containers
box 8, folder 12-16
Containers
box 8, folder 17
Containers
box 8, folder 18
Containers
box 8, folder 19
Containers
box 8, folder 20
Containers
box 8, folder 21
Containers
box 8, folder 22
Containers
box 8, folder 23
Containers
box 8, folder 24
Containers
box 8, folder 25
Containers
box 8, folder 26
Containers
box 8, folder 27
Containers
box 8, folder 28
Scope and Content Notes
As a result of much of the legislation, Coleman and her environmental colleagues took part in several court cases. Many of these cases were about the legislation itself and what it would mean for future coal regulations. These groups also participated in court cases in which a person or group was in violation of the legislation that had been passed. The documents in this section of the collection reflect some of the extent of the groups' legal involvement.
Containers
box 9, folder 1
Containers
box 9, folder 2
Containers
box 9, folder 3
Containers
box 9, folder 4
Containers
box 9, folder 5
Containers
box 9, folder 6-12
Containers
box 9, folder 13
Containers
box 9, folder 14-15
Containers
box 9, folder 16
Containers
box 9, folder 17-19
Containers
box 9, folder 20
Containers
box 9, folder 21
Containers
box 9, folder 22
Containers
box 9, folder 23
Containers
box 9, folder 24
Containers
box 9, folder 25
Containers
box 9, folder 26
Containers
box 9, folder 27
Containers
box 9, folder 28
Containers
box 10, folder 1-2
Containers
box 10, folder 3
Containers
box 10, folder 4
Containers
box 10, folder 5-6
Containers
box 10, folder 7
Containers
box 10, folder 8
Containers
box 10, folder 9
Containers
box 10, folder 10
Containers
box 10, folder 11
Containers
box 10, folder 12
Containers
box 10, folder 13
Containers
box 10, folder 14
Containers
box 10, folder 15
Containers
box 10, folder 16
Containers
box 10, folder 17
Containers
box 10, folder 18
Containers
box 10, folder 19
Containers
box 10, folder 20
Containers
box 10, folder 21
Containers
box 10, folder 22
Containers
box 10, folder 23
Containers
box 10, folder 24
Containers
box 10, folder 25
Containers
box 10, folder 26
Containers
box 10, folder 27
Containers
box 10, folder 28
Containers
box 10, folder 29
Containers
box 10, folder 30
Containers
box 11, folder 1
Containers
box 11, folder 2
Containers
box 11, folder 3
Containers
box 11, folder 4
Containers
box 11, folder 5-6
Containers
box 11, folder 7-9
Containers
box 11, folder 10
Containers
box 11, folder 11
Containers
box 11, folder 12
Containers
box 11, folder 13
Containers
box 11, folder 14
Containers
box 11, folder 15
Containers
box 11, folder 16
Containers
box 11, folder 17-18
Containers
box 11, folder 19
Containers
box 11, folder 20
Containers
box 11, folder 21
Containers
box 11, folder 22-23
Containers
box 11, folder 24
Containers
box 11, folder 25
Containers
box 11, folder 26
Containers
box 11, folder 27
Containers
box 11, folder 28
Containers
box 11, folder 29
Containers
box 11, folder 30
Containers
box 11, folder 31
Containers
box 11, folder 32
Containers
box 11, folder 33
Containers
box 11, folder 34
Containers
box 11, folder 35
Containers
box 11, folder 36
Containers
box 11, folder 37
Containers
box 11, folder 38
Containers
box 11, folder 39
Containers
box 11, folder 40
Containers
box 11, folder 41
Scope and Content Notes
Under SMCRA, mining companies are required to pay a per-acre performance bond on all mined land. If the company fails to restore the land according to the standards outlined by SMCRA, the bond is forfeit and used to cover the cost of reclamation. Cleanup then falls to the "regulatory authority", which is either a state program or the OSM under a federal program. Some states have opted for a "bond pool" or "reclamation fund" instead of the usual performance bond system, which is permissible so long as the fund generates enough money to fully cover the cost of reclamation.
Many environmental groups found that performance bonds and bond pools were inadequate and poorly utilized and accused OSM and other regulatory authorities of failing to follow SMCRA guidelines. This led to extensive lawsuits throughout the 1980s and late 1990s, often involving multiple plaintiffs and defendants.
Containers
box 12, folder 1
Containers
box 12, folder 2
Containers
box 12, folder 3
Containers
box 12, folder 4
Containers
box 12, folder 5
Containers
box 12, folder 6
Containers
box 12, folder 7
Containers
box 12, folder 8
Containers
box 12, folder 9
Containers
box 12, folder 10
Containers
box 12, folder 11
Containers
box 12, folder 12
Containers
box 12, folder 13
Containers
box 12, folder 14
Containers
box 12, folder 15
Containers
box 12, folder 16
Containers
box 12, folder 17
Containers
box 12, folder 18
Containers
box 12, folder 19
Containers
box 12, folder 20
Containers
box 12, folder 21
Containers
box 12, folder 22
Containers
box 12, folder 23
Containers
box 12, folder 24-25
Containers
box 12, folder 26
Containers
box 12, folder 27
Containers
box 12, folder 28
Scope and Content Notes
Many environmental groups strived for better mining regulations. Although the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club's focus was wide-ranging, other groups, such as the Tri-State Citizens Mining Network and the Citizens Coal Council, were formed specifically to minimize damage caused by mining. The groups often worked together to achieve their goals, forming alliances and committees to address specific problems. Their efforts are documented here through meeting minutes, correspondence, committee and workshop information, and group publications.
Containers
box 13, folder 1-6
Containers
box 13, folder 7
Containers
box 13, folder 8
Containers
box 13, folder 9
Containers
box 13, folder 10
Containers
box 13, folder 11
Containers
box 13, folder 12
Containers
box 13, folder 13
Containers
box 13, folder 14
Containers
box 13, folder 15
Containers
box 13, folder 16
Containers
box 13, folder 17-18
Containers
box 13, folder 19
Containers
box 13, folder 20
Containers
box 13, folder 21
Containers
box 13, folder 22
Containers
box 13, folder 23
Containers
box 13, folder 24
Containers
box 13, folder 25
Containers
box 13, folder 26
Containers
box 13, folder 27
Containers
box 13, folder 28
Containers
box 13, folder 29
Containers
box 13, folder 30
Containers
box 13, folder 31
Containers
box 14, folder 1
Containers
box 14, folder 2
Containers
box 14, folder 3-4
Containers
box 14, folder 5-6
Containers
box 14, folder 7
Containers
box 14, folder 8
Containers
box 14, folder 9
Containers
box 14, folder 10
Containers
box 14, folder 11
Containers
box 14, folder 12
Containers
box 14, folder 13
Containers
box 14, folder 14
Containers
box 14, folder 15
Containers
box 14, folder 16
Containers
box 14, folder 17
Containers
box 14, folder 18
Containers
box 14, folder 19
Containers
box 14, folder 20
Containers
box 14, folder 21
Containers
box 14, folder 22
Containers
box 14, folder 23
Containers
box 14, folder 24
Containers
box 14, folder 25
Containers
box 14, folder 26
Containers
box 14, folder 27
Containers
box 14, folder 28
Containers
box 14, folder 29-33
Containers
box 14, folder 34
Containers
box 14, folder 35
Containers
box 14, folder 36
Containers
box 14, folder 37
Containers
box 14, folder 38
Containers
box 14, folder 39
Containers
box 14, folder 40
Containers
box 14, folder 41
Containers
box 14, folder 42
Containers
box 14, folder 43
Containers
box 14, folder 44
Containers
box 14, folder 45
Containers
box 14, folder 46
Containers
box 14, folder 47
Containers
box 14, folder 48
Containers
box 14, folder 49
Containers
box 14, folder 50
Containers
box 14, folder 51
Scope and Content Notes
Coleman collected clippings, articles, reports, and studies on a wide variety of topics relevant to mining and environmental protection in general. These files are organized alphabetically.