NEWS RELEASE / June 2026

Wilkes-Barre native and nonprofit leader Robert “Bobby” Hughes

receives 2026 Clean Water Champion Award

Robert “Bobby” Hughes, the longtime leader of a nonprofit organization that serves the region’s coal communities, recently was awarded the 2026 Clean Water Champion Award from the Annapolis, Maryland-based Choose Clean Water Coalition.

The Clean Water Champion Award is given each year to an individual who exemplifies the values of the coalition and serves as a “true champion for clean water,” according to organizers. The coalition presented the award to Hughes during its annual conference last month in Lancaster.

Presenters praised Hughes as “a respected leader in addressing the harms caused by abandoned mines throughout Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay region.”

A Wilkes-Barre native and Penn State University graduate, Hughes serves as executive director of the nonprofit Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR), headquartered in Ashley. He helped to establish the small but impactful nonprofit organization, which this year is marking its 30^th anniversary.

EPCAMR’s mission is to encourage the reclamation and redevelopment of land affected by past coal mining practices, especially underground mining.

The organization collaborates with partners from the government, business, academic and nonprofit sectors to do projects that minimize public health and safety risks associated with abandoned mine lands and decrease the volume of polluted water known as abandoned mine drainage (AMD) that enters the region’s streams.

“Abandoned mines throughout the Keystone State have left a legacy of pollution, fouling local waterways and harming communities,” Hughes said. “It is a privilege to work for clean water, and I am honored by this recognition from the Choose Clean Water Coalition. While much work remains, we will continue to make progress by working together and leaving no stone unturned in our fight to leave a legacy of clean water to future generations.”

In Pennsylvania, AMD is one of the top sources of water pollution. It taints an estimated 5,500 miles of creeks and rivers in the commonwealth, including sections of the Lackawanna and Susquehanna rivers. In fact, Pennsylvania has more miles of mine-impacted water than any other state.

The pollution typically discolors the water, making it appear orange, red or gray. It also depletes the oxygen, creating “dead zones” for fish and other aquatic life, and deprives residents of recreational opportunities such as fishing and kayaking.

Hughes and EPCAMR’s team of watershed specialists assist in the planning, construction and maintenance of passive treatment systems to control AMD pollution. Using settling ponds, wetlands and other barriers, these systems help to limit the amount of polluted water that pours from mine discharge sites into the region’s creeks and rivers, which then flow toward the Delaware Estuary and Chesapeake Bay.

Hughes, 54, previously has been recognized for his passionate defense of the environment and his advocacy on behalf of people in underserved coal communities. He is an authority on issues such as mine land reclamation, water pollution, mine maps, mining history, underground mine pools and geothermal energy.

Hughes has been appointed by the Gov. Josh Shapiro Administration to serve on the Chesapeake Bay Program Stakeholders’ Advisory Committee. He also serves on the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board.

Hughes has long been active with the Choose Clean Water Coalition, which harnesses the collective power of more than 320 groups to advocate for clean rivers and streams in all communities in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Individuals in Northeast Pennsylvania who – like Hughes – care deeply about clean water, environmental stewardship, land reclamation and improving the quality of life for the region’s residents are encouraged to support EPCAMR’s ongoing operations and mission. The organization’s staff and board members appreciate contributions of volunteer labor, money and material goods. Business/corporate support is welcome.

To connect with EPCAMR or learn more, visit epcamr.org.

###

 Robert “Bobby” Hughes, right, accepts the 2026 Clean Water Champion Award from Choose Clean Water Coalition Director Kristin Reilly. Hughes was recognized during the award ceremony in May as “a respected leader in addressing the harms caused by abandoned mines throughout Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay region.”