Funding Will Help with Reclamation of Degraded Land Which Will Be Revitalized to Benefit NEPA

NANTICOKE - Today, Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) announced that he helped secure $200,000 in federal funding from the recovery package and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Brownfields Clean Up Grant Program for Earth Conservancy.  The organization will use the funding to reclaim a former strip mine in Luzerne County and use the revitalized property to help spur economic development in the area.  On November 10, 2008, Congressman Kanjorski sent a letter to the EPA to express his support for Earth Conservancy's brownfields grant application and the organization's mine reclamation efforts.  The EPA received an additional $37.3 million in federal funding from the recovery package that it distributed as part of its grant allocations to programs throughout the country.  It also distributed $74.6 million from the Brownfields general program funding.

"The Earth Conservancy has successfully demonstrated how to clean up land and waterways that were severely damaged from past coal mining," said Congressman Kanjorski.  "Because of Earth Conservancy's efforts, many properties that would have never been touched again, have instead been completely revitalized.  This grant from EPA will enable the organization to continue the beneficial work they started over fifteen years ago to recycle mine-scarred land into productive use that can create jobs.  Earth Conservancy's efforts have continued to improve the environment and quality of life in Northeastern Pennsylvania."

In 2002, Congressman Kanjorski led the effort in Congress to include mine-scarred lands in the EPA's definition of "brownfields," thereby providing another source of federal funds for reclamation efforts in Northeastern Pennsylvania, such as those undertaken by the Earth Conservancy. 

"Reclamation of this site is important to Earth Conservancy because of its location within the City of Nanticoke and its potential to spur economic revitalization once completed," said Mike Dziak, President/CEO of Earth Conservancy.  "The Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields Cleanup program has been a great partner in turning these sites from mine-scarred lands into assets for the community.  Congressman Kanjorski has always supported Earth Conservancy's efforts to revitalize the region, and we are grateful for his help in getting the funding for this important project."

The funding will be used to reclaim the site known as "Hanover 9," located in Nanticoke.   This 390-acre site, which is adjacent to Luzerne County Community College, was used by the Blue Coal Company as a strip mine area and was left in an environmentally degraded condition when the company declared bankruptcy in the mid-1970s.  In its current state, the site is one of the main sources of acid mine drainage in the Nanticoke Creek watershed.  In addition, the site currently attracts activities such as illegal dumping and off road vehicle riding.

Because of the large scope of the project, reclamation of the site will be completed by using a phased approach.  The announced funding will be used for Phase 1 to reclaim a 37-acre portion of the site and make it available for commercial and industrial development.  The project will also significantly reduce some of the mine drainage runoff that currently contaminates the existing storm water system and local streams and creeks.  Once the entire project is completed, this area will provide new industrial, commercial, residential, and recreational opportunities in Luzerne County. 

The Earth Conservancy is a non-profit organization Congressman Kanjorski helped to found in 1992 for the purpose of restoring and reusing mine-scarred land for recreational, industrial and residential purposes.  Congressman Kanjorski successfully secured more than $20 million in federal money for the Earth Conservancy to purchase more than 16,000 acres of land throughout Luzerne County from a bankrupt coal company in 1994.  The organization is dedicated to land reclamation, conservation, and economic revitalization in the Wyoming Valley.

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