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U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, points to a map showing a site in Conyngham Township being considered for a federal diplomatic security training facility. It would provide an estimated 1,000 jobs. Plans for a site in Maryland were scrapped.
CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER
ASHLEY – U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski Thursday unveiled a plan to lure to Luzerne County a training facility planned by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. General Services Administration.
Called the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center, the facility would train about 10,000 diplomatic security trainees annually and would be funded with some $70 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
An Earth Conservancy site in Conyngham Township is receiving serious attention as the location for the center, Kanjorski said. The organization owns two adjacent parcels, one 2,300 acres and the other 1,100 acres.
Kanjorski said he wanted to remove the “cloak of secrecy” about the possible location of a federal training facility in the area and he solicited the help of local leaders to create a “positive attitude” about the project.
If the local site is chosen for the project, Kanjorski said the facility could bring with it 1,000 jobs and greatly impact economic development locally through the creation of new jobs and growth of small businesses.
“Since I first joined Congress, one of my top priorities has been to save and create jobs in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” Kanjorski said. “Especially during these difficult economic times, it would be particularly advantageous to have such a boon for area residents and our local economy.”
Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, is seeking his 14th term in Congress. His opponent in the 11th Congressional District race – Republican Lou Barletta – criticized the plan, saying that “Conyngham Township, a quiet community, will have to get used to chases, machine-gun fire and bomb blasts that will take place at the facility.”
Of the estimated 1,000 jobs, Kanjorski said half would be current employees who would relocate to the region and the other half would be new hires of people from Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Once a site is selected and a facility built, the State Department will consolidate the existing 19 training facilities across the country into one facility. Five sites in all are being considered, Kanjorski said.
On Thursday, Kanjorski, dressed in a denim shirt and wearing construction boots, led a tour for officials from DOS and GSA around the site, which is located across the Susquehanna River from Shickshinny.
Attending the press conference were political and economic development figures.
Kanjorski said the facility was first proposed for Queen Anne County, Maryland, but residents objected and the plan to locate there was withdrawn. Kanjorski said if local public sentiment opposes the training center it will not be located here.
“Washington will be watching every media report about this and the reaction to the news,” Kanjorski said. “If there’s a negative response; if the area doesn’t want this, that’s OK and we will move on to the next project.”
The project was rejected by the citizens in Maryland who claimed there would be “significant changes in land use” and noise and commotion that would come from the site would disrupt their way of life.
Kanjorski said he expects a decision to be made within the next six months.
“This is not a done deal,” Kanjorski said. “I have talked about this project with President Obama, Vice President Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This is just the first of many steps yet to be taken.
“We don’t want to have happen here what happened in Maryland.”
Kanjorski said the proposed site is basically isolated – bordered by mountains and shaped like a bowl. He said a quarry is located nearby and produces a lot of noise, yet no one has complained.
Michael Dziak, executive director of the Earth Conservancy, said the proposed site doesn’t need a lot of work before construction could begin. He said zoning approvals will be needed from Luzerne County because Conyngham Township zoning is controlled by the county.
State Rep. Todd Eachus, D-Butler Township, said he didn’t have any serious concerns about the project.
“This could make Northeastern Pennsylvania the center of security for our embassies abroad,” Eachus said. “It would be a huge asset.”
Luzerne County Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla also voiced support.
“It’s this kind of forward thinking that will put NEPA and Luzerne County on the map for all the right reasons,” she said. “To have 1,000 jobs and professionals training in our area year round will be an incredible asset for our region.”
Read a fact sheet on the training facility, visit www.times
leader.com