Kanjorski gets funds for former strip mine

Times Leader staff

U.S. Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, announced Friday that he helped secure $200,000 in federal funding to reclaim a former strip mine in Nanticoke.

The funding, which comes from the recovery package and Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Clean Up Grant Program for Earth Conservancy, will be used to revitalize the 390-acre strip mine known as “Hanover 9” in Nanticoke.

“This grant from EPA will enable the organization to continue the beneficial work they started over 15 years ago to recycle mine-scarred land into productive use that can create jobs,” Kanjorski said.

The site, adjacent to Luzerne County Community College, was left in an environmentally degraded condition when Blue Coal Co. declared bankruptcy in the mid-1970s.

Earth Conservancy, a non-profit organization, was founded in 1992 for the purpose of restoring and reusing degraded mine land for recreational, industrial and residential purposes.

The organization will reclaim the site by using a phased approach, Kanjorski said.

“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 of Earth Conservancy.

The site currently attracts activities such as illegal dumping and off road vehicle riding.

The 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.

Kanjorski said the project will also reduce mine drainage runoff that currently contaminates the existing storm water system. The site is one of the main sources of acid mine drainage in the Nanticoke Creek watershed.