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Friday, March 14, 2003 Page: 11A
I read your March 5, 2003 editorial expressing concerns about development
in the Moosic Mountain ridge-top area with interest. I would like to provide
your readers with additional information about conservation efforts in that
area over the past several years.
We believe that the Jefferson Township sewer project in no way places the
Moosic Mountain ridge-top area at risk. The sewer connection plan approved by
DEP in 2000 required both correction of existing on-lot sewer system
malfunctions in the township and protection of the integrity of the ridge-top
area. The connecting sewer line was sized to ensure that it could only handle
sewage generated in Jefferson Township. There simply isn’t room in the line
for sewage disposal from outside of the township. In addition, the placement
of the connecting sewer line closely follows the shoulder of a state highway
and does not impact the ridge-top area in any fashion.
In April 2002, the Nature Conservancy completed the purchase of 1,200 acres
of land on Moosic Mountain. This plan was announced by former Governor Tom
Ridge in May 1999, and detailed the availability of a grant to enable the
Conservancy to purchase this property. The property was originally under
development as a business/office park, and in March 2000 Governor Ridge
announced funding to relocate the business park to an abandoned mine area at
the foot of Moosic Mountain in Jessup Borough. This doubled the value of the
conservation efforts on Moosic Mountain by also rehabilitating an abandoned
mine area, which is worthwhile in attacking safety and acid mine drainage
problems.
We wholeheartedly agree with your editorial position that this unique
natural area should be preserved. At the same time, we needed to develop a
sound plan to deal with malfunctioning sewer systems in Jefferson Township. I
firmly believe that our approval of the township’s plan reconciled the need to
correct sewer problems in the watershed while protecting the Moosic Mountain
ridge top.
The Environmental Hearing Board (EHB) has previously dismissed CARE’s legal
challenges to the Department’s approval of this project. We believe that will
be the fate of CARE’s remaining case before the EHB. We are still awaiting our
copy of the CARE complaint; however, we believe that our response to the
complaint will lead the U.S. District Court to reach the same conclusions as
the EHB.
We are pleased that the Times Leader recognizes the importance of this
unique natural resource and now joins with the many individuals and
organizations that have worked together for the past several years to protect
the Moosic Mountain ridge top area. Thank you for the opportunity to add to
the dialogue on this important matter.
William F. McDonnell
Regional Director
Northeast Regional Office