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     As always, reclamation remains the cornerstone of EC's mission, and reclaiming land and waterways impacted by past mining activity is a top priority.   The benefits of reclamation are numerous, including improved environmental health, as well as providing land needed for transportation improvements, indusrial and residential development, recreational sites, and greenways. 

     EC is also involved in economic development initiatives, and has partnered with state, local, federal and national entities on many projects to ensure the most benefits for Wyoming Valley residents. 

     It is at this time that we would like to take an opportunity to formally thank EC's Board of Directors, supporters, volunteers, staff, and all of the organizations/entities which provide funding, partnership, and/or professional expertise to EC.  Following is Earth Conservancy's Annual Report to the Community for 1999. 
ACCOMPLISHMENTS 
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 

• Developed the conceptual master plan for EC's Mixed-Use Land Development Project, which proposes a creative integration of industrial, commercial, residential, recreational and green spaces within a 2,000-acre area in the State Route 29 corridor in Hanover and Newport Townships and the City of Nanticoke. 

• 859 acres of EC land was included in Pennsylvania's KOZ program.  EC's participation in this program helped stimulate development of the future Hanover Crossings Industrial Park and will help attract more businesses and industries to the Wyoming Valley.

• EC appeared before the State Transportation Commission in October, 1999 to request an additional $7 million in funding for realignment and an extension of EC's proposed Sans Souci Parkway/Route 29/ LCCC Connector Highway project.  The current request includes a new exit off of Route 29 and a parkway that connects the Sans Souci past LCCC to Roberts Road in Nanticoke.  To date, $23 million in funding has been secured for this project and it is included in PennDOT's 1999 Twelve-Year Transportation Improvement Program, beginning Fiscal Year 2000.

• Contracted with several companies to process culm and silt, as part of  EC's reclamation efforts.  These contracts resulted in 2 million tons of material being removed from mine- scarred sites for processing, with a yield of about 850,000 tons per year that is used for electric power generation.  When current projects are complete, 230 acres will be reclaimed and available for a variety of uses.

 
• Began reclamation of a 63-acre site in Hanover Township that is being developed for a public recreational area.  The site is mine scarred and contains a a large culm bank area.  It has also been vandalized and used for illegal dumping.

• Completed reclamation of 40 acres on a mine-scarred site along Middle Road in Nanticoke.

• Partnered with the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) on a 39-acre reclamation project in Wanamie.

• Reforested a 110-acre reclaimed site in Wanamie in conjunction with the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' (DCNR) Department of Forestry.

• Began removal of culm and silt at the Bliss, Loomis, Huber, and Concrete City sites.  The Bliss, Loomis and Concrete City sites are located in the Nanticoke Creek watershed.  Reclamation of these sites will further benefit the current stream restoration efforts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (see Watershed Assessment below). 

• Completed the Phase II constructed wetland site and began treating abandoned mine drainage at the Askam Borehole.  EC now monitors this site to determine the iron removal rate.  Current readings show that Phase II is removing 96 percent of the iron hydroxide present in the water, resulting in cleaner water being returned to Nanticoke Creek.

•  Both of EC's Phase I and Phase II wetland sites have been increasingly used by local school and university teachers to supplement their classroom curriculum.  Tours of the sites are continually offered by EC to any interested groups.

• Teamed with the United States Geological Survey and Wilkes University on assessments of the Newport Creek and Nanticoke Creek watersheds.  Gauging stations were installed at critical points throughout these two watersheds to measure water flow.  The goal is to determine the amount of water lost in these watersheds due to percolation into underground mines, which eventually resurfaces and returns to tributaries in the watersheds as AMD.

• EC will use data from the USGS project and work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to identify cost-effective projects that restore stream flow and water quality in the Nanticoke Creek Watershed.  Restoration will most likely involve sealing streambeds, realigning stream segments, and land and water reclamation (i.e., culm removal, creating wetlands) within the watershed area.

• Obtained a $1 million Transportation Enhancement Program grant from the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to construct a historical park at the 500-acre Ashley Planes site.  This park is a major component of EC's Lower Wyoming Valley Open Space Master Plan. 

• The goal is to combine the unique natural features at the site, such as scenic wooded areas and waterfalls, with the cultural/historical artifacts such as the historic ruins and structures still there, into a hiking/biking trail network.  In addition to trails, an environmental/cultural center and picnic areas will be part of the concept.

• Started reclamation and construction of a 10-acre portion (Phase I) of this 63-acre public recreational area in Hanover Township, adjacent to Route 29.  The site will be developed in three phases and offer residents regulation-size soccer fields, baseball and Little League fields, basketball and tennis courts, a walking trail and a community recreational center.

• Surveyed the Mocanaqua Loop, a 3.3-mile trail on the northern reach of Penobscot Mountain.  This trail will take users to the ridgetop area, where they can enjoy spectacular scenic views of the river, surrounding mountains and historic valley communities.  This trail is also the first third of EC's proposed Escarpment Trail, a 9-mile trail connecting Mocanaqua to Nanticoke. 

• Applied for state and county grants needed for construction of additional trails throughout the Wyoming Valley, including the Escarpment Trail, the Newport Cross Valley Trail, and the Penobscot Ridge Mountain Bike area.  These trails will provide an alternative transportation route to existing and proposed recreational amenities and valley communities. 

• Received contingent subdivision approval from Sugar Notch Borough for the Woodland Road residential subdivision and began marketing it to potential developers.

• Finished plans for and began marketing the Cherry Lane subdivision in Hanover Township.

•  Began a pilot study program of recycling wood pallets by grinding them and then composting the material.

• Joined the GIS Consortium, which has been initiated to combine the GIS knowledge and capabilities of numerous regional entities to provide a comprehensive geographical information database, in conjunction with the American Heritage Rivers program for the Upper Susquehanna/Lower Lackawanna Watershed.

• Initiated a community-wide volunteer tree planting program that resulted in the planting of 3,500 seedlings on reclaimed lands by local schools, college students, community volunteers and the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority.

• Secured a grant through DEP's Watershed Restoration and Partnership Act to produce a professional, educational video on the Wyoming Valley's abandoned mine drainage (AMD) problem and successful treatment methods.  This video will be distributed to local school districts interested in incorporating AMD instruction into their science curriculum.  It can be used alone or in conjunction with tours of EC's constructed wetland sites.

• Organized several litter and tire clean ups on or near EC properties to increase awareness of illegal dumping throughout the region and promote individual environmental responsibility.

• Conducted tours of EC's constructed wetlands and project sites to interested groups. 

• Participated in local educational outreach initiatives, such as career fairs, Junior Achievement, and local seminars/conferences

• Gave presentations to several interested school and community groups about EC, its mission, the importance of environmental restoration, and responsible land use.

•  Adopted the tag line, "A Not-for-Profit Corporation for Conservation and Land Revitalization in the Wyoming Valley," to clarify EC's goals and activities.

• Established a website, www.earthconservancy.org

• Partnered with the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor to conduct a feasibility study on the preservation of the Huber Breaker.

•  Received a second consecutive Waste Watchers Award from the PA Waste Industries Association, the Public Recycling Officials of Pennsylvania, and the PA DEP.

• Garnered second place in the Pocono Northeast Development Fund's Community Award Program, in Environmental Action for the volunteer tree planting initiative.

 
• Received a Certificate of Environmental Achievement for Growth Management/Regional Planning from Renew America. 

• Complete the next phase of the Mixed-Use Land Development Project Master Plan, with a focus on financing and marketing strategies.

• Support construction of a new roadway connecting Exit 46 of Interstate 81 to Route 115.  This project is already included in the state's Twelve-Year Transportation Improvement Program, with work slated to begin this year.  About $3 million dollars in funding has been secured for this project.  This new roadway will create access to developable land and land in need of reclamation around the Exit 46 corridor.

• Develop, in partnership with Luzerne County, a conceptual land use plan for the area surrounding the corridor between Exit 46 and Route 115 on the west side of Interstate 81.

• Complete all necessary reclamation on the first phase of the Luzerne County Recreational Area.

•  Work with the PA DEP to reclaim 46 acres in Hanover Township and 50 acres in Plains Township.

•  Continue working with private interests to reclaim existing EC-owned culm banks and silt ponds.

• Pursue funding through Gov. Ridge's new Growing Greener initiative for reclamation of the Preston and Huber bank areas.

• Use data collected from the USGS project and work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a project to identify a cost-effective project that successfully restores stream flow and water quality of the Nanticoke Creek Watershed.  This restoration would likely involve sealing streambeds, realigning stream segments, and land and water reclamation (i.e., culm removal, creating wetlans) within the watershed area.

• Continue regular monitoring of the performance of EC's constructed wetlands to ensure optimum AMD removal in the Nanticoke Creek watershed, as well as water flow and quality throughout both the Nanticoke Creek and Newport Creek Watersheds.

RECREATION 

• Develop a conceptual master plan for the Ashley Planes Heritage Park and obtain a commitment for its ownership and maintenance.

• Obtain funding for construction of the Mocanaqua Loop Trail. 

• Complete construction of Phase I of the Route 29 Recreational Area.

• Secure funding for and begin development of the Escarpment Trail.