From left: Geoff Shaw (EC), Elizabeth Hughes (EC), Terry Ostrowski (EC), Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey (USEPA), Michael McDonald (USEPA), Jason Tarnowski (EC) | photo credit: USEPA R3
EC recently welcomed Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey, USEPA’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator, to its offices to talk about its work addressing legacy mine lands. The conversation focused on the unique challenges these sites present and the strategies we’ve developed over the past 30 years to move them toward productive reuse.
We reviewed several completed projects supported through USEPA’s Brownfields program, including Franklin Bank, Bliss Bank, and Espy Run. We also discussed current efforts, such as restoration of the Nanticoke Creek and the reclamation of 25 acres off Center Street in Newport Township. Across each of these projects, one theme was clear: USEPA funding and technical assistance have been critical to EC advancing its work. In many cases, that early federal investment has allowed us to leverage additional resources and carry projects toward completion.
Administrator Van Blarcom-Lackey and her team were engaged throughout the visit, asking detailed questions about timelines, funding, and long-term impacts. She also shared her perspective on the Brownfields program, including candid discussion about how the program functions on the ground and where adjustments could strengthen outcomes.
We look forward to hosting the Administrator again when the snow has melted and site conditions allow for a field visit. Seeing these projects on the ground underscores why sustained federal-local coordination remains essential to moving these complex projects forward and delivering long-term, measurable results.