News & Events

The sun was shining as we marked the transfer of over 1,100 acres of Earth Conservancy lands into the Pinchot State Forest system. Located in Newport Township, the area is home to the Penobscot Ridge Mountain Biking Trail and offers excellent recreational opportunities to the public. Moreover, it preserves habitat, protects wildlife, and boosts the region’s environmental health. We are grateful for the community partnerships that made this possible, including North Branch Land Trust and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. On hand for the event was the Secretary of DCNR, Cindy Adams Dunn, who spoke about the wealth of natural resources in the Wyoming Valley. Other speakers included Nick Lylo, Pinchot District Forester; Mike Dziak, Earth Conservancy President & CEO; Rylan Coker, NBLT Land Protection Specialist; Rep. Gerald Mullery (D-119); and Senator John Yudichak (D-14).

On Friday, September 21, 2018, EC hosted a tree planting and trail cleanup on its Hanover Recreation Fields and Sugar Notch Trail. The event was led by DHL Supply Chain, which currently operates a distribution center on what was once EC’s Huber Bank. More than a dozen employees volunteered their time, literally digging in to improve the two community resources. The group planted over 30 trees and cleared out bags and bags of trash, efforts which reflect DHL’s commitment to community involvement and sustainability.  Also joining in the activities were EPCAMR and the Lackawanna River Conservation Association, the latter of which provided the maple, white birch, redbud, and oak saplings. As the young trees grow, they’ll provide a beautiful backdrop to the playing fields, as well as contribute to EC’s efforts to restore environmental health in the region. Our thanks to everyone involved. EC’s continued success only comes from collaboration with community partners like you.

Pictured below, from left to right:  1.) From DHL Supply Chain: Emily Davis, Sustainability Program Manager, and Gabby Zawacki, Environmental Specialist.  2.) DHL Supply Chain employees working on cleanup of the recreation fields parking area, before moving on to the Sugar Notch Trail.  3.) From Lackawanna River Conservation Association, Kelsey Biondo, Program Manager; and from EPCAMR, Gavin Pellitteri, Watershed GIS Specialist; Megan Hewitt, volunteer; and Rachel Grube, GIS/Watershed Specialist.  4.) View from the Jacqueline Munro Trail, looking over the Hanover Recreation fields and the now reclaimed Huber Bank. The new DHL Supply Chain facility is in the foreground.

North Branch Land Trust has been one of Earth Conservancy’s strongest partners over the years, most recently helping us to transfer over 4,000 acres into Pennsylvania’s state forest system, as well as adding in a critical section of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Trail. We were honored last night to join NBLT at its Annual Dinner & Auctions and receive its 2018 Community Stewardship award. Our thanks to NBLT and to all those who came out and supported the event. We look forward to many future collaborations with NBLT to preserve green and recreational spaces in the region, for now and for future generations.  Photos, left to right:  1.) NBLT’s Executive Director, Paul Lumia, awards EC staff the 2018 Community Stewardship Award, including Mike Dziak, EC’s President/CEO; Karen Warho, EC’s Administrative Specialist; Dr. Elizabeth Hughes, EC’s Director of Communications; Rick Ruggiero, Sr., EC’s Property Documentation Specialist & Survey Coordinator; and Geoff Shaw, EC’s Executive Administrator.  2.) EC staff views award, presented with artwork done by students from Wyoming Seminary Lower School. 3.) Laura Rinehimer and Shawnese Taylor, graduates of EC’s Environmental Workforce Training Program, volunteer at the auction. 4.) Warho and Ruggiero enjoying the opening reception.

A enormous congratulations is due to the graduates of our first cohort of the Environmental Workforce Training Program.  These students, who completed 205 hours of environmentally-focused coursework with our partner Penn State Wilkes-Barre, were positive, committed, and engaged.  And now they’re seeking new careers where they can use all the knowledge and skills they have learned.  Reach out to us here at Earth Conservancy if you’re looking to hire!  Thank you to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its support of the EWT Program through an EWDJT grant.  Thank you also to our other partners who helped us in so many ways, including PA CareerLink Luzerne County at Wilkes-Barre, PA Careerlink Lackawanna, EPCAMR, EOTC, our local VA office, many area companies, and the four workforce development boards that make up the 12-county region the program serves:  Luzerne-Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, the Lackawanna County and Pocono Counties Workforce Development Boards, and the Northern Tier Regional Planning Development Commission.  None of this could have happened without all of you.

Pictured below, from left to right:  Jane Ashton, Director of Continuing Education at Penn State Wilkes-Barre, addresses attendees; Steven Lee receives his certificate of completion; Erica Sidorowicz receives her certificate; program graduates, instructors, and administrators gather at PSU Wilkes-Barre for a group photo.

Earth Conservancy received an enormous boost to its Bliss Bank reclamation project.  On April 6, Governor Tom Wolf announced EC would receive one of 12 grants supporting cleanup and revitalization of abandoned mineland sites in Pennsylvania.  EC’s $2.5 million award will continue reclamation of the legacy site, including reconstruction of Espy Run, and add in infrastructure and utility connections. Funding from EC, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development will also underwrite different aspects of the overall project. Our deep thanks to Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for their ongoing support of and commitment to EC’s work.

Earth Conservancy was one of 39 accepted poster presentations at the 2017 National Brownfields Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.  Held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the conference featured a roster of speakers, workshops, and events over the course of three days covering brownfields revitalization around the country and the world.  It was a great opportunity to share the work EC has been doing here in northeastern Pennsylvania with so many invested in land recovery and reuse.  Pictured below:  Left: Dr. Elizabeth W. Hughes stands in front of EC’s poster presentation; Right: View looking west along the Allegheny River, towards Heinz Field from the roof of the Convention Center.

On November 14, 2017, Earth Conservancy received $2 million in state funding through the Multimodal Transportation Fund program.  The grant will support the construction of three access roads to will connect three reclaimed properties to the new South Valley Parkway in order to encourage economic development.  We thank Senator John Yudichak and Representative Gerald Mullery for helping to secure this funding, as well as their ongoing support of our mission of regional revitalization. We also extend our thanks to Reilly Associates, who assisted with preliminary engineering design for our application.  A truly exciting opportunity for Earth Conservancy and the communities we serve.

Earth Conservancy was both a presenter and exhibitor at the 19th Annual PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference, which was held on June 22 at Genetti’s in Wilkes-Barre. The day featured many interesting speakers who shared their thoughts and plans of dealing with AML impacts across the country – and in some cases, the world.  We were also happy to host guests at our Askam Borehole AMD Treatment System who toured sites showcasing – and solving – the impacts of legacy coalmining in the region the day before.  A big thanks and congratulations to all involved!  Images, from left to right:  1.) Dr. Elizabeth Hughes staffs Earth Conservancy’s informational exhibit.; 2.) The always popular, AML-themed magnetic poetry.; 3.) Staff of EPCAMR, celebrating near the end of a well-done conference.