BLISS BANK
_________________________
In Progress • 200 acres • Nanticoke, Hanover Township, & Newport Township, Luzerne County, PA
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The 200 acres of Bliss Bank were mined extensively by the Blue Coal Corporation, and then left ravaged with massive culm banks and pits. As shown in the pre-reclamation photos, little could survive on the black piles. Mining activity also disrupted local hydrology, with engineers diverting Espy Run, a local stream, underground so as not to hinder production.
EC’s work on Bliss started in 2005, with the removal and reprocessing of the coal piles for electrical co-generation. Phased reclamation then began in 2014. Work at the Bliss site also includes reconstruction of over 6,000 feet of damaged stream channel (i.e., the Espy Run Stream Restoration Project). In total, the projects will move approximately 830,000 cubic yards of material.
July 2021 | Phase I, II, and III sold to NorthPoint Development. Two buildings are planned for the site.
May 2021 | Reclamation of Phase III completed.
June 2020 | EC awarded $2.8 million grant for Phase IV reclamation from PA DEP through the AML Pilot Program (±22 acres),
August 2019 | Proposals solicited for design services for Bliss Bank, Phases IV & V (±42 acres / ±50 acres).
June 2019 | EC receives $500,000 Brownfields Cleanup grant from US EPA for Phase V.
May 2019 | Bids for Phase III received. James T. O’Hara, Inc., engaged as lowest qualified bidder.
April 2019 | RFP published soliciting bids for reclamation of Phase III, which also includes part of Espy Run reconstruction, utility tie-ins, and access road work.
October 2018 | EC solicits bids for engineering services for Phase III. G. Albert is selected as lowest qualified bidder.
April 2018 | EC awarded $2.5 million grant through the AML Pilot Program for reclamation of Phase III (±22 acres), which also will include roadway, stream (Espy Run), and utility work.
January 2018 | T. Brennan mobilizes and begins reclamation of Phase II.
June 2017 | Reilly Associates completes plans & specifications and permitting requirements; and solicit bids for construction work. T. Brennan is selected as the lowest qualified bidder. US EPA awards two $200,000 Brownfields Cleanup grants for Phase III.
August 2016 | EC seeks engineering consultant for Phase II through public ad. Reilly Associates is selected.
July 2016 | EC has site flown to develop current topographic maps for future phases of work.
April 2016 | Phase I plans revised to accommodate shortfall of material. EC receives $734,600 PA DEP Growing Greener award for Phase II (±22 acres).
October 2015: Part of reclamation is complete and is seeded. Earthwork continues and completion of detention basin is delayed due to water/mud.
March 2015 | Stell starts reclamation work.
November – December 2014 | EC publicly advertises for construction services for Phase I. Contract is awarded to Stell Enterprises, the lowest qualified bidder.
August 2014 | Engineer finalizes plans and specifications, as well as permitting submissions.
January 2014 | PA DEP awards EC a $928,000 Growing Greener grant for reclamation of Bliss Bank, Phase I.
June 2013 | EC publicly solicits bids for engineering services. EC engages Quad 3 Group, the lowest qualified bidder.
May 2013 | EC awarded two $200,000 Brownfields Cleanup grants from US EPA for the Phase I project.
February 2013 | EC awarded $46,750 Growing Greener grant from PA DEP to support engineering design for reclamation of Bliss Bank, Phase I (±40 acres).
July 2007 | Removal of 125,000 tons of material completed, which equates to ±48,000 MW of electricity. Stabilization of site occurs and area is seeded in the fall.
June 2007 | New haul route approved by PA DEP, which reduces transportation costs.
April 2007 | Alternative haul road constructed, per PA DEP requirements; removal of material begins.
March 2007 | Additional $88,000 in Energy Harvest funding awarded to increase amount of culm processed.
November 2005 | PA DEP awards EC $602,000 Energy Harvest grant for remining of culm banks at Bliss for cogeneration of electricity.
FUNDING
$1,164,559 – US EPA, Brownfields Cleanup Program
$1,710,720 – PA DEP, Growing Greener Program
$2,475,200 – PA DEP, AML Pilot Program
$570,900 – PA DCED, Multimodal Transportation Fund
$1,487,800 – EC
VIDEO
Transformation of the Lower South Valley (NorthPoint Development, November 2023)
Bliss Bank | Pre-reclamation
Aerial view of Bliss Bank. Legacy minelands continue for over 1,000 acres along Little Wilkes-Bare Mountain, towards Warrior Run and Sugar Notch.
Note the variety of materials present. Some of this materials was able to be reused for cogeneration.
Looking out over the massive spoil piles of Bliss Bank.
Another view of the Bliss Bank mine spoils. Note the abandoned chair in the center of the image to comprehend the bank’s size.
Bliss Bank, Phase I
A bulldozer works on moving material as part of the grading process.
View of the graded pad of Phase I, nearing completion.
Topsoil is spread across the site to cap the spoil material and create a base for vegetation.
Seeding of Bliss Bank, Phase I, in September 2015.
Grass sprouting along slope and detention basin in November 2015.
Reclaimed pad of Bliss Bank, Phase I, hosting a flock of turkeys in October 2016.
Bliss Bank, Phase II
Looking south on unreclaimed sections of Bliss Bank, Phase II.
Start of earthwork on Bliss Bank, Phase II.
Grading operations begin.
Looking north on the Bliss Bank, Phase II site.
Grading operations near completion.
Seeding completed on bank of detention basin.
View of detention basin on Bliss Bank, Phase II.
Bliss Bank, Phases I & II reclaimed (2019)
Bliss Bank, Phase III
Overview of Bliss Bank, Phase III, next to the reclaimed Phases I & II.
Reclamation underway on Phase III.
Nearing completion of filling the pit.
Bliss Bank, Phase III, reclaimed (2020).
Site Development, Bliss Bank, Phases I – III
Sitework by NorthPoint Development underway. Dynamic compaction is visible on back pad.
Building I under construction (Bliss P3).
Building 1 nearly complete (Bliss P3); building 2 under construction (Bliss P1&2).
Both buildings complete and in operation (2022).
Bliss Bank, Phase IV
Bliss IV, prior to start of reclamation. Bliss I-III is to the left; Espy Run is to the right. (2022)
Bliss IV reclamation gets underway. (2023)
Grading operations at Bliss IV involve moving piles of spoils/overburden to fill large depressions on other areas of site (September 2023).
West side of Bliss IV site, with revegetation and reclamation complete (2023).
East side of Bliss IV site, with reclamation nearly complete (2023).