Press Releases: DEP SECRETARY JOINS COALS PARTNERS AS NEW DUMP CLEANUP FUND IS ESTABLISHED
Posted on Friday, 07 October 2005 (15:06:28) EDT by admin
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Partners Commit Nearly $186,000 in Contributions, In-Kind Services Over Two Years
10/7/2005
SOURCE: Dan Spadoni
DEP North Central Regional Office
MOUNT CARMEL, Northumberland County – Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty and 17 companies and communities today committed nearly $186,000 over two years to cleanup illegal dump sites under a new multi-county initiative called Clean Up Our Anthracite Lands and Streams, or COALS. The group made its first deposit at Union National Bank to help finance the effort that has been under way since April.
“Residents of Pennsylvania’s anthracite region contributed immeasurably to the strength of our nation,” McGinty said. “Our coal towns sacrificed and labored to power this country through two world wars and build the industrial strength of America. Now, Governor Rendell is determined to honor these contributions by helping to rebuild these communities.”
The funds deposited today are being administered by a partnership among the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy and PA Cleanways, a Greensburg-based environmental organization that focuses on dumping and littering education and cleanups.
COALS was developed after a December 2004 tour of illegal dumpsites on coal company and county properties. Using a multi-faceted approach, which includes recycling, education, enforcement and innovation, DEP staff has developed a coalition of committed partners to direct and fund the program. McGinty helped to launch COALS officially in April.
Between April 15 and June 23, DEP oversaw dump cleanups on Big Mountain Road, the Whaleback and Snake Road in Northumberland and Columbia counties. To date, 54.4 tons of tires and 125 tons of municipal waste have been removed at a cost of $16,310. A final fall cleanup at these same three sites is scheduled to begin Oct. 29.
“The education and enforcement components of the COALS program also are very important if we want to ensure that dumping does not recur once these sites are cleaned up,” McGinty said.
Enforcement efforts to bring illegal dumpers to justice as part of the COALS program have been under way since last spring. DEP already has issued 22 summary citations to responsible parties, which has resulted in 14 guilty verdicts and six others waiting court dates. In addition, DEP has issued three notice of violation letters to responsible parties.
State and local law enforcement agencies have been working with DEP, and the four local district justices have strongly supported the enforcement activities.
DEP’s Waste Management Program staff has begun meeting with 18 area municipalities in Columbia and Northumberland counties to explain COALS and enlist their support. The focus is on education, site evaluation, surveillance and recycling.
COALS has proved to be a successful model for others in Pennsylvania to follow. The department also is developing a similar program in its Northeast Regional Office to address the long-standing problem of large, illegal dumps that have become all too commonplace in the anthracite coal region.
For more information on waste management, visit DEP’s Web site at www.dep.state.pa.us, Keyword “Waste Management.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Listed below are the major contributors in the COALS initiative and their financial contributions for 2005 and 2006:
· Mount Carmel Cogen Inc./Susquehanna Coal Co. --- $25,000 (includes $15,000 cash and $10,000 for surveillance cameras that already have been purchased)
· Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy --- $23,794 (as provide by DEP)
· Girard Estate --- $10,000
· Pagnotti Enterprises Inc. (Jeddo Coal Co.) --- $10,000
· Reading Anthracite --- $10,000
· AQUA America --- $3,000
· Blaschak Coal Corp. --- $2,000
· Shamokin Filler Coal Co. Inc. --- $1,500
· Eastern Industries Inc. --- $1,000
· Louis DeNaples --- $72,000 of in-kind services
· Waste Management of Central Pennsylvania --- $24,000 of in-kind services
· Mount Carmel Borough --- $2,500 of in-kind services
· Mount Carmel Area School District --- $1,100 of in-kind services
Other partners providing volunteer support for the COALS initiative include the following: PA Cleanways, Habitat for Wildlife, Mahanoy Creek Watershed Association and Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance.
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