2. EC – a brief history
Earth Conservancy was formed as a non-profit, 501(c) (3) corporation in
1992 by a group of citizens concerned about the future of dormant mine
scarred lands in Luzerne County through partnerships with government,
business and educational institutions and community organizations
In 1994 Earth Conservancy purchased 16,496 acres from the estate of the
former Blue Coal Corporation, which had declared bankruptcy in the mid-
1970s, with a $14 million federal grant and $2 million in private sector
funding
The group’s mission was to reclaim and re-utilize former coal company-
owned lands in ways that best served the local communities
The Land Use Plan addresses all of EC’s 16,496 acres. Completed in
1996, the Plan took more than 16 months to complete, included more than
38 participants representing 11 Luzerne County municipalities and was.
The Plan recommended that approximately 10,000 acres be used as
recreational and open space, approximately 2,200 acres for industrial
development, approximately 2,800 acres for residential development, and
other small amounts of acreage be used for commercial and institutional
development. At the time of its completion, there was no other long-term
comprehensive plan for the region.
To date, Earth Conservancy has reclaimed 1,663 acres at a cost of $31.4
million
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3. Vision and Mission Statements
Vision Statement: EC will lead and partner with communities in the reclamation of mine-
scarred lands and streams, returning strong economic, environmental and social value
by creating a well-planned vibrant valley, protected by green ridge tops.
Mission Statement: Earth Conservancy is a non-profit organization committed to the
reclamation and return of 16,000 acres of former coal company-owned land to the
region. It collaborates with local communities, government agencies, educational
institutions, and the private sector to spearhead the creation and implementation of
plans that restore the land's economic, recreational, residential and ecological value.
To achieve this objective, Earth Conservancy:
Develops sustainable land-use plans
Commits to provide 10,000 acres for recreation and open space
Leads reclamation efforts of mine scarred lands and water resources and guides
their reutilization
Funds its work through sale of Conservancy land and other resources and through
public and private sector partners
Partners with local communities to achieve our mission
Educates the community-at-large on environmental issues, the benefits of
reclamation and effective land-use planning.
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4. Land Use Planning
The Land Use Plan was completed in 1996
The Wyoming Valley Open Space Master Plan was completed in 1999
The Mixed Use Master Plan/South Valley Parkway Project was also completed in 1999
The Interstate 81 Exit 168/Route 115 Connector Road Master Plan was completed in 2003
The All-Terrain Vehicle Feasibility Study was completed in 2005
The Plymouth Township Land Use Feasibility Study was completed in 2006
The Reuse Analysis and Sustainable Redevelopment Framework for Earth Conservancy
South Valley Corridor Lands was completed in 2008
The Hanover Crossings Phases 3 and 4 & Hanover 9 Land Use Plan was completed in
2012
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5. Land Use Map
16,496 acres
21 municipalities
5 watersheds
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Identified 3,000 mine-scarred acres that will cost an
estimated $200 million to reclaim
Earmarked 2,200 acres for economic development;
2,800 acres for residential development; and
10,000 acres for open space
Proposed new transportation system that will create
safer and easier access to community amenities,
developable land and future reclamation sites
The Land Use Plan
Note: all colored land parcels owned by EC
• Green circle connotes initial reclamation focus
• Orange circle connotes secondary reclamation
focus
9. Earth Conservancy Yard Waste Compost
Facility
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• Serves 16 Luzerne County
Communities
• Processes 9K ton of material
annually
• To date has processed 133,000
ton of material
10. Watershed Reclamation – Espy
Run
Passive treatment system constructed in 1998 to treat
discharge along Espy Run, Tributary to Nanticoke
Creek and Susquehanna River, funded by U.S. EPA
and EC
2012 upgrade project added two ponds to the front
end to improve iron removal, funded by U.S. EPA and
EC
Pre- and post-construction data, taken by Eastern PA
Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, shows:1998 System
Treated 500 gpm
Removed 60% iron
Remainder bypassed
system and went directly
into stream
2012 System
Treats 770 gpm
Removes 90% iron
Treats entire
discharge and
releases into stream
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13. Askam Borehole AMD Treatment
System
The Project was included in the Section 206 Ecosystem Restoration –
Nanticoke Creek, Luzerne County, PA Detailed Project Report and
Integrated Environmental Assessment report, completed in 2005, for which
EC partnered with the DEP, DEP BAMR and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers to develop. It included plans for the comprehensive restoration of
the Nanticoke Creek Watershed. Report preparation cost $1 million. EC
has pursued individual projects from the plan as funding becomes
available.
$1 million project building on success of nearby constructed 2001wetland
pilot project put out of service by Askam Borehole collapse in 2008
Newly drilled boreholes required an innovative approach to treatment due
to small area for system
Use of Maelstrom Oxidizer™ allows for small footprint while enabling
system to treat higher volume of effluent and short holding time with better
iron removal results
Pilot project treated 500 gpm, while new system treats up to 7,500 gpm and
injects air into water as it passes through units allowing for quicker dropping
out of iron from water
Entire Nanticoke Creek passes through the oxidation units and into holding
pond then is released back into creek
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14. How the Maelstrom Oxidizer™
works
Test
Unit
Water flows via gravity or is
pumped into one end of the
unit (lower right)
As the tank fills, water fills the
rows of air pressurized
columns, injecting air bubbles
into water
Air is injected into the water
as it flows through the unit
Water exits the unit into a
settling pond, where iron
particle precipitate out of the
water
The aeration process allows
for a smaller pond and
shortened settling time
Iron removal rate is 99% without the addition of any chemicals
PA DEP inspections of units at the Penn Alleghany Coal Co. Maelstrom Oxidizer
AMD Treatment Site states that “the Maelstrom Oxidizer has been removing iron
to NPDES and Pa. DEP limitations from the first day of operation without the
addition of any chemicals.”
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15. Askam pre-construction
Aerial view shows project
site, location of new
boreholes and pilot site
Below is borehole, drilled
after collapse of old
borehole due to acid
erosion
New borehole made of
stainless steel
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16. Construction begins
Overview of small working area as seen from Route 29 and
cross-section with Dundee Road, lower right.
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17. Heavy iron deposits
Effluent
downstream
of the
borehole
Orange water
and residue
show
presence of
iron
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18. Working in tight space
Cleared area shows small area for oxidizer and
settling ponds
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21. Mid construction
System in position
Made up of three small units
New system is able to handle up to 7,500 gpm, treating entire
borehole effluent
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24. Pre- and post-construction
Water sampling is vital to showing success of project
EPCAMR staffer Mike Hewitt samples water upstream of the
borehole
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25. Earth Conservancy is dedicated to reclamation,
conservation, and economic development in the Wyoming
Valley
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