A huge controversy is brewing in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania. It is thanks to a bunch of NIMBY's (Not In My Back Yard) orgainized in a groupo called The Army For a Clean Environment.
 If the "Army" had their way, this is how it would stay. |
As part of mine reclamation projects, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has a approved a plan to use River Sludge from New York to reclaim a mine pit in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania.
The Springdale Pit, a huge open pit left over from strip mining of Anthricite coal, is going to be filled up with River Sludge and Coal Fly Ash. The former surface mine pit is 300 feet deep, 2,500 feet long and 1,200 feet wide and straddles the boundaries of Coaldale, Summit Hill and Tamaqua boroughs. The DEP says its's safe and is a good way to reclaim the land left over from unsightly and more environmentally dangerous coal mining. Once the pit is filled, it can be used for parks, businesses, and homes. Right now it's an ugly mess. |
But despite the fact that the pit is unsightly and dangerous, concerned citizens have formed a grassroots organization called The Army For a Clean Environment. This "Amry" is led by local lawyer, Dante Picciano, who uses scare tactics and junk science to whip the citizens into an uproar.
From Times News On-line
[Kathleen] McGinty, secretary of the state Department of Enviromental Protection (DEP), came to town to conduct a DEP public meeting to learn what locals think about the government's decision to allow 'beneficial use' of river sludge and a fly ash/sludge mixture.
The combination, what many call a toxic cocktail, could be dumped into Springdale Pit.
McGinty was on the hotseat for most of the emotionally-charged session. A few dozen local residents sounded off with a barrage of opinons and questions about an issue in which the voice of the people has been largely ignored by a state environmental agency that McGinty said is "making tough decisions."
But the most dramatic moment took place 75 minutes into the meeting. Dr. Dante Picciano, Esq., founder of the 750-member Army for a Clean Environment, quietly awaited his turn at the microphone. As he stepped up and announced his name, he was welcomed by a standing ovation in tribute to his dedicated labors to protect his hometown region.
Using typical environmentalist ploys, citizens used their children as props, as their children held up signs and begged the big bad DEP not to killl them.
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
Our environment, both state and nationwide, has been and is continually cleaner now than in many many years
you forgot to click yer heels together when you said that.
2 - Tom
Of course you don't believe that. You are part of the problem. Look into some facts please.
Just 50 years ago cities like New York and Chicago would just dump raw sewage into our rivers and lakes.
Lake Erie was horribly polluted.
Smog was a horrible problem in cities like LA.
At the turn of the century industrial plants burned coal and oil without any scrubbers.
People would dump trash right into open pits without any regulations.
There are still things to clean up, but we are much better than years past.
3 - Mark Saleski
certainly some of that is true. heck, didn't a river catch on fire in cleveland?
i'm actually refering to recent attempt to weaken environmental laws under the label "Clean Skies"
i'm part of the problem?
sure mr. "junk sciece". spend a little less time praying before fox news, you've got a little on yer face.
4 - Mark Saleski
an by the way (this has nothing to do with this post, really) i was in a bookstore last night and saw this book and immediately thought, ya know...i bet t. bux has that on his shelf.
5 - Tom
What book?
6 - Tom
Actually I'm moved someone thought of me outside of blogsphere.
7 - Mark Saleski
there's a link right there in da comment man...
8 - Tom
It links back to this story.
9 - Mark Saleski
ah crap. sorry about that.
new and improved link here
10 - Tom
Actually, I don't have that book. I don't usually buy a lot of "coffee table books"
But I am going to the bookstore today to buy a new Patrick O'Brian novel, and I'll see what it's about.
11 - Mark Saleski
yea, i don't have many either. i lust after them, open the inside cover and go "holy crap, $75!".
then i get something else.
12 - Ms. Tek
Check used book stores.
My fans get them for me from there. Same book only cost them $5. I have a think for erotic photography, esp vintage. I can understand how pricey those books get. As I said, I'm lucky... people keep on the lookout for me and send them to me when they see one at a used bookstore.
I also lust after English books printed in the 18th and 19th centruty. I ran across a really nice one last summer. Cannot remember what the name was but the year was 1798. No water damage. Just musty-
185 quid (English pounds). Broke my heart I wanted it so badly!
13 - Mark Saleski
this is now completely off topic (my fault) but last summer: on the coast of maine in the town of searsport there's a used bookstore that i've driven by for at least 10 years. it never seems to be open when i get go by...anyway, last summer we finally stop in during our vacation. the place specializes in art and architecture coffee table books. thousands and thousands of them. it was weird (and cool).
i still didn't buy one though...got a book on Buddhism instead, then went back to town to drink beer.
14 - Hal Pawluk
Tom, can you provide a link to any info from DEP that shows what's in the fly ash?
It isn't necessarily a harmless concoction. It can contain all sorts of compounds and chemicals (e.g., burning of coal in power plants accounts for about 40% of the mercury pollution in this country).
The protestors could be right, based on the information I have so far. And if DEP is like the EPA under the current adminstration ...
15 - Tom
They do have some valid concerns, but the point isn't necessarily that they don't want Fly ash or sludge, they don't want ANYTHING in the pit. They are totally happy leaving the pit open.
The pit in it's curent state runs dangerous stuff into the Little Schuylkill river, which goes into the Schuylkill, which goes into the ocean.
Here is a link.
http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/BAMR/tamaqua/homepage.htm
This is from the DEP's website
Q: Is the fill material safe?
A; Yes. Before any sediment material is even considered for use as fill in a mine it must first be extensively sampled and analyzed in order to ensure that it is safe. The list includes a variety of heavy metals, pesticides, PCBs and other organic compounds that are a concern to public health and safety and the environment. Multiple samples are taken at several locations in a particular sediment area to ensure that the composition of the material is thoroughly understood and documented. These analyses results must pass strict standards set by DEP's Science Advisory Board. Only after the sediment material passes all tests, is it permitted to be used as fill.
Additionally, both DEP and Tamaqua Borough will conduct random sampling of the material as it arrives at the site to ensure that nothing has occurred between removal and placement to alter the material. The placement location of each day's delivery of material will be specifically recorded. If any day's testing fails, it will be removed for proper disposal.
The material that has been selected to come to Tamaqua from Fort Mifflin has already been tested in place and meets all the requirements for use as fill in this abandoned mine pit.
The idea of using dredged sediment for mine reclamation has been discussed over the last year with a committee of local conservation and watershed groups. They have examined much information regarding the analysis of this particular material and its ongoing uses along the banks of the Delaware River. They have also examined similar analyses of local farmland, mine spoil and the like and determined that there is very little difference in the quality of these materials.
Also, DEP has been reclaiming an abandoned surface mine in Clearfield County at the Bark Camp Mine Reclamation Laboratory using dredged sediments over the past four years with very positive results that clearly demonstrate the safety of the material.
16 - JR
What's wrong with that pit? It looks like dirtbike heaven to me.
17 - Hal Pawluk
Thanks for the link, Tom.
Sounds like DEP has done their homework. And they're right that the open area can cause additional harm through leaching of exposed materials.
No accounting for intelligence (or the lack thereof).
18 - bhw
Okay, Tom, please don't take this personally, but I've been to Tamaqua. I know someone who grew up there. And it's not, like, the most forward-thinking, progressive area of the U.S., you know?
In my experience with eastern PA [4 years of college and 3 years afterward], the coal mining regions are very slow to change. Some native Scrantonites, for example, call it the "mine mentality".
So the fact that they'd be more comfortable with things just the way they are doesn't really surprise me.
But I can't say I blame 'em for being skeptical about a government agency's claim that everything is just hunky-dory with the fill, either.
19 - Mark
Tom,
ACE is not an organization of "Not in my back yard" people. The fly ash and river dredge issue is a nationwide issue. We have set our goals to inform the general public of these pollution issues. These issues could be your back yard one day. I can see by your other op/ed articles on this site, that you think you know all. That is your opinion and in this nation, it is your right. I feel you should really look at both sides of the issue. It is people like you, who cry later when it happens to you!
Please read the article I posted from the Clean Air Task Force on Fly Ash water contamination. The report is a .pdf file, so you will need "Adobe Reader" to view it. Most computers have it and will be able to read this type of file format. The report is in this article on our website at:
http://www.armyforacleanenvironment.org/related_38.html
Mark Zovak
Army for a Clean Environment
www.armyforacleanenvironment.org
20 - Mark
Tom,
One other thing, ACE is against filling this pit or any mining pit. Why does it have to be filled with toxic materials? Could DEP use clean non-toxic fill materials to fill the pit?
Mark Zovak
ACE
21 - Mark
Tom,
Correction (type to fast)
One other thing, ACE is not against filling this pit or any mining pit. Why does it have to be filled with toxic materials? Could DEP use clean non-toxic fill materials to fill the pit?
22 - Steve
Tom,
As a resident of Tamaqua and a person who worked in that pit for 12 yrs. I can assure you that we, as residents, do want this pit filled. One thing you haven't taken into consideration is that most of the surrounding material in your photo and many of the mountains around our town are man-made with the original material removed from that pit. The problem is that none of the previous and current mine owners will use that material because it's not cost effective. So, we as citizens have to live with DEP's solution, totally trusting a government agency who has lied to us before. You should be outraged yourself as a tax payer because you are paying for this along with us through your tax dollars. The mine owner has closed down the mine operation laying off over 250 workers because he can make as much or more money with this sweet deal from our government. Again taxpayers paid through unemployment compensation benefits and job retraining. I personally feel that we are fighting a down hill battle because the logical conclusion I come to is that if we as "small town people" win this battle then all towns in our commonwealth can win this battle. This material has to be dumped somewhere, we unfortunately are the guinea pigs with not only one pit but several pits prime for the filling. Our only chance is an organization like ACE (of which I have no personal affliation) and a strong voice like Dr. Picciano's to fight for us. By the way, we are also located within 5 miles of a super fund site that was supposedly made clean but now several cases of a rare form of cancer are being studied within 2 miles of there. So before you pass judgement on us as residents, study the situation and get your assumptions straight. By the way I think for myself, thank you.