January 24, 2000
LUZERNE COUNTY MINE RECLAMATION PROJECT ONE OF FIRST
APPROVED UNDER STATE’S NEW GROWING GREENER PROGRAM
HARRISBURG, January 13, 2000 -- A Luzerne County mine reclamation project is one of the first to be funded under Pennsylvania’s new Growing Greener program, state Sen. Raphael J. Musto and Rep. John T. Yudichak announced today.
Musto said the state Department of Environmental Protection will be seeking bids for a mine reclamation project at the East Askam site in Hanover Township. He said the project will cover 31.2 acres and include backfilling three strip pits. The project is located in the Hanover Industrial Park, a Keystone Opportunity Zone.
"Reclaiming this site will not only improve the environment and eliminate potential threats to public health and safety," Musto said, "it will also make the area more attractive to economic development."
Yudichak said Growing Greener projects totaling $5.1 million were announced today. He said the cost of the Luzerne County mine reclamation project will not be known until a low bidder is selected.
Musto, Democratic chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, played a key role in developing Growing Greener, a five-year, $650 million investment in the state’s environmental future. Growing Greener will help protect open space, clean up abandoned mines, preserve farmland, restore watersheds, improve maintenance in state parks, develop new and upgraded water and sewer systems, help communities deal with land use issues and fund recreational trails and local parks. The program will spend $105.9 million in its first year and $135 million a year for the next four years.
For more information contact Mike Cotter @ 570-654-1483 or mcotter@dem.pasen.gov