Published: April 4, 2019 |

State Rep Aaron Kaufer speaks Tuesday about a reclaimation project in Swoyersville.
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State Sen. John Yudichak believes the Harry E mine reclamation project is a good illustration of how coal refuse companies are helping communities such as Swoyersville address the serious environmental impact of mine-scarred land.

“Rep. Aaron Kaufer and I support this important public-private partnership formed by the Department of Environmental Protection, the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation, and Olympus Power that will sustain energy jobs, eradicate 50 acres of blighted landscape, and create new open-space recreational opportunities for residents of Swoyersville Borough,” said Yudichak, D-Nanticoke.

Work began two weeks ago to remove more than 500,000 tons of waste coal that was deposited from mine operations between the mid-1800s and mid-1900s, said Matt Cochran, of Keystone Reclamation Fuel Management Co. in Morristown, New York.

Cochran said the public-private effort received a $4 million state grant to complete Phase I of the project, which would reclaim approximately 22 acres of the 55-acre site. Cochran said Phase II will address the remaining acreage.

“The first step is to reclaim 7 acres of the property,” Cochran said. “The property owner, Pagnotti Enterprises, will donate the 7 acres to Swoyersville Borough for a recreational facility. The remainder of the acreage will be reclaimed and turned over to the land owner, Pagnotti Enterprises.”

Swoyersville Mayor Chris Concert said the project was a long time coming.

“A lot of people would say they would believe it when they see it. Well, we are seeing it today,” Concert said. “They have been hauling trucks out every day and we have had no complaints. The operation is running very smoothly.”

Concert said his vision is to build a “peace and quiet” park that the town’s elderly could enjoy.

“I don’t want to see a lot of swings or another ballpark,” Concert said. “But that’s my vision. I want to see a lot of green and a pavilion. And I would like to see a monument honoring coal miners built, too.”

Kaufer, R-Kingston, was pleased to see the project get underway.

“I hope that the land owner will develop the land to add to the borough’s tax base,” Kaufer said.

The estimated 10-year project — Phase I and Phase II — involves removing more than 4 million cubic yards of coal waste and rock material from the site off Main Street in Swoyersville. The material was generated from the Harry E. Coal Breaker, which ceased operations in the 1970s and was dismantled in 1995.

Source: Times Leader

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