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mark_g@newsitem.com
COAL TOWNSHIP
Environmentalists on the federal, state, county and local levels joined forces Wednesday morning to see firsthand the severe littering problem on local coal lands and make suggestions on what can be done to alleviate the dilemma.
Cleaning up the environment and making it safer are the common goals of approximately 30 people who bravely participated in a two-hour tour of mountainous areas in Coal and Mount Carmel townships on the coldest day of the winter season.
Various recommendations were made during the tour that could help combat the littering problem. Among the suggestions are better cooperation among government officials and land owners, stiffer fines, additional funding, widespread and more efficient recycling efforts, community awareness programs and abolishing a longstanding apathetic attitude toward littering.
The group met at Daveâ Taxidermy on East Sunbury Street in Shamokin, a business owned by local environmentalist Dave Kaleta, who coordinated the gathering and has spearheaded a volunteer effort over the past three years to clean up coal lands and alleviate the littering problem.
The first stop on the tour was coal land area beyond the third patch of Bear Valley, near the mammoth rock formation known as the Whaleback. As vans, trucks and sport utility vehicles made their way up the rocky, dirt road, tons of garbage could been lying in the brush.
And even before the caravan of vehicles could proceed to the area, siding and other construction materials that appeared to be dumped on the road had to be removed.
At the site, Kaleta addressed the group and invited others to offer comments.
We need to protect areas like this and clean up the garbage we see all around us, he said. When business people come into the area and learn that the coal region is a dumping ground for litterers, it detracts them from establishing businesses here. And that really hurts a community like ours.
Dave Porzi of Mount Carmel, an all-terrain vehicle rider and off-road enthusiast, said many ATV operators travel through the coal lands owned by the county and coal companies. He said some ATV operators don't care about the environment, while others appreciate it and enjoy riding just for the sport of it.
He said local and county officials and land owners could turn a negative into a positive by converting some of the coal lands into motocross parks similar to the successful operation established in the Tremont area.
Steve Shrawder, a representative of Reading Anthracite, which owns a great deal of the coal lands in the area, said coal company officials have already opened up some of their property to ATV riding and hunting and would be willing to consider doing the same in the Shamokin area.
Northumberland County Tourism Director Tom Kutza, who has compiled a lot of historical information about the Whaleback, suggested making the site into a state or national tourist attraction, which would help boost the local economy.
Susan Zaner, a volunteer with Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance (SCRA), said people cited for littering should be held accountable for cleaning up their garbage.
After leaving the Bear Valley area, the group headed to a mine reclamation area near Excelsior that offered a beautiful view on the clear, brisk morning.
While at the site, Kaleta said the recent closing of a nearby transfer station has probably prompted more people to dump garbage illegally.
Kris Krebs, a wildlife conservation officer with the Pennsylvania Game Commission assigned to Northumberland County, advised local and county officials to encourage district justices to impose stiffer fines on litterers.
Krebs, who previously worked in Centre County where littering problems on state game land and elsewhere are minimal, said a full-time litter control officer and a solid waste collection system have made a big difference in that county.
Steve Bartos, operations manager for the waste management program for the northcentral region for the state Department of Environmental Protection in Williamsport, concurred with Krebs suggestions and also noted that his department can impose stiffer fines on litterers than the game commission.
We don't need to go through the district justice office to prosecute litterers, Bartos said.
Bartos said more comprehensive recycling programs and overall community support will go a long way in curbing littering in the area.
Leanne Bjorklund, a volunteer with SCRA, cited the need to educate elementary and high school students about the ramifications.
Northumberland County Commissioner Kurt Masser and state Sen. John Gordner (R-27) pledged their support. Masser said people need to take a more proactive approach.
The thought of this area being a dumping ground has been ingrained in our minds for generations, and we must change our thinking and do whatever we can to stop the widespread littering, he said.
Gordner added, I will seek whatever funding is available to help this cause because it's vital that we keep the environment clean. More people should recycle, and communities should have widespread cleanup projects periodically where old appliances, tires, furniture and other items could be collected and disposed of legally.
Proposals made
At the outset of the tour, Kaleta presented the group with proposals for cleaning up the environment.
His proposals include setting higher fines and making litterers clean up their garbage or pay restitution for the cleanup. He said repeat offenders should face jail time.
He also said a system needs to be established to pay groups or contractors to clean up litter after restitution is paid by the offender. He also suggested initiating a state disposal tax to be paid at the time tires, appliances, furniture, computers and other large items are purchased.
The local environmentalist said a government-operated waste transfer station would alleviate littering problems and suggested mandating disposal receipts for demolition and building debris.
Kaleta said annual and bi-annual community trash pickups should be held. He encouraged county and private land owners to enroll in the game commission's Forest Game Project that involves installing gates on mapped and main back roads, blocking or destroying side roads and authorizing timbering to pay for gates, garbage disposal, trespassing signs and liability insurance. And, He urged local newspaper officials to print the names of offenders.
Also attending the tour were Pennsylvania Department of Conservation & Natural Resources Forester Robert Martynowych and several other Bureau of Forestry, DEP and game commission officials; Northumberland County Commissioner Frank Sawicki, Coal Township Commissioner Edwin Griffiths, Russ Gunton, an agriculture field representative from U.S. Rep. Don Sherwood's office; Mick Petroski, an aide for state Rep. Robert Belfanti; Paul Eby, pastor of Restoration Ministries in Coal Township; Jerry Zona of Pennsylvania Cleanways; SEDA-COG official Jeff Stover, and officials from the Northumberland County Conservation District.
Kaleta was impressed with the turnout for the tour.
It shows that people care about the environment, especially considering how cold it was, Kaleta said.
He thanked those who participated, and particularly praised Eby for chauffeuring people to and from the sites in his church van.
Kaleta said anyone interested in becoming part of Habitat for Wildlife is urged to call him at 644-1547.
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