Subseries III, Reclamation Plans and Compendium, 1995-1996
Sub-Series
Scope and Content:
From the Collection:
The Earth Conservancy Project files, 1960-2003, bulk 1988-2001, contain materials documenting various aspects of the organization’s activity. The core mission of the Earth Conservancy is to address the impact of historical coal mining practices in Northeastern Pennsylvania and to restore the land’s economic, recreational, residential, and ecological value. Materials within the collection include papers outlining the origins of the organization, Board meeting minutes and executive committee meeting minutes, organizational policies, procedures, and bylaws, financial documentation via quarterly reports for various plans (SESLU, ARC, ROW, REES, ARPA), grant funding, budgeting, operating expenses, letters, environmental engineering projects from Wilkes professors and faculty, outreach projects, Earth Conservancy applications and accomplishments, newspaper clippings, handwritten notes, reclamation plans for acid mine damage and other proposed plants that were not completed, environmental assessments and soil assessments, maps, land evaluation due to mining, and mine beds in various folios throughout Luzerne County. This collection spans a wide range of years but the bulk of the material focuses on the organization in its early stages from 1988-2001.
The Earth Conservancy Project collection is arranged into ten series with some series arranged further into smaller subseries to reflect different components of the organization.
The first series, The Earth Conservancy Organization files, 1992-1997, is arranged into two subseries and highlights the Earth Conservancy Board of trustees meeting minutes, executive committee meeting minutes, organizational policies and procedures, bylaws, and other institutional records.
The second series, Committee Meetings, 1993-1997, contains member meetings minutes and bylaw committee meetings minutes.
The third series, Financial, 1983-2001, is arranged into four subseries and contains quarterly reports, finances for various projects, other budgeting and expenses, grants and grant proposals, the lawsuit between the Earth Conservancy and American Asphalt in 1997, and prospective Blue Coal land sales.
The fourth subseries, Earth Conservancy in Higher Education, 1988-1997, contains documents highlighting various environmental and recycling projects with some of Wilkes University’s faculty, and information on the Ben Franklin Partnership Program.
The fifth series, Correspondence, 1991-1997, contains letters, memorandums, program applications, Earth Conservancy accomplishments, newspaper clippings, the League of Women’s Voters article on the Earth Conservancy, and other brochures.
The sixth series, REES Plans, 1987-ca .1997, is arranged into four subseries and provides research and development on two parcels of land, Nanticoke 1 and Newport 4, as established by the Restoration of Environmentally Exploited Sites (REES), as well as a compendium of unapproved projects on other various land parcels in Luzerne County; this series also contains a joint proposal with the National Institute for Environmental Renewal for using a mixture of composted sewage slush and fly ash as a soil substitute in the Cleveland parcel and one of the Lauren Run Parcels.
There are also quarterly reports on REES activity and plans, as well as the final report of the entire initiative. The seventh series, Luzerne County Land Evaluation, 1963-1992, is arranged into four subseries and contains descriptions of mines and extraction in various panels and folios, rock formation, and soil assessments; this series also highlights flood assessments and subsidence potential. The eighth series, Earth Conservancy Memos, 1994-1996, contains various memorandums dealing with REES activities and projects, as well as several studies found through emails, letters, and surveys.
The ninth series, Kenneth Klemow’s Assessments, 2002-2003, provide insight on water quality investigation for wetlands and watersheds and their relationship to acid mine drainage.
The tenth series, Thomas Walski Reports, 1960-1997, is arranged into six subseries and contains research, planning, and associated press and finances in regards to the AMD wetland creation.
The Earth Conservancy Project collection is arranged into ten series with some series arranged further into smaller subseries to reflect different components of the organization.
The first series, The Earth Conservancy Organization files, 1992-1997, is arranged into two subseries and highlights the Earth Conservancy Board of trustees meeting minutes, executive committee meeting minutes, organizational policies and procedures, bylaws, and other institutional records.
The second series, Committee Meetings, 1993-1997, contains member meetings minutes and bylaw committee meetings minutes.
The third series, Financial, 1983-2001, is arranged into four subseries and contains quarterly reports, finances for various projects, other budgeting and expenses, grants and grant proposals, the lawsuit between the Earth Conservancy and American Asphalt in 1997, and prospective Blue Coal land sales.
The fourth subseries, Earth Conservancy in Higher Education, 1988-1997, contains documents highlighting various environmental and recycling projects with some of Wilkes University’s faculty, and information on the Ben Franklin Partnership Program.
The fifth series, Correspondence, 1991-1997, contains letters, memorandums, program applications, Earth Conservancy accomplishments, newspaper clippings, the League of Women’s Voters article on the Earth Conservancy, and other brochures.
The sixth series, REES Plans, 1987-ca .1997, is arranged into four subseries and provides research and development on two parcels of land, Nanticoke 1 and Newport 4, as established by the Restoration of Environmentally Exploited Sites (REES), as well as a compendium of unapproved projects on other various land parcels in Luzerne County; this series also contains a joint proposal with the National Institute for Environmental Renewal for using a mixture of composted sewage slush and fly ash as a soil substitute in the Cleveland parcel and one of the Lauren Run Parcels.
There are also quarterly reports on REES activity and plans, as well as the final report of the entire initiative. The seventh series, Luzerne County Land Evaluation, 1963-1992, is arranged into four subseries and contains descriptions of mines and extraction in various panels and folios, rock formation, and soil assessments; this series also highlights flood assessments and subsidence potential. The eighth series, Earth Conservancy Memos, 1994-1996, contains various memorandums dealing with REES activities and projects, as well as several studies found through emails, letters, and surveys.
The ninth series, Kenneth Klemow’s Assessments, 2002-2003, provide insight on water quality investigation for wetlands and watersheds and their relationship to acid mine drainage.
The tenth series, Thomas Walski Reports, 1960-1997, is arranged into six subseries and contains research, planning, and associated press and finances in regards to the AMD wetland creation.
Dates
- 1995-1996
Extent
From the Collection: 16 boxes (16 document boxes [16.672 linear feet] )
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Subseries II: Reclamation Plans and Compendium, 1995-1996
Subseries III: Reclamation Plans and Compendium, 1995-1996, (6.6-6.9, 7.1-7.6) contains the first two completed reclamation plans from September 1995 to June 1996 on parcels Nanticoke 1 and Newport 4, respectively, as well as a compendium (September 1996) of rejected parcels, including Hanover 16, Hanover 29, Hanover 34, Cleveland, Newport 6, Newport 28, and Conyngham West End #5. Each completed reclamation plan and compendium contains its own booklet, and each booklet contains an introduction to the Earth Conservancy and Restoration of Environmentally Exploited Sites, or REES, who is responsible for the reclamation plans for each parcel.
Nanticoke 1 (6.6-6.9), September 1995, is the first actual land reclamation effort to be carried out by the Earth Conservancy and Wilkes University. The booklet contains descriptions, a timber inventory report, topography, preliminary wetlands survey, NPDES permit application (which includes the historical resources determination notice, discovery of archaeological resources, erosion and sedimentation control plan, and photographic plates), articles of incorporation of the Earth Conservancy, 6 soil test pits, depth to bedrock, phase I environmental assessment, trash inventory and removal plan, seeding and mulching plan, preliminary records, reclamation plan summary, cost bids, three general maps, and four maps for the four plans the REES determined.
Newport 4 (7.1-7.3), June 1996, is the second parcel that the Earth Conservancy and Wilkes University has completed a reclamation plan for. Newport 4 has three main plans, and the booklet includes parcel description from August 1983, a timber inventory report, an NPDES application (which includes the same materials as Nanticoke 1), preliminary records, geology report, subsurface mining maps, 6 soil test pits, trash inventory and removal plan, phase I environmental assessment, selling lots, drainage, reclamation plan summary for earth moving, abstract of construction bids, model bid form for reclamation work, seeding and mulching plan, adjacent plans, four general area maps (including residential names to all houses surrounding the parcel), six plan maps (as Plan 2 is split into 4 sub plans), and bids from 1993 for the Tubs reclamation project, which was meant to serve as guide to the Earth Conservancy for reasonable costs for various reclamation activities.
The Compendium of Information of Miscellaneous Sites (7.4-7.6), September 1996, includes Hanover 16, Hanover 29, Hanover 34, Cleveland, Newport 6, Newport 28, and Conyngham West End #5. Such sites never became actual reclamation or compost sites, as they were rejected by the Earth Conservancy, An introduction for other sites that were not given further detail but were also rejected is also provided. Hanover 16 includes a parcel description, archaeological and historical survey, timber survey, potential subsidence, which includes maps where subsidence potential was computationally calculated, geology, OSM review, trash inventory and removal plan, pit measurements, and Buttonwood bore hole records. Hanover 16 was the only parcel that was originally going to be completed with Nanticoke 1 and Newport 4, but it was later deselected. Hanover 29, which was a potential reclamation site, includes a parcel description, historical survey, OSM review, and seven base maps. Hanover 34, which was investigated for general reclamation, includes a parcel description. Cleveland includes an aerial photograph, reduced contour map, OSM review, and bore hole records. Newport 6, which was considered to be a potential reclamation site and field test plot site, includes a parcel description and a bore hole map. Newport 28, which was planned to be used as a leaf and yard waste composting site, includes a parcel description, yard and leaf composting, erosion and sedimentation plan, and base maps for compost operation and erosion and sedimentation. Conyngham West End #5, which was a possible site for a general composting facility and is also the largest and most isolated parcel, includes a parcel description and a preliminary general composting site review.
An aerial photograph of each of these parcels are provided below for reference. It is important to note that road names provided in the photographs may not have had the same names when these reports were written (or even existed).
Nanticoke 1 (6.6-6.9), September 1995, is the first actual land reclamation effort to be carried out by the Earth Conservancy and Wilkes University. The booklet contains descriptions, a timber inventory report, topography, preliminary wetlands survey, NPDES permit application (which includes the historical resources determination notice, discovery of archaeological resources, erosion and sedimentation control plan, and photographic plates), articles of incorporation of the Earth Conservancy, 6 soil test pits, depth to bedrock, phase I environmental assessment, trash inventory and removal plan, seeding and mulching plan, preliminary records, reclamation plan summary, cost bids, three general maps, and four maps for the four plans the REES determined.
Newport 4 (7.1-7.3), June 1996, is the second parcel that the Earth Conservancy and Wilkes University has completed a reclamation plan for. Newport 4 has three main plans, and the booklet includes parcel description from August 1983, a timber inventory report, an NPDES application (which includes the same materials as Nanticoke 1), preliminary records, geology report, subsurface mining maps, 6 soil test pits, trash inventory and removal plan, phase I environmental assessment, selling lots, drainage, reclamation plan summary for earth moving, abstract of construction bids, model bid form for reclamation work, seeding and mulching plan, adjacent plans, four general area maps (including residential names to all houses surrounding the parcel), six plan maps (as Plan 2 is split into 4 sub plans), and bids from 1993 for the Tubs reclamation project, which was meant to serve as guide to the Earth Conservancy for reasonable costs for various reclamation activities.
The Compendium of Information of Miscellaneous Sites (7.4-7.6), September 1996, includes Hanover 16, Hanover 29, Hanover 34, Cleveland, Newport 6, Newport 28, and Conyngham West End #5. Such sites never became actual reclamation or compost sites, as they were rejected by the Earth Conservancy, An introduction for other sites that were not given further detail but were also rejected is also provided. Hanover 16 includes a parcel description, archaeological and historical survey, timber survey, potential subsidence, which includes maps where subsidence potential was computationally calculated, geology, OSM review, trash inventory and removal plan, pit measurements, and Buttonwood bore hole records. Hanover 16 was the only parcel that was originally going to be completed with Nanticoke 1 and Newport 4, but it was later deselected. Hanover 29, which was a potential reclamation site, includes a parcel description, historical survey, OSM review, and seven base maps. Hanover 34, which was investigated for general reclamation, includes a parcel description. Cleveland includes an aerial photograph, reduced contour map, OSM review, and bore hole records. Newport 6, which was considered to be a potential reclamation site and field test plot site, includes a parcel description and a bore hole map. Newport 28, which was planned to be used as a leaf and yard waste composting site, includes a parcel description, yard and leaf composting, erosion and sedimentation plan, and base maps for compost operation and erosion and sedimentation. Conyngham West End #5, which was a possible site for a general composting facility and is also the largest and most isolated parcel, includes a parcel description and a preliminary general composting site review.
An aerial photograph of each of these parcels are provided below for reference. It is important to note that road names provided in the photographs may not have had the same names when these reports were written (or even existed).
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu