HARRISBURG – Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty Monday announced the first statewide summit for the Clean Our Anthracite Lands and Streams initiative will be held Nov. 29 at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the program’s mission and help DEP plot the future of COALS, including its proposed expansion statewide.
“We have an opportunity to use this innovative program to put a halt to illegal dumping across the commonwealth,” McGinty said. “That is a tall order, but the people of Pennsylvania and our state’s awesome natural beauty deserve no less.
“Illegal dumping stifles economic growth and lowers Pennsylvania’s quality of life and economic competitiveness,” McGinty said. “We are seeking to grow our partnership of private industry, landowners, environmental groups, community volunteers and government at all levels. Together, we can defeat illegal dumping now and in the future.”
The COALS partnership is a new approach to cleaning up and preventing illegal dumpsites. The focus of COALS is community awareness, evaluation of sites for cleanups, recycling as an alternative to dumping, and increased surveillance and enforcement of state and local statutes.
The purpose of the COALS summit is to bring program partners together to present their recent advances, ideas and experiences in illegal dump cleanup efforts, beautification projects, enforcement strategies and surveillance, gathering community support and involving the local media.
The event will focus on the future of COALS and programs addressing illegal dumping statewide.
To register for the summit, contact Angela Vitkoski at the Pennsylvania Environmental Council by telephone at (570) 718-6507, via e-mail at vitkoski@pecnepa.org or by mail at the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, 175 Main St., Luzerne, PA 18709.
The cost to attend is $15, payable to the Pennsylvania Environmental Council.
McGinty will deliver the keynote speech. Other topics and speakers on the agenda include the following:
· Shannon Reiter, president of PA CleanWays: “Locate & Calculate! Using the Illegal Dump Surveys.”
· Julia Marano, executive director of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful: “Have Fun 101 – Plant Flowers and Encourage Civic Pride.”
· Robert Hughes, regional coordinator of the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation: “Engage The People!”
· Steve Bartos, DEP COALS project manager: “Techno Tools for Enforcement.”
· Don Hagerich, DEP waste specialist: “Team Spirit, COALS Clubs.”
· Patti Olenick, DEP waste specialist: “Open Forum on the Future of COALS.”
· DEP Communications Office: “Catch the Media’s Eye.”
