Milestones - Press Release - February 25, 2000  
Funding for Environmental Restoration Plan for Nanticoke Creek
 
Congressman Paul Kanjorski and Dr. Joseph W. Westphal, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, announced on February 24, 2000 that approximately $600,000 will be spent to determine the ideal method of cleaning up the Nanticoke Creek Watershed. The Nanticoke Creek watershed covers approximately five square miles in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and includes the Nanticoke Creek as well as its two tributaries, Leuder Creek and Espy Run.
Assistant Secretary of the Army Tours Pennsylvania GIS Consortium and Receives Briefing About GIS Environmental Master Plan
 
While in Northeastern Pennsylvania on February 25th at the invitation of Congressman Kanjorski, Dr. Westphal toured the Pennsylvania GIS Consortium to learn first-hand about the GIS Environmental Master Plan. Alex Rogers, Dale Bruns, and Bill Toothill gave the briefing to Dr. Westphal and his staff.
Assistant Secretary of the Army Westphal, Congressman Kanjorski, and Alex Rogers visit the Bloomsburg Flood Control Project and Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project
 
Dr. Joseph W. Westphal, who oversees the Army Corps of Engineers, Congressman Paul Kanjorski, and Alex Rogers met with local, county and state officials to discuss the proposed flood protection project for Bloomsburg. The Army Corps of Engineers provides nationwide water resource development and management, including flood control projects. Dr. Westphal also toured the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project and discussed the status of the project.
American Heritage Rivers Initiative Steering Committee Meets to Discuss "Water Quality and Hydrology"
 

On February 25, 2000, the American Heritage Rivers Steering Committee met to exchange information about water quality and hydrological data in the specific tributary watersheds of the Susquehanna River to determine the utility if these data for an overall, comprehensive watershed assessment. During this meeting several presentations were made in the following categories: Lackawanna River watershed (northern end of the anthracite field), Mainstream tributary watersheds in the Wyoming Valley (southern end of the anthracite field), Nescopeck Creek watershed (eastern and western portions of the anthracite field), and Shamokin Creek watershed (southern anthracite field). Each of these presentations addressed historic and ongoing water quality monitoring data, data gaps, needs and priorities, identification of water quality problem areas (including abandoned mine outfalls and wastewater treatment facilities), and promoting data coordination, fusion, and exchange on a comprehensive basis for the watershed.

Milestones - Press Release - February 10, 2000
  President Clinton's 2001 Budget Includes $250 Million for Anthracite Reclamation Bonds  
     
  President Clinton's Fiscal Year 2001 Budget includes $250 million in bonds for the environmental reclamation and economic development of the anthracite coal region in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania. Under the President's proposal, a state or local governmental entity would be authorized to approve $250 million in bonds over five years for the purpose of repairing land damaged by anthracite coal mining. The holder of those bonds would be eligible for a federal tax credit equal to the interest a similar investment would earn. This method would allow a small amount of revenue foregone by the federal government to be leveraged to finance a comprehensive clean up.