SANDY CREEK CONSERVANCY Officials emphasize educational value

The cleanup of a decades-old asbestos pile resulted in a permanent green space.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
STONEBORO, Pa. -- The Sandy Creek Conservancy would like to see a newly designated wildlife/wetlands area be used in environmental education programs.
The 32-acre site, which includes about seven acres of 150-acre Sandy Lake, was created by agreement between the state, the property owner and the conservancy.
Under its terms, the owner, Lakeside Park Co., will retain ownership of the land but grant a "conservation easement" to the conservancy, which will become the steward of the land, ensuring nothing is ever built there.
Asbestos cleanup: The agreement grew out of the state Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) cleanup last fall of 15,000 tons of asbestos-contaminated waste material in a one-half acre pile on the site.
The asbestos pile was left by Franklin Manufacturing Co. which went out of business in 1923.
The land is now owned by Lakeside Park, who bore some responsibility for paying for the $1 million cleanup, said Craig Lobins, DEP's environmental cleanup program manager.
Green space: However, rather than make the company pay cash, the state decided a negotiated settlement creating a permanent green area would better serve the public, he said.
Lakeside Development gave up development rights valued at $347,000 on the property, he said.
Bill Kirk, Sandy Creek Conservancy vice president, said his group takes its responsibility seriously and is prepared to intervene should anyone ever try to develop the land. Much of it is a wetlands, he said.
The conservancy is a strong advocate of environmental education and would likely encourage high school and college science classes to conduct environmental visits to the site, he said.
The land will be open to public access, said Atty. Timothy McNickle, representing Julie Widel, the principal shareholder in Lakeside Park Co.
People will be able to hike on it and enjoy the natural setting, but they will also have a responsibility not to disturb it, he said.