EPA Mid-Atlantic Administrator tours Pennsylvania infrastructure
Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey toured Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Valley to review brownfield reclamation and water infrastructure.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mid-Atlantic Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey recently completed a multi-day tour of Pennsylvania’s Wyoming Valley to evaluate regional water infrastructure, energy facilities, and land restoration projects.
The visit included meetings with local leaders and utility operators to discuss the integration of federal technical support with community-level environmental management.
Land Restoration and Watersheds
During the tour, Van Blarcom-Lackey met with the Earth Conservancy to review the Nanticoke Creek Watershed Restoration Project in Ashley. Supported by a $1.9 million EPA Brownfields cleanup grant, the project is designed to restore 15,000 linear feet of stream and reconnect upper and lower watersheds. The work focuses on mitigating acid mine drainage from legacy coal mining in Luzerne County to improve water quality and revive aquatic habitats.
Wastewater and Water Quality
The administrator visited several water treatment facilities to discuss pollution control and regulatory compliance:
- Lackawanna River Basin Sewer Authority: Officials in Throop discussed the management of wastewater across the watershed, focusing on strategies to reduce pollution from mine drainage and manage stormwater. The authority is also coordinating with stakeholders on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) monitoring.
- Scranton Wastewater Treatment Plant: Operated by Pennsylvania American Water, this facility serves approximately 30,000 customers. The tour focused on investments made under a 2013 EPA consent decree and a long-term control plan to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) into the Lackawanna River.
Energy Infrastructure
The tour concluded with a review of regional energy production and emission reduction initiatives:
- Archaea Energy Assai Facility: In Throop, discussions centered on the recovery of methane from landfills. The facility captures waste emissions to convert them into renewable natural gas (RNG) and electricity, a process designed to reduce overall emissions at the site.
- Invenergy Lackawanna Energy Center: In Jessup, the administrator toured a 1,485-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas facility. The visit highlighted the role of high-efficiency generation and energy storage in maintaining power grid reliability during the broader transition of energy portfolios.
Van Blarcom-Lackey, who has served in her role since April 2025, noted that the visits were intended to identify how federal tools and technical support can assist in protecting local natural resources and public health.
