Earth Conservancy: A Retrospective - Retired President/CEO Mike Dziak Looks Back on EC's Legacy
02.28.2020
Northeastern Pennsylvania -
Mike Dziak, a humble son of a coal-mining family, can point to raw statistics as proof of the tremendous impact that Earth Conservancy has had on Northeastern Pennsylvania.
8,860 acres of former anthracite industry land, valued at $44.8 million, sold for many uses.
719 acres, valued at $3.5 million, donated.
5,919 acres remaining for a variety of uses, including more open spaces.
To the acreage numbers can be added industrial, commercial and residential growth that adds or will add to tax bases; a major transportation initiative in the South Valley Parkway, and a successful yard waste composting facility serving 16 communities.
For most of Earth Conservancy's 28-year history, Mike Dziak has been at the helm, guiding the non-profit corporation through development of land use plans and implementing those plans. Dziak has done it with a small staff (there are only seven EC employees, including two who run the composting site in Newport Twp.).
Dziak, who retired effective Jan. 31, says the credit starts with the vision of former Congressman Paul Kanjorski, and extends through some “great board members” over the years and supportive partners in the private and public sectors.
“Paul Kanjorski does not get enough credit for the creation of Earth Conservancy. This probably is his greatest accomplishment,'' Dziak says.
As he transitioned into retirement, Dziak got his own high marks. John D. McCarthy Jr., chairman of the EC board, lauded Dziak's “tireless work ethic'' that “made Earth Conservancy what it is today.''
“We are going to miss him. He's fantastic,'' McCarthy said.
Blue Coal Corporation, once the premier coal mining company in the region, went into bankruptcy in December 1976. It languished in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Middle District of Pennsylvania until 1992 when Kanjorski began engineering use of federal funds to buy 16,496 acres of land for $14.6 million.
There were others with eyes on the land and the entire story of how the sale came about to a non-profit has never been revealed. Dziak said even he does not know the story.
But, in 1994, as Earth Conservancy began operations in the former Blue Coal offices on South Main Street, Ashley, Dziak was hired and this vision statement was drafted: “EC will lead and partner with communities in the reclamation of mine-scarred land and streams, returning strong economic, environmental and social value by creating a well-planned vibrant valley, protected by green ridge tops.''
The first land use plan was finalized in 1995; a Wyoming Valley open space master plan came out in 1999, followed by a plan that included the South Valley Parkway project; the Interstate 81/Exit 168 plan, a South Valley land use plan and Hanover Crossings plan, plus others.
The 200-acre Huber Colliery culm bank in the Preston section of Hanover Twp. was removed, and today, massive warehouses dot the landscape from Hanover south to Nanticoke. The parkway is open to Luzerne County Community College, and one day it will extend deep into land-rich Newport Twp.
Meanwhile, land reclamation continues and acid mine drainage woes are being attacked. Of the 16,496 acres purchased, EC has conveyed 7,813 acres to open space, including state forest land, game lands and trails.
“Our goal is 10,000 acres allocated to open space,'' Dziak said. Creating and maintaining those “green ridge tops'' mentioned in the vision statement is one of his proudest accomplishments.
The donated land includes parcels for baseball, football, soccer and all-purpose fields in Ashley and Hanover Twp.
Dziak did some behind-the-scenes work on behalf of the wider community. When Luzerne County could not get The Reading Company to cooperate on the Ashley Planes Heritage Park concept, Dziak tried to get the California-based firm to donate or sell land needed for the park. He and others that he enlisted in that effort were unsuccessful and the county later pulled out, killing the park and thwarting development of the Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Corridor trail down the planes into Ashley.
During his tenure, EC donated 3.1 acres just south of the EC building to allow creation of the Anthracite Miners' Memorial Park.
Earth Conservancy has won many awards under Dziak's leadership, including the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence (multiple times) and the North Branch Land Trust's Community Stewardship Award.
Dziak is a native of Exeter Borough. Both grandfathers were coal miners, one in Jenkins Twp. and the other in Duryea. He was reared in a neighborhood rich in anthracite history with all of the social and ethnic flavors of that era.
He joined the Navy and had reported for training in January 1959 when word flashed nationwide of the Knox Mine Disaster in Jenkins Twp., across the river from his hometown. Dziak spent three of his four years in the Navy as an instructor at the U.S. Navy Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Dziak then earned a degree in commerce and financing, with a minor in engineering, from Wilkes College. His work career included stints at American Chain & Cable Co., RCA Corporation and IBM Corporation.
When Earth Conservancy advertised for a president/chief executive officer, Dziak applied and won the job. Despite some negative vibes in the community, Dziak said he and the first board put a plan into place “to make it (the non-profit's vision) happen. We felt EC's success would speak for itself.”
Dziak married Kingston native Rae Phillips, who he met at Wilkes. The Dziaks have two sons, Todd, a Wilkes University grad who is a licensed nuclear operator, and David, a graduate of West Chester University and a contractor. Todd and his wife, Jackie, a teacher, have two children, Lindzay and Juliette, and David and his wife, Missy, an attorney, have two children, Michael and Tess.
Dziak, whose retirement was effective Jan. 31, is succeeded by Terry Ostrowski who comes to EC from Borton Lawson, an engineering and planning firm that has done extensive work for EC.
“Our staff is small but efficient. The people here are very skilled,'' Dziak said.
Current projects include further reclamation work, creation of a new State Police facility near Exit 1 of the South Cross Valley Expressway and implementation of two master plans just completed, one from Alden Mountain Road north to Sugar Notch and another covering all of Newport Twp. The latter includes an all-terrain vehicle park initiative recently announced.
Dziak said Earth Conservancy has been a great asset to Luzerne County. “I was fortunate to have been present to steer the ship,'' he said, again lauding past board chairs Dr. Christopher Breiseth of Wilkes University, Mark Dingman, Rhea Simms and current chair McCarthy.
Continuing to issue plaudits, Dziak cited state Sen. John Yudichak for his support of EC initiatives, including the parkway that will one day help open EC lands in Newport Twp. to development.
