Kaleta gets further explanation on county's plan to cancel lease

SHAMOKIN - Dave Kaleta says he now more fully understands the premise behind last week's decision by Northumberland County commissioners not to renew non-coal use leases on county coal lands.

Still, the president of Habitat for Wildlife Inc. (HFW) believes eliminating the lease will adversely affect the group's ongoing efforts to improve the environment and attract more wildlife to the "Alaska site" near Excelsior.

Kaleta, of Shamokin, said county officials, including planning director Pat Mack, provided more details in a meeting Tuesday as to why the commissioners decided not to renew non-coal use leases on county coal lands, a decision they announced at their Aug. 31 meeting.

"I now realize it's not retribution on the part of the county," said Kaleta, referencing reaction to his previous stance that the county hadn't taken the interest of

conservationists and hunters into consideration in its planning for an off-highway vehicle (OHV) park for county-owned coal lands, including the HFW land. "It's just a business deal. But I'm still hoping the county reconsiders its decision. We don't have much legal ground to fight the lease not being renewed. Our only option comes with the court of public opinion in trying to convince the commissioners to maintain the lease."

Kaleta said HFW's one-year, $1 lease with the county expires Dec. 31, 2010. The lease has been in effect since 2008, but the nonprofit organization has been doing work on county land since 2000.

Kaleta is seeking assistance from the offices of U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, state Reps. Robert Belfanti Jr. and Merle Phillips, Sen. John Gordner and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in maintaining the lease.

At last week's commissioners' meeting, Mack and Commissioner Vinny Clausi said the motion not to renew non-coal use leases was necessary to "set all the ducks in a row" for a potential major deal in the future.

County officials said they couldn't release any details, but claimed it involves a "major league player." Mack said the potential deal is not connected to the OHV park.

Clausi added, "This is strictly a business decision that will benefit the residents of Northumberland County. This isn't politics."

Kaleta said he received more information Tuesday, and better understands the county's position.

Kaleta, who noted the 43,000 trees planted at the Alaska site by HFW volunteers are valued at $25,000 to $30,000, is in favor of the off-highway vehicle park, which would run through sections of the Alaska site, as long as it is properly regulated.

"The county and I are almost on the same page in regard to the off-highway vehicle park," Kaleta said. "We both want to protect the fragile habitat areas."

Kaleta said Mack told him HFW will be able to continue most of its normal operations at the Alaska site when its lease expires at the end of the year.

But Kaleta said not having a lease not only will affect long-term security over the land, but also prevent HFW from applying for grants since it won't be affiliated with the county.

Kaleta's said his goal is to make sure the property maintained by HFW remains open to foot traffic and hunting, and continues to attract wildlife if or when the undisclosed project that the county is negotiating comes to fruition.

Mack previously said the decision not to renew non-coal use leases will only affect two entities - HFW (approximately 300 acres in the Excelsior area) and Shamokin Filler Company (approximately 10 to 15 acres off Route 225 across from Mountain View: A Nursing and Rehabilitation Center that is used by the company to access the property to obtain products).

Mack said baseball and soccer fields in the northern end of the county near Turbotville in Warrior Run School District won't be affected by the county's decision not to renew the leases.

Kaleta said HFW unofficially began in 1999 when the state Department of Environmental Protection Mine Reclamation Division offered him 45,000 tree seedlings to plant. Approximately 35 people helped Kaleta plant the seedlings on county land near Burnside.

In 2000, HFW planted additional seedlings at the newly reclaimed Alaska site.

In addition to participating in various cleanup projects involving tons of trash and tires in wooded areas in Coal Township, Kaleta said HFW volunteers have planted 43,000 trees and 70 acres of food plots as a public service for everyone to enjoy. The trees are starting to produce fruit, while the food plots attract and feed deer, rabbits, birds and turkeys.

Every year, HFW volunteers stock quail for free public use for dog training and hunting.