This is from the minutes of a May 3, 2008, meeting:

V. Flight 93 Advisory Commission Briefing Reports

A. Land Acquisition Briefing Report

Co-Chair White presented the following report:

Co-Chair White reported on the purchase yesterday, by the Families of Flight 93, of 930 acres of land from PBS Coals. It was a team effort of Federal Government, State Government, landowners, the Families, surveyors, closing agents, Hazmat experts, and so on. The lands are largely within the fee simple area of the memorial boundary, south of US 30. The 67 acres north of US 30 will be coordinated through and with the Conservation Fund, an outstanding partner of the NPS and Families. The Families will transition the bulk of these 67 acres to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. A two acre tract on US 30 is home to a cell tower, and future discussions are planned with the lessees that occupy and own the tower on a number of issues. In regards to the lands south of US 30, much of the time that was consumed over the past 2.5 years in acquiring this land was a result of concerns about acid mine drainage from recently closed or abandoned sites. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), Mr. Joe Pizarchik, will discuss this matter further.

Mr. Joe Pizarchik stated that PADEP, the National Park Service, and the Families have worked with PBS Coals in helping them set up a process to conclude their environmental obligations at the site, which was one of the factors that advanced the purchase of the property. In addressing these environmental obligations, they are on the verge of finalizing and having in place a trust fund to provide for the perpetual treatment of the discharges to satisfy PBS Coal’s environmental obligations. Several meetings with local landowners and local watershed activists took place to potentially create a new entity to take over the operation and maintenance of those facilities. Lambert’s Run is in PADEP’s plan to clean up all of Pennsylvania’s streams, although this will take some time due to the problems not occurring overnight, but over a long period of time.

Superintendent Hanley thanked Co-Chair White for all of his hard work in land acquisition. She also thanked Mr. Pizarchik for all his work with his agency in working with the NPS, Families and the EPA.