Harrisburg, PA – Eighteen Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) staff members were honored with Governor's Awards for Excellence from Governor Josh Shapiro for their work on projects that exemplify DEP’s efforts to protect Pennsylvania’s air, land, and water resources and to provide for the health and safety of its residents and visitors.
“DEP has thousands of dedicated professionals all committed to public service and protecting Pennsylvania’s environment and people,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “The work these DEP employees receiving awards did during the Dunmore No. 7 Dam sediment release and the Toby Creek Mine subsidence response is the perfect example of the types of public servants we all aspire to be.”
Pamela Kania, Brian Mackowski, Peter Kawash, Ann Conserette, Amy Bellanca, Karen Shedlock, Walter Holtsmaster, Timothy Daley, Sierra Rider, Kirk Kreider, Eric Supey, Michael Gombeda, Kevin Dougherty, and Don Rood were recognized for their prompt response and actions to mitigate a massive accidental sediment discharge into Roaring Brook and Lackawanna River during construction activities associated with improvements to Dunmore Dam No.7 in February 2024.
Louis Wagner, Daniel Brady, Noah Anderson, and Paul Steidinger were recognized for their work to quickly respond to a mine subsidence that swallowed part of Toby Creek in Luzerne County.
The annual Governor's Awards for Excellence recognize exemplary Commonwealth employees or groups of employees for initiative, leadership, innovation, and increased efficiency. Ninety-nine employees from nine agencies were honored for their accomplishments in 2024.
As DEP celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, the Shapiro Administration is committed to protecting Pennsylvanians’ air, land, and water from pollution. DEP will
continue to work as partners with people, businesses, and organizations to protect our natural resources and public health, now and forever.
DEP awardees include:
Dunmore No. 7 Dam Sediment Release Response
Pamela Kania, Brian Mackowski, Peter Kawash, Ann Conserette, Amy Bellanca, Karen Shedlock, Walter Holtsmaster, Timothy Daley, Sierra Rider, Kirk Kreider, Eric Supey, Michael Gombeda, Kevin Dougherty, and Don Rood
During improvements to the Dunmore No. 7 Dam in Lackawanna County in February 2024, there was an unexpected release of tons of sediment that had built up behind the dam into the Roaring Brook and Lackawanna River.
DEP immediately assembled a team of cross-program, environmental professionals to inspect the dam and stream, conduct water quality assessments, test the sediment and work with PA American Water, the owners of the dam, to modify the construction sequence to minimize the sediment discharges and protect aquatic habitat in the streams and rivers below.
DEP's team was able to quickly conduct dam safety, stream and water quality inspections and discuss process improvements with the contractor. Dam Safety staff communicated with contractors to close one drawdown and nearly close another to minimize the flow downstream and ensure structural integrity of the dam.
DEP Waterways Staff worked closely with the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the Lackawanna County Conservation District to monitor the site.
DEP Clean Water Program staff conducted cause and effect survey of the downstream channel, and the Environmental Cleanup and Brownfields Program sampled the sediment against clean fill and PFAS standards.
As part of a settlement that DEP reached with PA American Water, in lieu of a civil penalty, the company agreed to perform a Community Environmental Project (CEP), which includes fish habitat; streambank stabilization; educational features; and handicap access such as providing a fishing deck with handicap access along Roaring Brook with handicap accessible parking.
The value of the project is projected at $350,000 and will be performed to mitigate the impacts of the sediment release. Since the execution of the settlement agreement and approval of the CEP, the DEP team continue to monitor the recovery of the fishery.
Toby Creek Mine Subsidence Response
Louis Wagner, Daniel Brady, Noah Anderson, and Paul Steidinger
On Sunday, April 14, 2024, a mine subsidence occurred on the edge of Toby Creek, in Luzerne Borough, Luzerne County that threatened the creek and nearby structures, and
swallowed approximately 70-80 feet of streambank and much of the water flow in the creek.
The Pennsylvania DEP Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR) was able to respond immediately and began reclamation work on the same day. This swift action stabilized the bank to prevent structure damage. Additional work had partial stream flows restored by the end of the day, and complete backfill and sealing of the subsidence was completed by the following Saturday. DEP also monitored reports of water discharges from abandoned mine discharge seeps farther downstream to ensure that local homes and businesses were not at risk of flooding from the subsidence. Thanks to the positive relationships with local rock quarries, BAMR staff were able to secure the materials needed to stabilize the streambank and fix the subsidence quickly and effectively.
BAMR's crew of Louis Wagner, Dan Brady, Noah Anderson, and Paul Steidinger responded and began work on a Sunday morning. They worked safely and with incredible determination, nearly around-the-clock, to abate this hazard. The stream loss event and subsidence received constant public and media attention. State representatives, news personnel, emergency responders, and curiosity seekers were frequently on-site, yet the crew maintained focus and professionalism throughout.
DEP will continue to monitor for settling at the subsidence location, removing the diversion berm and restoring the stream channel in Toby Creek back to natural conditions, and continuing to monitor stream flow above and below the subsidence.
# # #