Shawn Garvin from the Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 visited the Lehigh Gap Nature Center to present an award for the Environmental Site Reuse of Degraded Land.

The award was being presented for the first time and Lehigh Gap was particularly glad to have been the inaugural awardee for Region 3.

The EPA said there was no discussion needed the Center was the choice of everyone involved.

Bob Hoopes, board member, gave a brief history of the Center from its beginnings as the Wildlife Information Center in Slatington to the 750-acre education center along the Gap.

They visited the landowner in the most degraded section of the Gap the land across from Palmerton, who told them they did not have a chance of improving the area, generally known as a moonscape.

Hoopes introduced Garvin, who said it was an honor to be there.

"We want to recognize an excellence in site reuse of a contaminated site into a beautiful natural area for generations to enjoy. The revitalization of the site protects health. They had a grand vision," he said.

Warm season grasses were used to provide new growth on the mountain.

Now there are migratory species of raptors and songbirds. The eyesore is home to wildlife. It is a place for workshops and is used by colleges, universities and kindergarten through 12th grade education. Students from St. John Neumann School were in attendance.

The Osprey House visitors' center has a lobby, one of the best research libraries in the country, lab, and great hall. It features geothermal heating and local source materials

"I want to recognize the outstanding work of the Nature Center and Dan Kunkle," Garvin said.

Kunkle was given a letter of recognition and congratulations from EPA's 3rd Region for Excellence of Site Reuse.

He said 12 years ago he took a leave of absence from his teaching job.

"I could tell 100 stories about the people here. Some called it a grand vision and others called it crazy.

"I spoke with the director of the Appalachian Trail. He warned me of the bad things we would be finding. A business man came and went back and told his group it was unreasonable.

"We are surrounded by insurmountable opportunities. That is the way we look at it. I want to thank Mr. Garvin for this national recognition, thank the board of directors and the volunteers," said Kunkle. "Thanks for all of you who came to celebrate with us and hope you are as proud of what you did and will do."

Garvin said at the EPA they can talk from the academic viewpoint but "now we will be having people come and talk to people who have actually done it."

Charlie Root, EPA site manager who was on-site during the work for the EPA, said it was one of the most rewarding jobs.

He presented awards to members of the board: Diane Husic, Bill Mineo, Ed Newcomb, Ron Kline, Michal Kubik, Anita Collins, Geryl Grilz, Robert Hoopes and Dan Kunkle. Debra Barr accepted for her father, Grant White.

Hoopes said early on they needed $1 million and received the money from businesses, individuals and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

Diane Kripas of the Bureau of Recreation and Conservation of the DCNR, said attending the ceremony was one of the highlights of her career.

"Dan Kunkle knows everyone in DCNR for 30 miles around and knows they can help. We invited him to Harrisburg and I heard the story of Lehigh Gap again."

Kunkle asked Dennis DeMara, if he would contribute $250,000 from DCNR but was told the department did not contribute to contaminated sites.

He ended up getting the $250,000 toward land cost, with a second grant of $200,000 toward the building of the new Osprey House.

Peter Kern represented Gulf and Western, the responsible party for the Superfund site. He said years ago there was no technology to control the contamination. Now the EPA has standards. The EPA is a partner, not an adversary.

Carol Obando-Derstine represented U.S. Sen. Bob Casey.

Carbon County Commissioners Tom Gerhard and Wayne Nothstein also attended.

This was the second national award the Center has received.

The first was a Cooperative Conservation Partnership Award from the Department of the Interior.

The award was shared with the Delaware and Lehigh Corridor.