On Thursday, Department of Environmental Protection Northeast Regional Director Mike Bedrin joined state Rep. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe, and other local officials to address the environmental impact of vacant commercial properties across Pennsylvania and to highlight how the Wolf administration’s Restore Pennsylvania plan would comprehensively address this issue.

Restore Pennsylvania is an aggressive plan to address the commonwealth’s vital infrastructure needs, including vacant and deteriorating buildings, which often contaminate soil and groundwater.

“When we walk through this old building, we see its potential for development, but are faced with the money needed to demolish the building. This is an issue we’re seeing in communities across the state,” Bedrin said.

“We need ways to finance demolition projects like this one, so former industrial properties can have a productive future. Restore Pennsylvania would give us that financial opportunity to clear a path for new business while also addressing environmental issues in our communities.”

The officials visited the site of the old International Boiler Works building in East Stroudsburg. The old factory, which was once used to manufacture high-pressure boilers, and later for retreading tires, has been vacant since the early 2000s.

Environmental samples identified soil contamination that included polychlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals and semi-volatile organic compounds related to petroleum products, as well as groundwater contaminated with trichloroethylene.

East Stroudsburg purchased the property in 2002 and worked with DEP to successfully move it through DEP’s ACT 2 land recycling and remediation program.

The 12-acre site has potential for commercial or industrial development and can be connected to a public water supply.

“I support Gov. Wolf’s proposal for Pennsylvania to enact a severance tax to fund a $4.5 billion infrastructure spending plan, which would include funding for demolition, revitalization, and renewal projects,” Rep. Madden said.

“This would enable our local community to demolish blighted structures like the International Boiler Works building, thereby fostering new development opportunities in the area.”