May 26, 2000

The Brush Valley Preservation Association would like to reply to some of the vague and misleading information that has recently been released by the supporters of developing Brush Valley.

First, it is wrong to assume that a prison in Brush Valley is a "done deal". All that has happened is the Bureau of Prisons has made official what we, and everyone else, have known for months. Brush Valley is and has always been their primary target. Nothing has really changed, including the chances of stopping this project. In fact, the environmental studies phase that is now beginning is the most likely time for the prison to be halted, just as it was at Moosic Mountain near Scranton.

Secondly, we would like to stress again that we are not opposed to a prison elsewhere in our county. B.V.P.A. is acutely aware of the need for economic progress in Northumberland County. Most of our members , including myself, are not retired, and must deal everyday with the depressed conditions of our area. We strongly feel, however, that the possible gains brought by a prison are far outweighed by the lose of Brush Valley, and we feel just as strongly that the prison should be built on one of the alternate sites available.

Regarding alternate sites, the two we submitted were quickly dismissed by the county for reasons we think flawed. For example, the county engineers claim that the site we researched East of Natalie is land locked and undermined. However, we have documentation taken from county deeds and state mining maps indicating that the same company that owns the site, Consumers of Pa, actually owns land connecting the site to Rt. 54.

Also, the Bureau of Mine Reclamation maps show NO problems listed for the site. There is even adjoining land owned by the water company that could be used to expand the site for perimeter and non-structural use.

The Natalie East site, as well as the Boyers Nob site should be seriously considered. We feel they are very suitable for prison construction. We have, however,been told that the County has done no written report on the sites, and we have no knowledge the the B.O.P., or any other party we submitted the information to, has checked into them at all

It has also been said that if the B.O.P. doesn't come to Brush Valley the water company will ultimately sell it for some other development. But will this really happen? In a Jan. 18th News Item article the executive vice president and general manager of Consumers water company stated that, and I'm quoting from the article," the cost of developing some 2000 acres of unspoiled woodlands would be tremendous-more than most firms would be willing to expend. That is why the county was the natural choice for the project".

It must also be pointed out that any environmental laws and regulations that would prevent the building of a prison in Brush Valley would also block any private or corporate development. This being so, we at B.V.P.A. believe it is in the water companies best interest to consider selling the land for conservation and public recreational use. We have already found large amounts of government and private funding to do so.

Lastly, what are the real economic gains of a prison? A recent article by the majority commissioners compared them with the benefits brought by the state prison in Coal Township. A closer look reveals that two of the largest contracts noted by the commissioners, the waste hauling and food purchasing contracts are not valid. Also remember that the 1.1 million dollars quoted in the article are gross revenues, not net. That doesn't leave much to trickle down to the local economy. Couple this to the fact all contracts must go out on bid and you see that the economic argument is weak at best. As proof of this I offer statistics taken from the Pa. dept of Labor and Industry. Between 1990 and 1995, the years including construction and opening of the CoalTwp. prison, Northumberland Co.'s ranking in the state for average yearly wage DECLINED ten places. This proves without a doubt that the alleged economic benefits don't exist.

Actual affects of a Federal prison may be even less helpful to our area since they use products made within the prison systems at their Unicor factories. Such things as furniture, printed forms, certain clothing , and may other goods and services will never go out on bid because they will be provided by the inmates themselves.

There are many other issues that could be addressed in this article, but there is not nearly enough time or space available. For more information please see our web page at www.penweb.org/bvpa

Please plan to attend the BOP meeting the 31st. It's your chance to express YOUR opinions.