The classroom on Tuesday (2/8) for about 70 students and teachers will be a 1,800-acre tract that was part of the former Bethlehem Steel plant.

The tract is the largest brownfield site in the nation. Brownfield sites are former industrial sites that must meet acceptable environmental standards to be transformed into commercial and recreational uses.

The students will learn more about the transformation taking place from Robert F. Barron Jr., president and CEO of Enterprise Real Estate Services, Inc., which was hired by Bethlehem Steel to redevelop the old Bethlehem plant.

The Bethlehem Works project, on 160 acres at the western edge of the 1,800-acre tract, involves the development of cultural, entertainment and recreational activities on part of the former steel plant site.

In addition, Thomas J. Kerr, executive director of the Wildlands Conservancy, will discuss reusing old industrial sites to save land for other purposes.

The students are participating in the Environmental Forum and Debate program sponsored by the Pennsylvania Department of Education; PP&L, Inc.; and the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit No. 19.

In April the students will debate the issue of whether Pennsylvania municipalities should provide economic incentives for reusing such industrial sites. The students attend grades 9 through 12 in high schools in Lackawanna, Pike, Wayne and Susquehanna counties.

In addition to Tuesday's field trip, the students will attend a workshop and will participant in other field trips. All these events are in addition to the "book" research the students will do to prepare themselves for the debate competition.

"Enterprise has been working with Bethlehem Steel since 1996 to develop this property in a public, private partnership," Barron said. "The Bethlehem Works project, and the companion 1,600-acre Bethlehem Commerce Center project, has enormous potential to create businesses, attractions and jobs at this historically significant site."

Kerr said, "Wildlands Conservancy's unique educational programs consist of experiential learning opportunities of a great variety. We are very excited about our part in this opportunity to show students real-life environmental problems for which rational and creative solutions have been found."

Larry Sparta, Education Relations director for PP&L, said, "PP&L is proud to support the debate program from start to finish. We are striving to educate students and their teachers about the critical role business and industry plays in the conservation and management of resources and the quality of life issues within Pennsylvania."

Reporters and photographers who want to participant in this field trip should contact Sparta at (610) 774-6914. The students are scheduled to arrive at the Ice House in Bethlehem at 9:45 a.m. on Monday. Barron's presentation will be at 10:15 a.m., followed by the field trip. Kerr's presentation will after lunch at 1 p.m.

PP&L, Inc. is a subsidiary of Allentown, Pa.-based PP&L Resources, Inc. (www.pplresources.com). PP&L Resources is a Fortune 500 company that delivers electricity and natural gas to more than 1.3 million customers in Pennsylvania; sells wholesale and retail energy in 35 U.S. states and Canada; generates electricity at power plants in Pennsylvania, Maine and Montana; delivers electricity to 1.4 million customers in southwest Britain; and delivers electricity to more than 800,000 customers in Chile, Bolivia and El Salvador.