The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it will extend the public comment period for the draft air-quality plan approval for Delta Thermo Energy’s proposed waste-to-energy plant in Allentown until December 16. (formal notice-PA Bulletin page 7043)

“This proposal has attracted considerable attention and we want to hear from those who have something to say,” Northeast Regional Director Mike Bedrin said. “In order to gather as much input as possible from residents and stakeholders, we have decided to give the public more time to provide their comments.”

A copy of the draft plan approval is available online or the public can review them at the department’s Northeast Regional Office, located at 2 Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, at DEP’s Bethlehem District Office, located at 4530 Bath Pike in Bethlehem and at Allentown City Hall at 435 West Hamilton Street.

Appointments to review the draft may be made by calling 570-826-2519 for the Wilkes-Barre office or 610-861-2070 for the Bethlehem district office.  The public may also make an appointment to review the documents at Allentown City Hall by calling the City Clerk’s Office at 610-437-7539.

DEP will make a summary of the material conditions of the draft plan approval available in Spanish at all three locations.  Those documents are still in the process of being translated and should be available by next week.

To submit written comments about Delta Thermo Energy’s draft air quality plan approval to the department, mail or hand-deliver them by 4 p.m. on December 16 to Ray Kempa, Permits Section Chief, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701.

Following the comment period, a response document will be drafted to address the public’s questions and comments.

DEP held a public meeting on the permit application on October 30.

For more information, call 570-826-2511.

12/2/2013