The Senate Republican Policy Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on July 9 on the issue of clean fill and regulated fill and abandoned quarries in Pen Argyl, Northampton County.

The hearing, which is being held at the request of Sen. Mario Scavello (R-Monroe), will review the concerns of local residents and officials about the state’s regulations for clean fill and regulated fill.

The various classifications of fill are based on the level of contaminants of the materials. For example, clean fill is typically comprised of soil, rock, stone, dredged material, used asphalt and brick, block or concrete from construction and demolition sites.

Northampton County’s numerous abandoned slate quarries are prime dumping grounds for fill by both in-state and out-of-state entities.

“Many residents and elected officials in the region have raised concerns over the dumping of out-of-state fill coming to our area,” Sen.  Scavello said. “I share the same concern over both the volume of fill and the impact it has on the environment. This hearing will be key to fully evaluate the state’s environmental standards to ensure our residents are protected.”

The hearing will feature representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection, local elected officials, residents, business leaders and industry professionals.

Representatives from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have also been invited to testify.

“I commend Sen. Scavello for drawing the attention of the Senate Majority Policy Committee to this key issue,” said Sen. David Argall (R-Schuylkill) Chair of the Committee. “We need to know why it’s okay to dump this material in Pennsylvania and why it is not okay to dump in New York and New Jersey.”

The hearing will be held at the Wind Gap Middle School, 1620 Teels Road, Pen Argyl starting at 10:00 a.m.

For more information, visit the Senate Republican Policy Committee webpage.

[Posted: June 27, 2018]

7/2/2018