PA Environment Digest

Share this:

Protect PT: Westmoreland Landfill Surrenders Air Quality Permit For An Evaporator System To Dispose Of Leachate Wastewater Impacted By Shale Gas Drilling Waste

On September 18, Protect PT announced the Westmoreland Landfill surrendered its Air Quality Plan Approval for a leachate evaporator system to dispose of its wastewater the Department of Environmental Protection approved on January 8, 2024.

Local citizens group Protect PT, along with many residents surrounding the site, have had grave concerns about the proposed leachate evaporator, with major worries regarding impacts to air quality with major health implications.

“Residents started complaining about the contaminated air around the landfill over a decade ago, and we got involved in 2020 when the PA DEP proposed this ridiculous solution to WSL’s leachate problem,” said Gillian Graber, Executive Director of Protect PT.

“We knew right away how bad this would be for a community already overburdened with toxic air from the landfill and we wanted to help, " said Graber. “WSL relinquishing plan approval is a huge win for the community.”

The Westmoreland Landfill has accepted waste from shale gas fracking operations since 2010 and has frequently failed to safely dispose of the generated leachate, leaving waste in uncovered piles and discharging contaminated toxic runoff into nearby waterways, according to Protect PT and DEP.

Leachate is contaminated water that percolates through the waste in the landfill, which must be collected and safely disposed of.

Protect PT said the Air Plan Approval was based on unproven technology that would have allowed Westmoreland Landfill to heat the leachate and evaporate the liquid, resulting in airborne emissions of chemicals, including carcinogens and radioactive particles, leaving behind the solids. [Read more here]

The landfill’s leachate cannot be sent to the local wastewater treatment facility because it could not adequately treat it. [Read more here]

Protect PT said the landfill continues to be trucked to other facilities across the state, creating harmful effects through its transit and for disposal in municipal landfills that are not designed to accept such waste.

Acting on residents’ concerns, Protect PT and resident James Sepesky engaged Lisa Johnson & Associates and appealed the PA DEP’s approval to the Environmental Hearing Board on February 7, 2024.

“Protect PT and Mr. Sepesky should have never had to bring this action. The PA DEP's issuance of the Air Plan Approval was improper and violated residents' constitutional rights under the Environmental Rights Amendment to clean air and pure water. The surrender of the Air Plan Approval is testament to the power of Mr. Sepesky asserting his rights and Protect PT's grassroots organizing. My team and I are proud to represent them,” said Attorney Johnson.

Local resident James Sepesky said, "While I still don’t have complete faith that this is the end for the evaporator, I’m relieved that at this point the application is being withdrawn. All of us residents here in the area around WSL must remain vigilant in our fight against all of the other issues that continue to pop up at that site, including noise, noxious smells, mud, and runoff on our roads and in our streams. A special thanks to the folks at Protect PT for all the hard work they do each and every day!"

The Westmoreland Landfill has been the subject of four consent orders and agreements and civil penalties to address issues related to the generation and discharge of leachate from the landfill.

Protect PT said-- “This fight is not over, as the landfill continues to generate leachate that is discharged into our environment and harms human health.

“It is the opinion of Protect PT and their attorney that the landfill be shut down, inspected, and remediated by the PA DEP and EPA.

“While the leachate problem remains, the withdrawal of the evaporator permit is a big win for the residents around WSL. Protect PT will continue to take steps to protect the rights of the community.”

Visit the Protect PT website to learn more about this issue, other programs and initiatives and upcoming events.

Resource Links - Westmoreland Landfill:

-- DEP Issued Air Quality Permit For Leachate Evaporation System At Westmoreland Landfill With Special Radiation Monitoring Due To The Disposal Of Shale Gas Drilling Waste [PaEN]

-- Inquirer Guest Essay: DEP Needs To Evaluate Health Impacts Of Evaporating Leachate From A Westmoreland Landfill Accepting Shale Gas Drilling Waste [PaEN]

-- DEP Collects $62,475 Penalty From Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill Under Agreement To Correct Violations, Improve Environmental Protections At The Facility [PaEN]

-- DEP: Westmoreland Landfill, County Hauling Will Pay $25,000 Penalty, $25,000 In Lieu Of Penalty For Waste Transportation Violations [PaEN]

-- DEP: Westmoreland Landfill To Pay $59,000 Penalty To Address Multiple Violations [PaEN]

-- DEP Fines Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill $24,000 To Resolve Waste Violations; Drilling Waste Impacts On Leachate [PaEN]

Upcoming Events

-- September 24-- Center For Coalfield Justice Hosts Program In Washington County On Increasing Setbacks From Oil & Gas Infrastructure

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Sept. 14 to 20 - Seeing Conventional Wastewater Spill From Google Earth; Emergency Well Plugging; Abandoned Shale Gas Wells; Leaking Gas Well Next To Baseball Field [PaEN]