On October 28, the Department of Environmental Protection and its Office of Environmental Justice announced the agency will host a public meeting November 14 to answer questions from the public regarding operations at five Schuylkill County facilities that have been the subject of public interest over the past several months.

 The meeting will focus on operations at: Natural Soil Products, Liberty Soils, Summit Anthracite (Stavola) mining site, Rausch Creek mining site and CES Landfill.

Representatives from the department will be on hand to answer questions.

The meeting will be held from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at the Tremont Municipal Building located at 139 Clay St., Tremont, PA 17981.

Here is a short description of each facility--

-- Natural Soil Products is a permitted facility in Frailey Township that produces Exceptional Quality biosolids material.

-- Liberty Soils is also a permitted Exceptional Quality biosolids producing facility and is located in Reilly Township.  [Read more here.]

-- Summit Anthracite (Stavola) is a department permitted Mining facility near Good Spring that is also permitted for the beneficial use of drinking water treatment sludge and other materials from industrial wastewater treatment facilities to enhance its mine reclamation activities on site. [Read more here.]

-- Rausch Creek is also a permitted strip-mining site that is located in Pine Grove and has a mining permit application currently under review by the department.

-- CES Landfill is a permitted facility in Hegins that is allowed to accept and dispose of municipal/residual waste. CES currently has a Waste Management permit application under review for an expansion of the landfill.

All of these facilities, their operations, the department’s permitting process and the general use of biosolids will be the subject of the meeting, along with answering questions from those in attendance.

Those wishing to ask questions regarding the facilities are asked to submit a written notice of their questions.

Those notices can be submitted to: Maria Ocasio, Environmental Justice Coordinator at: mocasio@pa.gov or can be mailed to the Department’s Bethlehem District Office at: 4530 Bath Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18017. 

Written notices will be accepted up until the date of the meeting.

The meeting format will take place as follows: each person will be allowed to ask two questions plus one follow-up question.

Once attendees have been given the opportunity to ask their questions, and if time allows, each person can ask one final question.

Individuals who pre-register to ask questions will be given priority on the agenda.

Those who have not pre-registered to ask questions can sign up at the meeting.

Persons with a disability who wish to ask questions and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation should contact Colleen Connolly, 570-826-2511 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 800-654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how the Department can meet their needs.

Click Here for DEP’s announcement.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Report Emergencies, Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

Related Article - Schuylkill County:

-- DEP To Hold Nov. 19 Public Meeting On Blythe Recycling & Demolition Site Landfill Permit Renewal In Schuylkill County  [PaEN]

Related Articles - Public Participation:

-- Joint Meeting Of DEP Citizens Advisory Council, Environmental Justice Advisory Board Nov. 12 On Oil & Gas Methane Emissions Reductions; Hydrogen Hubs  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Nov. 14 Public Meeting On 5 Schuylkill County Facilities-- Natural Soil Products, Liberty Soils, Summit Anthracite (Stavola) Mining Site, Rausch Creek Mining Site, CES Landfill  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On New Air Pollution Permit For Revolution Natural Gas Cryogenic Processing Plant In Washington County; Plant Suffered Major Explosion, Fire In 2022  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - November 2 [PaEN]

-- DEP Posted 82 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In November 2 PA Bulletin  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Nov. 19 Public Meeting On Blythe Recycling & Demolition Site Landfill Permit Renewal In Schuylkill County  [PaEN]

-- DEP To Hold Dec. 10 Hearing On A State Air Quality Implementation Plan Amendment For Holcim Solutions & Products Plant In Westmoreland County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Invites Comments On Proposed Hazardous Sites Agreement With Venango County On Cleaning Up Unlined Landfill Site  [PaEN]

[Posted: October 28, 2024]

11/4/2024