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: Westmoreland Landfill To Pay $59,000 Penalty To Address Multiple Violations [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:
-- Homeowner Complaint Results In DEP Emergency Plugging Of A Penn Resources, Inc. Conventional Oil Well Leaking Gas, Oil, Wastewater In McKean County [PaEN]
-- DEP Discovers Wastewater Spill From Conventional Oil/Gas Well That Could Be Seen From Google Earth In Armstrong County As A Result Of A Complaint [PaEN]
-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - September 21 [PaEN]
-- DEP Posted 77 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In September 21 PA Bulletin [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week - Gas:
-- Exploding Water Well Shed Triggers DEP Investigation Of 59+ Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Cyclone, McKean County; Highlights Limits On Providing Temporary Water For Well Owners Impacted [PaEN]
-- Cecil Township, Washington County Posts Proposed Ordinance Increasing Setbacks From Shale Gas Well Pads Of 2,500 Feet From Homes, Businesses; 5,000 Feet From Schools, Hospitals; Nov. 4 Hearing, Meeting Set [PaEN]
-- Environmental Health Project: State Dept. Of Health Progress On Implementing Recommendations After Pitt Health Studies Show Impacts From Shale Gas Development ‘Extremely Limited’ [PaEN]
-- Protect PT: Westmoreland Landfill Surrenders Air Quality Permit For An Evaporator System To Dispose Of Leachate Wastewater Impacted By Shale Gas Drilling Waste [PaEN]
-- Del-Chesco United For Pipeline Safety: Texas Explosion Shows Communities In PA With Energy Transfer's Mariner East Pipeline And Other Pipelines Are Vulnerable To The Same Unmitigated Risk From Unsecured Pipeline Valves [PaEN]
-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved, Renewed 24 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In August; 212 General Permits So Far In 2024 [PaEN]
-- Allegheny Institute For Public Policy: Counties, Municipalities Need To ‘Begin Lowering Their Expectations’ On The Support From Shale Gas Industry Drilling Impact Fee [PaEN]
-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp Sounds Alarm Over Maintaining Sufficient Winter Natural Gas Supplies To Address Extreme Winter Conditions; PA Gas Producers Cutting Production, Pulling Drill Rigs [PaEN]
-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs At 14, Same As Last Week - Down 33% Since Aug. 23 [Industry Efforts To Increase Natural Gas Prices Continue]
NewsClips:
-- The Energy Age Blog: North Fayette Residents Raise Concerns About Proposed Range Resources Fracking Site In Allegheny County
-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Scientists Skeptical Of CNX Claim Its Fracking ‘Poses No Public Health Risks’
-- TheDailyClimate.org: Residents Say Pennsylvania Has Failed Communities After State Studies Linked Shale Gas Fracking To Child Cancer
-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: Eureka Resources Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Company Struggles Raise Questions About The Future Of Lithium Extraction From Oil/Gas Wastewater
-- Sierra Club Magazine: Plants & Goodwin Racing To Fix Pennsylvania’s Leaking Conventional Oil & Gas Wells
-- Warren Times Editorial: There Isn’t Enough Money To Plug All Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Conventional Well Owners, Must Use Funds In A Cost-Effective Way
-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Peoples Natural Gas Customers To See 12% Rate Increase This Month, With More Increases On The Way
-- The Energy Age Blog: Peoples Natural Gas Customers Will See 12% Rate Increase This Month - More Increases On The Way!
-- New York Times: Big Energy Issue In Pennsylvania Is Low Natural Gas Prices, Not Fracking; PA Has Gas Glut; Drillers Throttling Production [PDF of Article]
-- Bloomberg: AI Boom Is Driving A Surprise Resurgence Of US Gas-Fired Power Plants [Not In PA]
-- Food & Water Watch: Explosion Of Energy Transfer Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline In Texas Highlights Company’s Terrible Safety Record In Pennsylvania
-- WFMJ/AP: Energy Transfer Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Fire That Burned For 4 Days Now Out In Houston
-- Bloomberg: Human Remains Found In Vehicle Involved In Energy Transfer Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Fire In Houston
[Posted: September 18, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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