The owner of BRADS Landfill in Blythe Township, outside Saint Clair, is likely going to be fined by the state’s Dept. of Environmental Protection.
That’s the big story that came from a kaffeeklatsch hosted by State Sen. Dave Argall and State Rep. Tim Twardzik early Wednesday morning at Cressona Fire Co. It was the latest in a series called Coffee and Conversation at which Argall and a local State Rep. take and answer questions from constituents in an informal setting.
On Wednesday, the first question came from Dave Swirsky, of Pottsville, regarding landfills in Schuylkill County.
Argall and Twardzik said the need for landfills isn’t going away because people keep producing trash. And there’s nothing that can be done to prevent out-of-state trash from being legally imported to Pennsylvania and Schuylkill County, specifically.
But Argall said Wednesday, “The one in Saint Clair has been especially problematic of late.”
Argall said he and Twardzik recently had a meeting with DEP and have another planned in the near future.
“I would not at all be surprised if they get fined for violations of their operating,” Argall said.
Twardzik later added, “I believe fines are probably coming.”
Argall said the money collected from the would-be fines would go to DEP.
BRADS Landfill is currently applying for an extension on its permit to continue operating for another 10 years. And the company is also applying for a daily tonnage increase.
People in Saint Clair have become increasingly vocal this year in their opposition to BRADS Landfill being able to operate at all.
They complain of noxious odors, health maladies, and dangerous truck traffic that are affecting their quality of life.
A public hearing hosted by DEP in May allowed residents to testify against the BRADS Landfill application to renew its permit for another decade.
Fines Likely Won’t Solve Anything
The news that fines may be imposed on BRADS Landfill may initially come as some welcome news to residents affected by the smells and other conditions allegedly caused by the landfill.
However, another company operating in Schuylkill County that’s been the source of numerous environmental complaints, Natural Soil Products, was hit with a $50,000 fine by DEP last Fall and then daily $500 fines for failing to implement a filtration system at their biosolids processing facility in a timely manner.
Since then, complaints of strong foul odors believed to be emanating from that facility have persisted.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- Public Demands DEP Deny BRADS Landfill Permit Renewal
- New Jersey Trucking Company Fined for Safety Violations
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