Municipal News
- Last Updated on Thursday, 09 May 2013 02:21
Four Tervita employees were present at the April 3 Commissioners meeting in Rostraver, but the Commissioners and some fighting mad residents were tired of hearing what they termed “more lip service” from company personnel.
The ongoing problem of the foul stench that residents in Rostraver, Monessen and North Belle Vernon must breathe in has gotten worse, not better according to Rostraver resident Debbie Fought, despite previous solution attempts and vows to end the smell by the company. The stench problem came to the Commissioners attention back in July of 2011. Since then the company has been cited five times by the DEP for offsite odors. Tervitas latest solution was to install a mist-spraying deodorizer around the sites perimeters, which began operating in January to no avail. The companies new Regional Director of Operations, John Schwalbe, outlined the companies newest plan which is to install a gas extrication system that involves drilling holes into the landfill where underlying methane gas will be piped out and burned off. However, the plan will take some time to install.
“Now there’s a new smell – ammonia, I smell ammonia coming from there,” said Lenity School resident Debbie Fought, who has been involved in organizing neighbors and contacting agencies about the problem from the beginning. “ Once again you can’t breathe on our road. On Easter I get to smell that. Am I angry? Yes, I’m angry…I have been told so many times that it’s going to be fixed that I just don’t believe it.”
Commissioners Andy Temoshenka and Don Bottman echoed Foughts sentiments saying the landfill representatives have lost their credibility. “We have given you time and time and time and all we’ve been getting is a lot of talk. You give us no results and no answers and your giving us no alternative but to take action against you any way we can.”
One of the possible answers to the problem was stated by Commisioner Pat Egros who said, near the end of the meeting, “We will be looking into means to restrict your intake.” Thoughts that the landfill should not take in anymore waste materiel until it can safely and soundly manage what it has already taken in were voiced by resident Dr. George Felder and agreed with by many who applauded his stance.
Schwalbe was contrite to all the anger and said, “I know you are hearing it again, but allow me to demonstrate that this is going more steps, further steps and these things are engineered very easily – let our actions speak for us in the next several weeks.”
The Rostraver meeting coincided with the Department of Enviornmental Protections release of air quality readings conducted near the landfill February 21 and 22. The report indicated that the landfill is discharging vast amounts of methane gas, which is responsible for the “rotten egg” stench.
The DEP said it will conduct “enforcement actions” against Tervita. It says they could shut them down if there was no cooperation, but that the company has been cooperative and that it believes the well system will solve the problem. Residents, however, want second opinions and handed out a list of agencies to do that, as they haven’t seen the DEP to be effectual in this matter.
Rostraver residents Cheryl Meyer, Jack Kruell and Dr. George Felder also voiced liberal concerns about the companies integrity and possible threats to their health. Cheryl Meyers said that the company had no other operating landfills in the U.S, only in Canada and questioned the safety and newness of accepting waste drill cuttings from the Marcellus shale industry. Cheryl said that in her research she found Tervita to be inextricably connected with the Shale drilling business.
Kruell said he’s suffering from breathing problems and expressed concerns over possible water contamination. Felder said that not only is Tervita not stopping the odor problems but is adding to it by accepting more drilling byproducts for profit. All residents shared concerns about decreases in property values as well as the height of the landfill.
In other news:
-Rostraver approved a motion to purchase batting cages for $2056.
-Rostraver is sending Zoning officer Lohr to the Host Muncipality Inspector Progam in Harrisburg.
-Rostraver awarded a big for School Traffic Control Devices to Traffic Systems and Services for $19,974.99.
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