BOGGS TOWNSHIP – On Sept. 5 the Clearfield County Commissioners announced their official stance on the proposed Camp Hope Run landfill in Boggs Township by sending a letter to the Boggs Township Supervisors.
Thursday night, the commissioners, county solicitor, and director of the Clearfield County Solid Waste Authority/Clearfield County Planning Department submitted two items to the Department of Environmental Protection at the Local Municipal Involvement Process.
Kim Kesner, county solicitor, presented the lists to DEP officials. One of the documents listed 13 deficiencies that Clearfield County officials found in PA Waste LLC’s application. Here is that list:
1) That the applicant failed to include critical traffic counts. The county states that the applicant failed to consider a major intersection along the travel route that has a majority of traffic volumes along the commercial district of state Route 879 and Interstate 80.
2) The applicant failed to count I-80 traffic volumes during peak travel periods, such as the summer months. The county said that PA Waste did their studies during a slow week in January. According to the list, this exit caters to the traveling public seeking lodging, gas, food and retail stores. The commissioners contend that January is not a good month to conduct such a study, as it will not capture the peak traffic volumes the interstate can have.
3) The applicant failed to conduct traffic counts during peak periods of congestion on SR 879 contributed by SR 322. The document states that a major local employer along that route has a shift change around 4 p.m.
4) The applicant failed to address adequacy of traffic lights to handle additional traffic volumes.
5) The applicant failed to include significant developments along the proposed truck route, such as multi-family housing.
6) The applicant failed to show documentation that the school district was contacted as to location of school bus routes, stops and potential conflicts.
7) The applicant failed to show documentation that either state or local municipal police were contacted to determine if any significant congestion or accident prone areas existed along the proposed route.
8) The applicant failed to prove whether or not timber rattle snakes exist on the proposed sight. Timber rattle snakes are a candidate for endangered or threatened species.
9) The applicant failed to address need for the facility as required.
10) The applicant failed to locate the exact location of old deep clay mines to determine subsidence potential.
11) The applicant failed to prove the ability to operate such a facility.
12) The applicant failed to show consistency with the county municipal waste management plan.
13) The applicant failed to show all harms associated with development, such as financial burden for emergency responders, affects on local interstate businesses that rely on easy on/easy off access, incompatibility with tourism development efforts and impacts to waste minimization efforts.
The other list Kesner provided cited general concerns that county officials have concerning the landfill. These are:
1) Inconsistency with the county’s comprehensive plan. According to the list, “Both municipal officials and residents specifically identified landfills as a type of development that would be inconsistent with the county’s vision.
2) Inconsistency with the county municipal waste management plan.
3) Unequal treatment of non-host municipalities.
4) Traffic Impacts. The county contends that PA Waste did not conduct traffic studies during peak times along SR 879 in the area of the Firemen’s Industrial Park. According to the document, PA Waste conducted their studies from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday.
5) Tourism development impacts.
6) Impacts to waste minimization efforts.
7) Surface and ground water impacts (county water supply plan).
8) Complex hydrology of the site (previous groundwater studies showed anomalies.
9) Request for a 25 year permit.
10) Lack of operational experience.
11) Lack of need.
12) Subsidence due to old clay mines.
13) Effects of using on-site acidic rock in operations.
14) Harms outweighing benefits of creating 20 jobs.
15) Impacts to Clearfield Creek and tributaries. According to the list, significant state and federal funds have brought Morgan and Long Runs close to being able to support fish.
16) Misconception trucks will only be on he road during the landfill’s hours of operation.
The clock for the permitting process began Friday at 12 a.m.
For more news on the proposed Camp Hope Run project as it becomes available, log on to GantDaily.com
