CLEARFIELD – Nearly four months ago, Kim Kesner, solicitor for the county, invited members of PA Waste to attend a Clearfield County Commissioners meeting to discuss issues pertaining to the proposed Camp Hope Run landfill in Boggs Township.
Those representatives attended Tuesday’s meeting, giving the commissioners and the public audience a presentation.
David Buzzell of Drinker, Biddle & Reath, the law firm for PA Waste, gave a brief overview of the history of the Camp Hope Run project and explained that they wanted to open dialogue with county officials. He also discussed some of the issues raised by the county, such as the term of the permit and the issues the county has with Act 101.
Buzzell noted that the representatives waited until a new board of commissioners took office so they did not have to make two presentations.
PA Waste has asked to be included in the county’s solid waste plan. At an Oct. 17 meeting of the Clearfield County Commissioners, Kim Kesner, county solicitor, noted that Clearfield County has never considered a not-yet-permitted landfill for inclusion in the county’s plan, and he anticipates that the county would not consider such a request.
Previously PA Waste had been asked by DEP to submit a list of potential clients. In this Jan. 14 letter to DEP, PA Waste states:
“At this stage, the customer list for the Camp Hope Run Landfill is, and necessarily must be treated as confidential and propriety business information. As such PA Waste has intentionally separately packaged and marked this material as ‘Confidential,’ and the Department is requested to designate, maintain and prevent disclosure as Confidential and Propriety Business Information, pursuant to the requirements of 25 PA Code 271.5.
PA Waste also stated, in regard to the county not including them in their solid waste plan, that the county leadership “will ultimately recognize the legal implications of this request and will meet with PA Waste representatives to negotiate a mutually beneficial arrangement and work toward an amicable relationship between the applicant and the county going forward.”
PA Waste also states in it’s most recent letter that regardless of whether the county includes the Camp Hope Run landfill in its solid waste plan before the permits or granted or after, that the facility will “ultimately be included within the host county Act 101 plan.”
At Tuesday’s meeting, Buzzell noted that most people have preconceived notions that landfills are bad.
“There’s a growing awareness in communities that landfills are not bad,” said Buzzell. “They come into business to provide waste capacity.”
“It’s a public service, but it is a business,” added Buzzell.
Buzzell noted that there is a shortfall in the east. He said that some of the waste does come from New York and New Jersey, but also the eastern part of Pennsylvania.
He also noted that there have been other proposed landfills in this region, mostly because of Interstate 80. Buzzell stated that the county should not just say no to landfills, but to look at what opportunities proposed landfills provide the county.
“Its impacts are relatively minor,” added Buzzell.
Kesner asked Buzzell what the status of PA Waste’s application was with DEP. Buzzell said that the previous 90 day extension granted by DEP expired on Jan. 15, the same day PA Waste’s most recent letter to DEP was received by that agency. Buzzell went on, stating that even if DEP has not responded, the application is still actively on file until it is either approved or disapproved.
Ramsey DiLibero of PA Waste and the Chester County Solid Waste Authority and the Lanchester Landfill, spoke about the potential benefits landfills have in communities.
DeLibero talked about how the Lanchester Landfill provides methane gas to areas business and how it is also used as a recreational site. He also discussed how the site provides educational opportunities.
“There’s so many things that a landfill does that never reaches the public,” said DeLibero.
It was noted that PA Waste does not have any landfills at this time. There was also no discussion of what educational opportunities might be offered. DeLibero also noted that methane production mainly depends on what kind of waste is in a landfill and the volume of the waste.
County Commissioner Mark McCracken voiced concerns over traffic, noting that Huston and Pine Township residents have to deal with Greentree Landfill traffic on a daily basis. He also said that one scenario in which he could potentially support a landfill was if it was strictly a regional landfill.
Buzzell said that Camp Hope Run will provide a waste disposal to the area, but that economically, it was not a sound idea to strictly limit it to a region.
McCracken also noted that it has been the practice of boards of Clearfield County Commissioners not to consider or add an agency to its waste management plan until it was permitted. He added that the emphasis was then on the company.
“We can’t find there is any benefit for us to break from our stance,” said McCracken.
Buzzell also touched on Act 101. He stated that the Act 101 was passed because of a shortage of capacity in Pennsylvania.
“It was passed to encourage new sites,” said Buzzell. He also added that the county would have to consider it when they renew their plan in the future.
“You folks have to understand, we have agreements in place,” said McCracken. “There is no emphasis on us to find alternate facilities.”
Buzzell noted that the needs requirement has been removed from the permitting process, and that it imposed restrictions on new landfills and the expansion of existing ones.
Newly elected Commissioner Joan-Robinson-McMillen touched on the business side of things.
“This is not the kind of business the county wants,” said McMillen, who added that it would lower the quality of life for county residents.
She also noted that PA Waste does not have a facility for the commissioners or residents to examine.
McCracken also brought up the issue of ownership. He said that a big concern for residents is who will ultimately own and run the landfill.
“Our intent here today is we’re going to run it,” said DeLibero, who also noted that PA Waste has been approached by other entities looking to get involved in the project.
McCracken also asked if PA Waste would consider using more rail to transport waste. One representative said they were going to a meeting after the commissioners’ meeting to discuss just that. The representative also discussed how having the landfill in the county could help the county’s recycling effort.
Chairman Commissioner John Sobel thanked the PA Waste representatives, but noted that he shared the same concerns as his fellow commissioners, and that his opinions had not changed.