CLEARFIELD – Residents of Clearfield County will once again have the chance to let their voice be heard regarding the proposed Camp Hope Run Landfill in Boggs Township.
The Clearfield County Commissioners released contact information for those wishing to speak to the Department of Environmental Protection at Tuesday’s work session. Commissioners Tony Scotto and Mark McCracken stressed how important it is for the residents to speak their minds, whether they support or oppose the landfill.
“There will be a public hearing,” Scotto said. “From what we understand, this will be the only opportunity the residents will have to speak.” Scotto said the meeting will be held from 6:30 – 9 p.m. Monday, July 23 at the Florian Banquet Center (321 Mill Road) in Clearfield. The doors will open at 6 p.m.
Scotto said anyone wishing to speak at the hearing should register in advance with DEP by contacting Megan Lehman at meglehman@pa.gov or by calling 570-327-3659 by no later than 4 p.m. July 20. Each speaker will be allowed 5 minutes to present their testimony. The comments must address the permit application submitted to DEP last year. The testimony will also be recorded by a court reporter and transcribed into document form.
However, Scotto said those who may have concerns that cannot be addressed in 5 minutes can submit written statements of any length to DEP. Any written statements must be submitted by 4 p.m. Aug. 2., to Lisa Houser, P.E. DEP Waste Management Program, 208 West Third Street, Suite 101, Williamsport, Pa., 17701 or emailed to lhouser@pa.gov.
Scotto said all relevant comments will be given equal consideration during DEP’s review of the permit application.
This is not the first time the subject of the Camp Hope Run Landfill has come before the residents of Clearfield County.
According to previous Gant news articles, PA Waste LLC had first proposed the landfill in September of 2006. At that time, PA Waste was looking to build the landfill with 221 lined acres located within an 845-acre facility boundary. In addition to the disposal limits, the landfill will also house support facilities and buffer areas.
If approved, the landfill would be located in Boggs Township, about seven miles southeast of Clearfield, just off Route 153. The landfill would accept about 5,000 tons of waste per day for 25 years.
According to previous articles, DEP rejected the landfill application in 2008, and a pre-denial was issued for the application again in 2015.
PA Waste then submitted another application for the landfill in July of last year. A Local Municipality Involvement Process Meeting was held in August of last year.
However, DEP sent the commissioners a letter, dated May 3, on its recent environmental assessment for the proposed landfill. The letter said DEP evaluated the permit application to determine whether PA Waste LLC demonstrated that the benefits to the public clearly outweigh the known and potential environmental harms.