Dear Editor,
The owner of the Superior Greentree Landfill in Fox Twp., Elk County, is attempting to gain federal government approval for one of its subsidiary LLCs to construct a SPUR in portions of Snyder Twp., Jefferson County and Horton Twp., Elk County, to terminate at the Greentree Landfill.
The purpose of the proposed SPUR is to allow a TRASH TRAIN, carrying containers of unknown waste to be transported from out-of-state for disposal at the Greentree Landfill.
No one will benefit from this proposed SPUR other than Noble Environmental, Inc., the owner of the landfill.
Bishop Jack Wisor, founding minister of the First Apostles’ Doctrine Church and the Just for Jesus Challenge Homeless Outreach Ministry, the largest faith-based homeless outreach ministry in Pennsylvania, has been leading efforts to prevent this TRASH TRAIN from being approved.
Bishop Wisor and the First Apostles’ Doctrine Church have been truly blessed by a recent decision of the Kaplan Kirsch Law Firm of Washington, D.C. to represent the Church in this matter before the Surface Transportation Board, the federal agency which must make the decision on whether to allow this rail construction to occur, or not.
The 2026 edition of The Best Law Firms in America has recognized Kaplan Kirsch LLP as a “Best Law Firm in America’.
Kaplan Kirsch has extensive experience in dealing with this type of proposal at the federal level, and is coordinating its efforts directly with Bishop Wisor in its attempt to STOP THE TRASH TRAIN.
Bishop Wisor provided an opportunity to the community to support the efforts of the Church and Kaplan Kirsch, including: Horton Township, Snyder Township, Elk County Commissioners and the Brockway Area Sewage Authority. The group that has agreed to come alongside the Church (and therefore Kaplan Kirsch) is A. Noble Cause, an informative environmental group. The Brockway Area Sewage Authority has also agreed to support the efforts of the Church and Kaplan Kirsch.
If this proposal to construct the SPUR were approved, the impacts would be devastating and irreparable:
o The First Apostles’ Doctrine Church and the Just for Jesus Challenge Homeless Outreach would have public access eliminated from U.S. Route 219 in Brockport to its worship facilities (indoor and outdoor), tent revival grounds, fellowship grounds and public recreational opportunities, along with access to the trade opportunity shops for the homeless, and the complete elimination of the sawmill and firewood production areas on the property that are used to help financially support the Church and the homeless ministry.
o The parsonage on the property would also be rendered useless because of the proposed railroad right-of-way, and plans of the congregation to build a new church adjacent to the parsonage would be eliminated.
o The proposed SPUR would also seriously effect the operations of the Brockport United Methodist Church.
If the SPUR were to be approved, business entities connected to the owner of the landfill would move to be granted eminent domain powers to “take” many parcels of private property for the SPUR, including but not limited to the parcels on which the Church and the homeless outreach ministry are based.
This is all in addition to the documented environmental damage that would be done to area waterways that are naturally producing trout streams and otherwise used for recreational purposes, as well as destruction of existing wetlands, wildlife habitat and more.
Bishop Wisor is taking this opportunity to make the public aware of how this case may look like it is limited in scope to two townships and two counties, but that the issues at stake here – irreparable harm being done to two churches, the largest faith-based homeless outreach ministry in the state, the planned taking of multiple parcels of private property and serious environmental harm, and having a TRASH TRAIN with unknown waste from out-of-state coming through your back yard every week – should be a concern for everyone, because you don’t know – your community, your property, your church, could be next.
Bishop Wisor will gladly accept any offers of help and support from anyone in this effort – in order to assist Kaplan Kirsch in its representation of the Church.
Bishop Wisor can be contacted at 814-590-3898 or jwisor@windstream.net
