DEP Denies Mascaro Transfer Station Permit
Wilkes Barre (Aug. 8) -- The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today denied a transfer station permit application submitted by J.P. Mascaro & Sons for a facility in Hanover Township, Luzerne County.
The denial was based on the company's inability to correct major deficiencies in the waste management permit application that were highlighted and communicated to the company during DEP's permit review process, and presented by residents at a public hearing held in September 1995.
"Mascaro & Sons were well aware of the problems with the application throughout the review, and did not adequately address the concerns expressed by the department and the public," DEP Regional Land Recycling and Waste Manager Program manager Bill Tomayko said.
The major problems not addressed in submissions from the company include:
- Substantial areas of the proposed facility being located next to a 100-year flood plain;
- Failure to properly define and delineate wetlands;
- The close proximity to the Nanticoke High School athletic fields;
- Incomplete information on site characteristics within the enclosed structure of the proposed transfer station. The applicant never clearly defined floorplans, the layout of specific locations for operations and equipment, and significant portions of land affected by transfer station operations were not included or defined in the application. This information provides the department with a framework for inspections to evaluate the company's compliance with its permit obligations;
- A lack of fire control equipment and an adequate water supply for fire fighting;
- A lack of adequate leachate and stormwater management, and;
- A lack of an effective odor control plan. The issue of odor control was mentioned at the public hearing as a major concern. The company did not adequately present detailed plans for odor control equipment or methods.
Mascaro & Sons originally submitted the permit application in August 1994. The problem areas were specifically presented to the company in a technical review letter dated December 1994, a December 1995 pre-denial letter, during a January 1996 technical meeting between the department and the company and its consultants and a February 1996 final technical letter clarifying critical review issues.
DEP actions are appealable to the Environmental Hearing Board within 30 days.
URL of this file=http://PA_Sludge.tripod.com/Mascaro/19980819MascaroPermitDenied.html
return to : Table of Contents of articles about or related to Mascaro
compiled by Ben Oostdam on February 9, 2001
SOURCE