Residents Voice Concerns On Hazardous Waste Facility in Falls

Residents from both sides of the Delaware River came out to the Falls Twp. municipal building in the dozens Wednesday night to speak regarding the construction of a possible commercial waste treatment facility in the township.

Elcon Recycling Services LLC, an Israeli company, is currently in the first stage of review by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for their plans to treat liquid waste from the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. The property Elcon hopes to utilize is in the Keystone Industrial Port Complex.

As representatives from the DEP stated to nearby residents on Wednesday night, a public informational meeting- where residents can ask questions, and a public hearing- where residents can voice their opinion on the record, are two required steps of a Phase I review.

Both the public informational meeting and public hearing were held last night.

The general feel for Phase I allows the DEP to evaluate whether the applicant complies with siting criteria.

“This review happens prior to the company submitting a full operation and design permit application for any other environmental permits that would be needed,” said DEP Southeast Regional Director Cosmo Servidio.

The public, which provided their testimony Wednesday night, will be included in the review process, according to DEP representatives.

Rengarajan Ramesh of Elcon, stated the company, which is headquartered in Princeton, includes a team of very experienced and competent people devoted to making the plant a sustainable operation.

The company, which has also applied for permits in Italy, has a fourth plant in Belgium set to open in 2015. The Falls Twp. plant, if approved, would be the company’s first North American operation.

Ramesh attempted to ease the minds of residents who worried about the possible harmful effects of a plant so close to home. “This plant will exceed the best air pollution technology available today, it is a completely sealed system with no odors and will meet all state, DEP and federal requirements,” he said. “This plant doesn’t use an incinerator which is unique about this process.”

“I bet this facility could be a net good for the area and for water quality in the river,” said Ken Lyle, a Morrisville resident and engineer. “It’s quite a good possibility that the release of contaminates that currently go in the river will be reduced.”

Joseph Malone, who served as the Mayor of Bordentown, New Jersey from 1973 to 1993- said his worry is that Falls will only worry about their township and not the surrounding communities who will have to pay the price for the plant.

Wesley Plaisted, Chairman of the Environmental Advisory Council, publicly said he disagreed with Malone and as an engineer, knows the process for the DEP will be rigorous.

The project, by DEP estimates, could take a year or even longer to approve.

Those who wish to provide a further statement, or could not attend the meeting, are encouraged to reach out to the following mail address by December 26: Hazardous Waste Facility Siting Team Leader, DEP Southeast Regional Office, 2 E. Main St., Norristown, PA 19401.