Dozens Come Out To Public Hearing For Proposed Hazardous Waste Treatment Facility

More than 50 people attended, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Phase I public hearing regarding the proposed Elcon Recycling Services hazardous waste treatment facility in Falls Township.

As previously reported by LevittownNow.com, Elcon, which has been in front of the DEP and the public on numerous occasions over the past year, has proposed to building a 22-acre facility at 100 Dean Sievers Place within the Keystone Industrial Port Complex that will treat liquid waste from the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. A previous proposal by the company was turned down by officials earlier this year.

“The purpose of the Phase I siting review is solely to determine whether the proposed location complies with Pennsylvania’s exclusionary siting criteria for such operations,” said the DEP Southeast Regional Director Cosmo Servidio. “This happens prior to the company submitting a full operation and design hazardous waste permit application.”

The new 110,000-square-foot plant will have the latest security features, up-to-date fire suppression technology, many safeguards and highly-trained employees who are provided “good pay,” company officials said. The process to clean the hazardous water, which company officials have compared to dirt sink water, is “close looped” and not discharge water or odor from Elcon’s facility.

Roughly 40 people spoke at the public hearing designed to collect feedback from the community surrounding a potential project that will sit a short distance from the Delaware River.

People from all around the area came to have their voices heard. Representatives from various communities, including Philadelphia, New Jersey, Morrisville, Yardley, and  various organizations, came out to make sure their voices could be heard.

“Are you willing to play Russian roulette with our children?,” asked one local resident who did not register to speak.

Many analogies involving taking community health and children for granted made their way through the hearing on Wednesday night.

“It is not a matter of if a spill will occur but when,” said Jamie Zaccaria, speaking on behalf of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

Other residents spoke about the downside the plant could have on the Delaware river.

“This is a source of water, recreation and food,” said Clay Aberts during the hearing. “There is too much at risk in terms of drinking water.

Patricia McCarron of Northampton argued that “human or mechanical error can occur at any time in this facility,” adding that no matter how safe the plant is, human error will always pose some danger.

Not every individual who spoke at the meeting was opposed to the idea of the treatment plant coming to the area.

“I’ve read the proposal, and I think it’s a good thing,” Josh Gradwhol said. “We shouldn’t be putting things in farmland where we have to truck it hundreds of miles and we don’t have the infrastructure.”

Steven Fenton of Bristol Township explained his support for the project. “My house is a block and a half away from the river, and I am for this project. We need to stop scaring jobs out of the country,” Fenton proclaimed as cheers erupted from the back of the meeting hall.

The DEP is also accepting testimony on the project in written form until Oct. 14. Written comments should be sent to: Hazardous Waste Facility Siting Team Leader, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2 E. Main St., Norristown, PA 19401.

Throughout the meeting, many speakers asked for an extension for written testimony.

If the plan moves forward, Phase II will look at the site and concerns about the plan.