DEADLINE for comment to PADEP on Synagro Sludge Plant
Written comment deadline August 26
PA Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) is taking public comment on two key permits for the proposed sewage sludge drying plant Synagro is threatening to build to make “biosolids”.
Euphemistically called the “Slate Belt Heat Recovery Center”, it would be built on the border of Pen Argyl and Plainfield Township, PA, trucking in approximately 400 wet tons of sludge every day from treatment plants from across the Mid-Atlantic. The water and air quality impacts threaten the health of residents and the environment with pollution. The permits would allow industrial stormwater to flow from the plant to an old quarry pond that eventually discharges to Little Bushkill Creek and Waltz Creek, protected high quality streams that are connected to the site, and would approve the emission of pollutants that violate clean air standards.
PADEP held a Public Hearing on Monday, August 12 in Pen Argyl but the record is open for written comment through 4pm on Monday, August 26 on the redrafted stormwater permit (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit No. PA0276120) and the proposed Air Quality Plan (Approval No. 48-00111A) for the sludge plant.
Please take a minute to send a comment to DEP opposing the permits; your voice is vital and will make a difference!
For suggested talking points, use the following links:
Talking Points for stormwater permit.
Talking Points on the proposed Air Quality Plan.
Go here for a sample letter you can send yourself, or use the form below to submit online.
If you want to send a comment to PADEP separately from the sample letter template, these addresses provided by DEP:
NPDES Industrial Stormwater permit: abellanca@pa.gov
Air Quality Plan: mwejkszner@pa.gov
For DEP’s Public Notices go here:
Stormwater NPDES draft permit.
Air quality plan notice.
To send a comment only takes a minute but it will help stop a project with far-reaching harm.
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