PA DEP Public Hearing on Tunkhannock and Coolbaugh warehouse
DEP Heard You – Attend The April 24th Hearings to Deny 2 Permits to Discharge Stormwater into Exceptional Value Wetlands for Two Massive Warehouse Projects in the Poconos in Monroe County
Two warehouse proposals are threatening Exceptional Value (EV) wetlands and streams in Monroe County, PA. The Papillon and Moyer I80-115 C-1 Site, LLC Project located in Tunkhannock Township proposes to discharge stormwater into EV wetlands adjacent to the EV Mud Pond Run and EV Tunkhannock Creek (NPDES Permit Application No. PAD450168). This project would consist of a massive complex of warehouses and commercial businesses along Route 115. The complex would consist of a 600,000 sq. ft. warehouse with 587 parking spaces, a 150,000 sq. ft. warehouse with 148 parking spaces, a donut shop, a pharmacy, two fast food restaurants, a gas station, and a truck stop with hundreds of additional parking spaces. All of this paved impervious surface would be squeezed onto the 100-acre property. The property contains one of the few glacial lakes in Monroe County and the surrounding ecosystem of bogs is known as glacial till barrens habitat.
This habitat is unique in Monroe County and is home to vegetative communities more commonly seen in the coastal plain such as cranberry, sheep laurel, highbush blueberry, and pitcher plants. This ecosystem also serves as critical habitat for several threatened and endangered plant species. The wetlands are also EV because they are in the floodplain of the EV Mud Pond Run, a Tunkhannock Creek tributary. Further stressing this area is the Transco Regional Energy Expansion natural gas pipeline, which is clearing trees now and would expand a gas line ROW straight through this property and bring cumulative negative impacts. This stream and the surrounding wetlands are supposed to receive the highest level of protection from degradation, yet they are now threatened by these proposed warehouse construction projects.
Additionally, a second massive warehouse project is proposed for Monroe County in Coolbaugh Township. The Orchard BJK Company, LLC Pocono Mountains Corporate Center North Warehouse proposes to discharge stormwater into EV wetlands adjacent to the High Quality (HQ) Duckpuddle Run (NPDES Permit Application No. PAD450158). This project would consist of a 333,000 square foot warehouse on 36 acres at the intersection of Memorial Boulevard and Laurel Drive in Coolbaugh Township, Monroe County. The facility would be used for storage purposes. would also be 52 truck docks, with parking for 267 automobiles and 90 trailers.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is holding public hearings for these two warehouse proposals on the same night and at the same location. This is your chance to urge the DEP to prioritize protecting our EV wetlands and streams from harmful degradation by denying these proposals.
Both hearings will take place at the Tunkhannock Township Fire Hall located at 1539 Long Pond Road, Long Pond, PA 18334 on Monday, April 24, 2023.
The Tunkhannock warehouse hearing is scheduled for 6:00pm to 7:30pm.
The Coolbaugh warehouse hearing is scheduled for 7:40pm to 9:10pm.
DEP requests that individuals wishing to testify at the hearing submit a written notice of intent to Colleen Connolly, Community Relations Coordinator at: coconnolly@pa.gov. The DEP will accept requests up to the day of the hearing. The DEP also requests that individuals limit their testimony to 5 minutes so that all individuals have the opportunity to testify. Walk-in attendees at the hearing will have the opportunity to testify if they so desire; however, individuals who preregister to testify will be given priority on the agenda. Written comments will also be accepted if you are unable to attend the hearings. All comments, whether delivered orally during the hearing or submitted in writing will carry equal weight and consideration with DEP.
