Slate Belt sludge treatment plant gets thumbs down
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Developers of a proposed $26 million sludge-treatment plant in Plainfield Township hope supervisors approve the plan this month.
But it’s not looking likely.
Late Monday night, the township Planning Commission voted 4-0 to recommend that supervisors deny an application for the plant, which would be in Waste Management Inc.’s Grand Central landfill off Route 512.
Synagro Technologies Inc. of Baltimore, Waste Management and a group called Green Knight Economic Development Corp. are behind the plant, which goes by the name Slate Belt Heat Recovery Center. Synagro estimated it would truck in at least 400 tons of what it classifies as processed sewage sludge to the property each day and dry the waste using heat from Green Knight’s methane-to-energy plant on landfill property. The plant would convert the waste into Class A biosolids, with the product usable as fertilizer or fuel.
The plant has been publicly proposed for nearly three years, with privately held Synagro and other officials laying out the case during hearings before planners and the public. But those plans have drawn a long list of questions and reams of documents from officials hired by the township to review the project, as well as concerns and skepticism from residents and environmental groups.
The sides spoke again during a three-hour meeting at the Plainfield Township Volunteer Fire Company hall, which also included an hourlong reading of a “status letter” by township Manager Thomas Petrucci. The letter outlines dozens of issues yet to be resolved, including what the township believes is a legal requirement for Synagro to do an environmental impact study.
“There is too much openness on some of these things,” planning Chairman Paul Levits said. “If you’re not going to grant us 120 days [extension] … ”
That drew applause from many in the audience of about 75 people who attended. They applauded again after the board voted unanimously to recommend that supervisors reject the project, when Synagro officials would only agree to a 60-day delay.
“It’s about time,” Pen Argyl resident Tom Carlo, one of the early critics, said after the vote. The project, he said, doesn’t belong at the landfill, which sits at the Plainfield-Pen Argyl border and has been a source of odor issues and environmental concerns over the years.
“The Green Knights say they’re supposed to be for the community,” Carlo said. “Bringing this is horrible for the community.”
But Robert Cornman, Green Knight vice president, said the project will reap $100,000$200,000 annually for the group to dole out scholarships and grants to foster economic development.
Cornman said during a break in the meeting that he was not frustrated by the lengthy review and the criticism.
“I understand the process that they’re going through.” he said.
Project Manager Jim Hecht said Synagro officials believe they are “very close” to resolving differences.
“If we can come up with something that makes sense for the township, it’s still possible,” he said. “If the supervisors vote against it, our only recourse would be to go to court. But nobody wants to do that.”
Both the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency say that when properly treated and processed, biosolids can be used in areas such as agriculture, landscaping and mine reclamation.
But plant neighbors’ and environmental groups’ opposition has included worries about the contents of the sludge. In addition, they question what will become of the water and air quality in the Plainfield-Pen Argyl area, and how the project will affect roads, with increased truck traffic along Route 512 and adjoining streets.
Synagro also has four permits pending before the DEP.
Morning Call reporter Anthony Salamone can be reached at 610-820-6694 or asalamone@mcall.com.