State to hold public hearing on BRADS landfill application to renew permit for Blythe Twp. site
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will host a public hearing to take testimony about the application by the Blythe Recycling and Demolition Site to renew its operating permit for its facility in Blythe Twp.
The hearing will be from 6 to 9 p.m. May 29 at the Saint Clair Area Elementary/Middle School at 227 S. Mill St., Saint Clair. Representatives from the department’s Waste Management Program and BRADS Landfill will be in attendance.
BRADS has applied to the DEP for a 10-year renewal of its operating permit. The application requests that DEP allow BRADS to continue accepting construction/demolition waste that may include non-friable asbestos waste. DEP regulates the removal, collection, transportation and disposal of materials that contain asbestos to protect public health.
The current operating permit expires Jan. 20, 2025.
The DEP received the permit application on Jan. 25, and it was determined to be administratively complete on Jan. 29.
Written comments were received during the public comment period. The public comment period for this application began Feb. 10 and ended April 10.
The landfill’s location in Blythe Twp. is designated as an environmental justice area by DEP, and the location is within a half-mile of Saint Clair Borough, which is also an EJ area. When this type of permit is submitted for an EJ area, DEP engages in enhanced public outreach, including hosting a hearing and having additional environmental justice staff engage with stakeholders and residents.
Last year, the Shapiro administration adopted an updated environmental justice policy, which is used to guide protections for communities most vulnerable to environmental challenges, and to expand environmental safeguards. The updated policy directs how DEP’s inspection, compliance and enforcement efforts can better include communities most at risk and more accurately identifies EJ communities by using 32 indicators.
The department requests that individuals wishing to testify at the hearing submit a written notice of intent to Colleen Connolly, DEP regional communications manager, BRADS Landfill public hearing, PA DEP, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701-1915, or by email to coconnolly@pa.gov.
The department will accept notices up to the day of the hearing.
The permit application is available for public review on the DEP Northeast Regional Office Community Information web page (www.dep.pa.gov/About/Regional/Northeast-Regional-Office/Community%20Information/Pages/BRADS-Landfill.aspx) or at the DEP Northeast Regional Office, located at 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre.
People with a disability who wish to testify and require an auxiliary aid, service or other accommodation should contact Connolly at coconnolly@pa.gov to discuss how the department can meet their needs. Dial 711 to access Pennsylvania Relay services.
