The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will hold a Local Municipality Involvement Process (LMIP) meeting Wednesday, March 11 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Se-Wy-Co Fire Company, 3621 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem, to inform municipal officials and residents of the application received from IESI Bethlehem Landfill for their proposed Southeast Realignment (expansion), which would add approximately six acres of new lined disposal area and overtop 23 acres of previously disposal areas of slope cap within the existing permit area.
The meeting is open to the public.
The Southeast Realignment was first proposed by IESI last year, and is separate from a request by the company to rezone township land to the west of the facility on Applebutter Road. That proposal was first floated in 2012.
The following information about the Southeast Expansion proposal is from IESI:
We have proposed a realignment of an approximately 29-acre section of our Applebutter Road facility. No rezoning is required for this project. The project–including 6 acres of newly lined disposal area and 23 acres of slope cap–is located within the southeast section of the landfill’s existing 201-acre permit area. Waste will be placed on top of the capped portion (approximately 23 acres) of the landfill with a new state-of-the-art liner system that complies with all federal and state regulations, as well as the other 6 acres.
The project area is located at the southeast border of the facility. In addition to new liners, a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall similar to one found at the northern edge of our property will be installed, facing out toward Applebutter Road.
An MSE wall is composed of soil backfill reinforced with horizontal layers of geosynthetics and metal wiring to provide a high-tensile strength. It is similar in structure to retention walls you see along highways and other roadways, except the MSE wall does not have a concrete outer face. We follow industry standards and utilize a mix of vegetation that helps the wall blend into its surroundings.
The landfill has been the subject of odor complaints in recent months, which the Pennsylvania DEP is currently investigating at township council’s request.
The following is the procedure for reporting an odor complaint to the DEP:
If odors are detected by individuals in the Applebutter/Ringhoffer Road/Steel City area of Lower Saucon Township, the following steps should be taken:
1. If odors are detected, individuals can call the toll-free PA DEP Complaint Line at 1-866-255-5158. Press “2” to be directed to the Northeast Regional Office complaint representative/answering service.
2. If a gas odor (natural gas, landfill gas) is detected in someone’s home or along Applebutter Road/Ringhoffer Road/Steel City, the individual should immediately call 911 and Township Police and emergency services personnel will respond to the scene.
3. Emergency services personnel will contact the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) if their assistance is needed.
For more on information about the Southeast proposal, visit the IESI website.
More information about the meeting as well as questions township council plans to ask is available on the township website.
