Daily Volume to Increase at Berks County Landfill

Harrisburg, PA - Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) South-central Regional Director Michael R. Steiner announced that DEP has approved a permit modification to increase the average daily volume of waste at Conestoga Landfill in New Morgan Borough, Berks County.

"This approval will allow the company to increase its average daily volume by 2,000 tons per day," Steiner said. The average daily volume for the landfill is now 5,210 tons per day.

In 1999, DEP issued a permit to Conestoga Landfill to increase its average daily volume from 5210 to 7210 tons per day. The permit decision was appealed and the Environmental Hearing Board, an independent judicial agency that has jurisdiction over actions taken by DEP, overturned the permit decision in 2001. The Environmental Hearing Board overturned the permit because it said the benefits of increasing the daily volume as outlined in the permit at that time, did not clearly outweigh the harm the increase could cause.

In October 2001, Conestoga Landfill made changes in the permit application and reapplied for an increase in its daily waste volume.

"As part of the review process, the applicant is required to demonstrate that the benefits of the project clearly outweigh the environmental harms. The benefits can be social and economic as well as environmental," Steiner said.

Some of the benefits Conestoga Landfill is offering as a result of this approval include a one-time $100,000 payment to Caernarvon Township and an annual $50,000 for the life of the landfill; free trash disposal for residents of Caernarvon Township and portions of Mountaineer Village, Shiloh, Chestnut Hill California and Swamp Roads; $10,000 to the Caernarvon Police Department to upgrade and enhance its computer software for administrative purposes; and the construction of a 40-space parking lot at the ball field by St. Thomas Church in Morgantown.

A number of residents and Caernarvon Township officials expressed concern about additional truck traffic on roads near the landfill. The landfill will fund the installation of a camera to monitor truck driver behavior at the intersection of Route 10 and Quarry Rd. Conestoga Landfill will suspend any drivers from using the landfill who fail to stop at the intersection. A second violation could result in permanent exclusion from use of the landfill.

To address the safety issue of trucks not stopping completely after exiting from the PA Turnpike and Interstate 176, the landfill has an agreement with Caernarvon Township for the township police to initiate additional monitoring and enforcement at those locations.

The company will install a larger gas blower and flare system, expand the number of gas extraction wells, increase the capacity of collection mains and will use stage extraction wells to address the landfill gas odors.