Synagro first proposed that it locate its crap processing
plant near a large deep pond (Former Doney Quarry) in May of 2017. As reviews progressed, it became apparent
that Synagro would likely not be allowed to dump its 300 tons of wastewater per
day into the nearby high quality Little Bushkill and Waltz Creeks.
Below: Plainfield Township
In February 2018, suddenly Synagro announced now it would
“backhaul” its wastewater to the source of the incoming sludge - to the
amazement of listeners. Purportedly this
was in response to concerns by citizens - in fact they probably figured out they
would never obtain DEP approval to discharge into the creek(s).
That line of shit about respecting concerns smells a mile away, and the trucks they propose be used to haul both crap and wastewater do not even exist. And will these hypothetical trucks actually go back to where they came from in NY, NJ and
CT to dump the wastewater? It turns out
that the answer may be “no”. At the July planning commission review, Delaware Riverkeeper Deputy Director
Tracy Carluccio informed the commission that she had informed Synagro VP of Project
Development Pam Racey offline after the May 31 review meeting that the State
of NY may not
permit the backhauling of wastewater.
Ms. Racey was also corrected during the May 31 review by Ms.
Carluccio - after Ms. Racey stated that if backhauled wastewater were refused
by a facility, it would be taken to a facility in NJ. “They
take anything,” she said. Ms. Carluccio pointed
out that the facility Ms. Racey mentioned stopped accepting such materials over
a year earlier. Ms. Racey has 25 years
experience and a BS degree in agriculture - she is a champion bull shitter. Synagro’s “plan” appears to be “say whatever
sounds good until someone challenges it.”
The operating hours are changing now that the public has questionedextended operating hours that were recently revealed that are beyond what was stated
in a memo to the planning commission from Synagro project manager Jim Hecht in
December of 2017. Hecht’s comment on May 31, 2018 was “we’re trying to cut back the Saturday hours.” Hecht appears to have gotten the same BS
degree as Racey. The truth is, they have no idea how to make this operation work and are making everything
up as they go. For God's sake, they are building it in a pond.
The latest and more critical story that is changing has to
do with the former Doney Quarry (aka Sediment
Basin
The "basin" to Synagro is a pond to everyone else
Over the past four months, more attention by the planning
commission has been placed on the potential pollution of groundwater. It took this long to get to the engineering
and zoning reviews of Synagro’s plan.
Until the last review meeting, Synagro maintained steadfastly that the
basin is a “stormwater facility, not a pond.” It is important
to note that the engineer for Synagro at a November 2017 review meeting agreed
that the basin is connected to an aquifer.
The basin holds water permanently and has no outflow, and is connected
to an aquifer, therefore by common definition it is a pond.
At the July 2018 Synagro review, Synagro finally agreed that
in fact the basin is a “regulated water body” or waters of the Commonwealth according to DEP. However, on questioning, Synagro’s engineer
stated that Synagro has not studied groundwater flow in the pond When asked if Synagro would do an
Environmental Impact Study, Synagro representative Jim Hecht flatly and dully answered
“No.” This is the same Jim Hecht who has
visited several municipal meetings in the past few months, spreading his PR
line of bullshit to board and council members that this stuff is perfectly
safe. Prove to us it will be safe and
not harm our environment, because we don’t believe you, Jim.
Since Synagro has been
poo-pooing, pun intended, the significance of the pond, Plainfield Township
- The pond is a state regulated water body, and contains Waters of the Commonwealth (this means that the Zoning Variance for 50’ of open space adjacent to a pond is in fact required)
- The pond may qualify as Waters of the
- Recommends that a hydrogeological study be performed to understand the flow of water into and out of the pond
- The pond is regulated by the township’s ordinances since it is a pond
- The pond is subject to the riparian buffer requirements of the ordinance
- A delineation of all wetlands and water bodies on the site is required
- The township may require a certification by the Army Corps of Engineers of the wetland and waters delineation
- The plan is not in conformance with township riparian buffer requirements
- Suggests that Plainfield Township request that the DEP require a full permit for partially filling the sediment pond, despite Synagro’s claims that it is exempt under PA Chapter 105.12(a)(6).
- The proposed plans do not address required stormwater best management practices to protect the pond (not a detention basin) and downstream waterways.
