Thursday, August 15, 2019

Expert testimony at August 12, 2019 hearing shows that neither DEP or Synagro are on the same page as Plainfield Township regarding proposed crap factory

On August 12, there was a hearing hosted by DEP to hear testimony on two of four permit applications for a proposed Synagro biosolids (shit) processing factory - Air Quality and NPDES (stormwater).  Representatives of DEP associated with the two Solid Waste permit applications were nowhere to be seen - including Roger Bellas who is a critical player as he is the one ironically charged with the responsibility of the sedimentation basin within a few feet of the proposed plant, which has become a major issue.  Bellas does solid waste, not water.

This post is to memorialize the testimony of experts and consultants, read into the record at the hearing.

It should be noted that while it was advertised that representatives of Green Knight (providing waste energy to partially fuel the plant), Waste Management (lessee of land), Synagro and EarthRes (Synagro's engineer) would be present at the hearing, what they did was not make a presentation or take questions, but rather testify along with the public.  Their "testimony" consisted of public relations bull shit, not comments on the permit applications.

The consultants for Plainfield Township were:
  • Jack Embick Environmental Attorney
  • Gail Braden (GB Universe) Air Quality
  • Jason Smith (Hanover Engineering) Wetlands Consultant
  • Mike Brunamonti (BCM Engineers) Environmental Consultant
  • Trudy Johnston (Material Matters) Biosolids Consultant
Also testifying:
  • Tracy Carluccio, Deputy Director of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network on NPDES permit
  • Russell Zerbo of the Clean Air Council on Air Quality Permit
The testimony below shows that while Synagro may believe everything is fine with its application, Plainfield Township does not.  Furthermore, Plainfield Township is not at all satisfied with the piecemeal approach that DEP has taken in evaluating multiple permit applications but not cross-pollinating monitoring requirements, and allowing the sedimentation basin to be filled without a Ch 105 permit.  The Riverkeeper and Clean Air Council have significant issues with each of the two permit applications.

Plainfield Township legal environmental counsel testifies that DEP encouragement
of township to approve
Synagro's Land Development Plan is "inappropriate"

Very troubling is that Plainfield's expert Jack Embick stated that "representatives of the DEP have encouraged the township" to approve the Land Development Plan currently before the planning commission, which he correctly terms in his testimony as "inappropriate".  This statement suggests that DEP may be biased, since DEP has been aware of the township's objection to DEP's handling of the basin for many months (the township sued DEP over it), and DEP has done nothing to change its stance or recognize the township's concern for the protection of the water quality in the basin or adjacent creeks.  If DEP representatives have in fact encouraged the township to approve Synagro's plan, it would be highly inappropriate.   Note that Mr. Embick encourages the DEP to put its position in writing, so that the township and public can see the hijinx DEP is up to - knowing full well that DEP would never do this on the record.  This indicates that DEP's officials did it verbally, in a non-public forum.  Possibly the May 23, 2019 on-site meeting, at which DEP met with Synagro for an hour and 20 minutes, before letting Plainfield Township officials and consultants join the meeting.  There will be more posted on this meeting and the meeting before the meeting in the near future.  Mr. Embick tossed this warning out in a very public way (he could have just called their legal counsel) and on the record for the DEP to MYOFBAs - and DEP deserved it and the public deserves to know that it happened.

Does DEP "want" to proliferate plants like the one proposed across Pennsylvania so badly that it will come right out and attempt to influence a local review process?  It looks like it.   Green Knight Treasurer Peter Albanese has stated "DEP wants more facilities like this one."  At any cost, regardless of "environmental protection"?  It's in their name for God's sake.  Pathetic.

PA DEP and Synagro appear to be on the same team,
obsessed with the pursuit of the Holy Grail of poop

DEP picked a piss poor choice of this project to be the flagship for Project Spread Shit Across Pennsylvania, but it seems they do not want to acknowledge it and will go down fighting to see it happen as opposed to lifting a finger to protect the environment.  Synagro has been ignoring requests by township planners to submit an environmental impact statement for over a year, and has refused to acknowledge it's proposal needs zoning and SALDO relief.  DEP seriously expects the township to just bend over and wince whilst they get a telephone pole shoved up their behinds, smile and say "thank you"?  Both the DEP and Synagro should fully expect plan approval by the township to be DENIED.

What business do DEP representatives have to weigh in on local compliance and review?  PA DEP should not even be spending time or taxpayer funds on Synagro's permit applications, since DEP is  to require local approval to proceed with a permit application.  In at least one Synagro permit application (Air Quality) is it falsely stated that the proposal has received local zoning approvals - patently false - not a single township approval has been granted. This stinks to high heaven.

A full review of testimony will be published at a later time.  Here without further comment is the testimony of each of these experts:







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