Christmas Poo returns to Plainfield Township after 2 year absence - Nazareth Borough Municipal Authority purchases pristine preserved farmland to use as crap disposal site

 In September 2019, after 2 years and 10 months of stonewalling Planning Commission requests for evidence of compliance with regulations, Synagro Technologies withdrew its proposal to develop a crap bakery in Plainfield Township, to be placed on Grand Central Sanitary Landfill property.  This facility would have dried Class B biosolids into pellets, to spread on farmland as a pseudo, powered by the posterior, fertilizer.  It is now known that Synagro was under heavy scheduling pressure by Waste Management, owner of the landfill, to obtain approval.  For over a year Grand Central had been working on plans to request an expansion of the solid waste zoning district, so the the landfill could expand in 2028 when it is expected to reach capacity.  At the final hearing, Synagro representatives stated that they wanted to continue with the application, and were seen pleading with landfill representatives for an extension of time, which apparently was denied.

Like clockwork, within only a few months of Synagro's exit, the landfill requested and was duly denied its request to expand the township's solid waste zoning district.  As if the township's forehead has a shit magnet embedded in it, the Christmas Poo that first landed with Synagro's bakery in November 2016 returned like a comet with a 5-year period on November 1, 2021.  With no advance notice, the Nazareth Borough Municipal Authority purchased the Hower Farm, on Hower Road, with the intent to dispose annually on the farm the entire output of sewage sludge from its facility.  Approximately 1000 wet tons, or 202 dry tons, would be dumped.

Mr. Hankey's return - "Hidely Ho! neighbor"

You might ask, what did NBMA do with its crap until now?  Well they spread it on their own farm, in Palmer Township, which they took by eminent domain in 2000.  Presumably, they should have had to prove that they had a great public need to take this property.  You might ask why they don't continue disposing of their crap in their own backyard.  It appears the primary motivator is financial - they sold 50 acres of their current 58.2 acre farm on December 9. 2021 for $53.1 million dollars.  That is $1,062,00 per acre.  Yes Virginia, there really are gold, emeralds and gems in that crap.

Who knew that warehouse developers would pay this kind of money for land?  Regardless, apparently the NBMA sold its property solely to make a windfall profit on land that they took only 21 years ago from its previous owner, using eminent domain.

Concerned citizens attend the November 18, 2021 NBMA meeting, 

and receive conflicting information

News of the November 1 property closing escaped the same day.  At the November 10 BOS meeting, Plainfield supervisors voted to retain environmental attorney Jack Embick, in anticipation that NBMA will proceed with their intended use of the property.

The following is a recap of what happened at the November 18, 2021 NBMA meeting, when concerned citizens confronted the NBMA Board.

The regular November Nazareth Borough Municipal Authority meeting was attended by several citizens who identified themselves as Plainfield Township residents.  The Chairman announced at the beginning of the meeting that the agenda would be changed, and regular business would be completed, following by comments at courtesy of the floor.

 Oddly, no mention at all was made during the regular business portion of the meeting that the purchase of the Hower farm has closed on November 1.  Since this is where the Authority plans to dispose of its sludge moving forward, it seems like a suspicious omission.  It was announced that a draft budget had been completed, but no figures were announced.  It was mentioned later, near the end of the meeting, that the Authority has sold a piece of land believed to be 50 acres, for over $50m dollars – an astonishing figure, if true.  That will help the budget for sure.

 Prior to public comment, the Chairman read a statement indicating that the Hower farm has in fact been purchased, and it would be used for "agricultural purposes" and the Authority would spread its Class B sludge on the property.  Furthermore, "no dumping of sludge not produced by the Authority is planned."  The statement included the bold assertion that this is a safe fertilizer, and all DEP and EPA regulations would be adhered to.  The Chairman stated that a sludge storage building may be needed, and constructed on the Hower farm.

 There was about 45 minutes of public comment, with concerns raised about decreased property values, pollution of runoff and neighboring wells.  Also, Plainfield Township Recreation Board Chairman Tony Borger, who made it clear he was speaking on behalf of himself, voiced concerns about users of the neighboring township property being affected by odors and pollutants emanating from the property.

Authority Plant Manager Dean Minnich stated that the sludge is tested and complies with regulations.  Township resident and farmer Bob Krobath stated that the DEP is "bullshit", and "can't be trusted."  Township resident Don Moore pointed out that the EPA Inspector General issued a report in 2018 that found that sludge contains 55+ substances known to be hazardous, and there are no standards or testing done for them.  Tony Borger read a 2017 letter authored by Pen Argyl Council, including Authority Plant Manager Dean Minnich, in objection to the Synagro plant.  It cited concerns over pollution, odors and traffic.  Borger asked how Minnich could have been so concerned about the impacts on health of the Synagro facility, which only processed the product, and now assure people that spreading the Authority's product is totally safe.

Near the end of the meeting, several things were stated by Authority Board members:

1. Sludge is spread twice per year on the Authority's current property

2. It is not known yet how many times a year it might be spread on the Hower farm.  Could be once, could be twice or three times.

3. It could take a year to begin using the new property.

4. Sludge might be stored in a building on the new property before being applied.

5. While spreading sludge from other sources is "not planned", it might happen.

6. When asked about reports of receiving $50m+ for a piece of Authority property the Chairman smiled and replied "that's business."

7. Plant Manager Minnich contradicted the earlier statement about a building "I don't see why we would ever need to store anything there."

8. News of the sale got out quicker than expected, and the Authority is not ready to fully answer questions.

The Authority is planning to have a Q&A session at some point to address questions and concerns of citizens.  Maybe they will change their mind and just pay to dispose of their sludge in a landfill - they can afford to with that $50m+.

NBMA completes sale of its property for $53.1 million

On December 9, 2021 a deed was recorded, confirming that NBMA received $53.1 million for a 50 acre property that they took from the previous owner by eminent domain in the year 2000.  That's just "business" according to NBMA Chairman Kornos.  Sucks to be the victim of the eminent domain action.

Editor's Note: The Nazareth Municipal Authority is not a "business", it is a municipal entity.  The Chairman's flippant response when challenged over selling the Authority's current farm for no other apparent reason than a windfall profit is disturbing.  The Chairman's response, together with the conflicting statements that crap storage on site will/will not take place and that sludge from outside sources will not/may be disposed of earns the Nazareth Borough Municipal Authority the vaunted Golden Turd Award - the first to be awarded for the year 2021.

NBMA joins distinguished previous Golden Turd Award recipients recognized on this blog: Waste Management, Green Knight Economic Development Corporation, Synagro, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Congratulations 2021 Golden Turd Award Inductee
Nazareth Borough Municipal Authority!

Coming tomorrow - a summary of the December 18, 2021 NBMA Board meeting