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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Neal P. Goodman |
  
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Goodman bill would throw out future landfill applications that are near water
HARRISBURG, May 13 – The House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out legislation Tuesday that would increase protection for state watersheds from being contaminated by landfill pollutants.
The bill, introduced by state Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-Schuylkill, would prohibit new municipal or residual waste landfills from being located within 2,500 feet of a watershed and would establish that an existing landfill would assume responsibility for damages when it’s within 2,500 feet of a water supply.
"We cannot allow Pennsylvania to be a dumping ground for trash and not expect a detrimental impact on our environment, especially if the landfills border our water supply," Goodman said. "This has been an ongoing problem in Pennsylvania and I hope that we can get this measure to the House floor quickly for an affirmative vote."
Goodman said the bill (H.B. 1242) would address controversial landfill applications, including one in his district, the proposed Blythe Recycling and Demolition Site Landfill in Blythe Township. On April 11, the state Department of Environmental Protection denied the Blythe Township application, citing that BRADS had not adequately addressed issues and deficiencies in its application.
Goodman said he was disappointed to learn of the township’s recent appeal of the decision and hoped that the House and Senate would take quick action on his measure to send a message to the Department of Environmental Protection regarding the proximity of these proposed sites to water supplies.
"This landfill application should have been thrown out as soon as the department learned it was only 2,400 feet from the Wolfe Creek Reservoir," Goodman said. "The potential harm it could cause to residents is inexcusable. Hopefully, passage of my measure will be the final nail in the coffin that assures no landfill will ever be placed on this site."
He noted that while the Blythe Township application was grandfathered in under current law, his legislation would prevent any landfill from being considered in the future if it poses concerns similar to the BRADS site.
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