Nilles,
environmentalist seek answers to dredge questions
Thursday, 25 January 2007
By L.A.
TARONE
It wasn’t on the
agenda, but Hazleton’s mineland reclamation
project using river dredge was the main topic of
discussion during Tuesday night’s city council
meeting. During the discussion, city Engineer Bob
Dougherty said about 500,000 cubic yards of dredge
is not being mixed with fly ash because it’s to be
used as fill under what will be a parking
lot. Councilman Bob Nilles and local activist
Drew Magill, a member of Save Us From Future
Environmental Risks (SUFFER), raised the
question. During the post-agenda comment
period, Magill pointed to plans to accept
construction debris from a Phillipsburg, N.J.,
building and that some dredge was being placed
into mine pits without being mixed with fly
ash. “This illustrates one reason we’re
(SUFFER) appealing the permits,” Magill said.
“This project is changing and morphing into
something other than it had been.” Magill noted
initial word had it that dredge would be baked
before being placed into pits and that plans had
been for it to be transported by rail, rather than
truck. As the Standard-Speaker detailed last week,
truck transportation has been selected by the
developer Hazleton Creek Partners because it’s
less expensive than rail. But Magill said the
changes represent “the gradual eroding of safety
precautions as we’re going along. “I have no
doubt that Mayor Barletta and his supporters on
council entered into this project with the best of
intentions and trust,” Magill said. “But it
appears this is becoming as cash cow for (HCP).
Only they get the milk and we’re getting the
manure.” During member’s questions, Nilles
picked up on the point. He said he remembered Penn
State University professor Barry Scheetz saying
fly ash made the resulting substance “cementicious
like” hard. He asked if that was the case, why it
wasn’t being used on what was being deposited
now. Dougherty said what’s being filled now is
the future site of the parking lot, as it’s not
suitable to build on because of the landfill
underneath. Therefore, he said, it wasn’t
necessary that dredge be as hard as it must be
underneath the actual amphitheater. But he said
fly ash would be added to the dredge that will be
used to fill in pits upon which structures will be
built. Nilles also asked about testing.
Dougherty said dredge was being tested at Fort
Mifflin by Hawk Mountain Laboratories weeks in
advance of its arrival here. Nilles also asked
whether there was any documentation that what was
tested is what is delivered. Dougherty said
paperwork used formed a “closed circle,” adding
each load was accompanied by papers that showed
from which cell at Fort Mifflin it was taken and
test results. Nilles also asked why the city
was receiving payment for dredge but not
construction debris – noting high tipping fees
charged by landfills. Dougherty said the
construction debris would be used for the basis of
access roads, calling it an “integral” part of the
project, adding the city didn’t believe receivng
payment for it was necessary. Councilman Tom
Gabos also had a list of questions – including
whether the Route 309 entrance was being used yet.
Dougherty said paving was complete, but the city
was waiting for delivery of the truck wash.
When it arrives, that entrance will be used
instead of the Cranberry entrance. Gabos also
asked about additional testing. Dougherty said the
contract with HCP gives the city the authority to
order up to 12 additional tests per year, beyond
what the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection requires. Gabos said he thought the
city should do that “just incase someone down
there fell asleep at the switch.” Dougherty
agreed and said the city planned additional tests
on site but hadn’t yet selected by whom they’d be
performed. Vice President Jack Mundie said council
wanted results of tests when they’re done.
Dougherty said he’d provide them. Gabos said he
thought the city should be provided with some
background on buildings from which debris is
coming. Dougherty said some is provided. He
added that under the DEP permit, only brick, block
and cement are allowed – all other debris must be
separated at the point of origin. He said HCP
risked losing its contract and multi-million
dollar investment should that provision be
violated. Earlier, former city council
president Bill Lockwood, also of SUFFER, asked
about additional testing as well. He also
pointed to a battle between the city and the
former Department of Environmental Resources in
the 1980s over the city dump site. He said DER
wanted it closed for several reasons – chemicals
that were been dumped there starting in the late
1940s, that it wasn’t lined and the
unacceptability of rock fill. The city refused
– though it was closed in the late 1980s. “I
want to know what changed,” Lockwood said. “Back
then, they were putting residual waste into an
open shaft. It seems you’re doing the same thing
now.” No one from HCP was at the meeting. Mayor
Lou Barletta listened, but did not comment.
