June 17, 2005
by Rebecca Koleno
Assistant Editor
Reproduced with permission.

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MOSHANNON -- What a difference a year makes.

It's been just more than a year since hundreds of people filled the Moshannon Community Center and overflowed into the parking lot to voice their opposition to the proposed landfill straddling Snow Shoe and Rush townships.

During the past year, People Protecting Communities was formed and last night, the group sponsored an informational session about what has happened during that time.

The landfill is no longer in Snow Shoe Township after the supervisors declined a request to change the zoning in the township to allow for the landfill to be located at the proposed site. Rush Township, however, has no zoning and signed a host agreement with Resource Recovery LLL for the project.

Linda Padisak and other group members said they want "a big voice to fight big money," encouraging the nearly 100 people in attendance to join the group, volunteer time or help raise money.

PPC representatives said they were frustrated with the lack of information about what types of materials will be accepted at the site as well as said they were mislead with some information.

At the June 3, 2004, meeting, Resource Recovery said without a new interchange off of Interstate 80 and without approval from both municipalities, there would be no landfill. Last week, those representatives approached Rush Township to see if the supervisors would be willing to alter the agreement to allow the use of local roads.

"Think about the traffic," said Tina Moore, PPC member, who lives on Gorton Road. "They told me (at the first meeting) they would not let trucks dump trash off Gorton Road; even if they build a road it won't stop (the haulers) from using Gorton Road."

She continued to update the group on the point of access study for the I-80 interchange. She said the state Department of Transportation reviews the document and it also has to be approved by the Federal Highway Administration. She said Resource Recovery is meeting some roadblocks and PennDOT is looking for additional documentation.

After "conceptual approval" an environmental study must be completed about the effects of new road.

"Those of us who know and love the area know (this project) is not consistent with the current recreational use," she said. "If these people do not go away soon, we will be in for the long haul-- and only people power can fight money power."

JoAnn Gillette, speaker, thanked the Snow Shoe Township Supervisors for letting the residents have their voices' heard last year and for declining the zoning change. She showed petitions with thousands of names opposing not only the landfill but also the $8.5 million set aside in the state budget for access to the site. She said the first phase of the project will hold 40 million tons of garbage and take 30 years to fill. She said the landfill would be open 24 hours a day, six days a week.

She added members also requested a file review with the Department of Environmental Protection and said everyone has the right to look at all the files DEP has concerning the landfill.

"If this dump gets approved, it's here forever," she said. "Now more than ever we need to keep the pressure on; let them know we don't want it because there is strength in numbers."

Michele Barbin, another PPC speaker, spoke about the wildlife impact if the project goes through. She said a study must be done concerning endangered species, impact on wetlands, impact on wildlife habitat as well as the impact the new road will have. She said if anyone sees a Bald Eagle or nest to contact the group so it can be investigated, and she named several other species such as the Allegheny Wood Rat to look for, adding the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has photos of the species on its Web site.

She said the projects would fragment the forest, resulting a detrimental effect on the wildlife. She said Resource Recovery has called the area a "brownfield" site, which is defined as a polluted industrial site. Ms. Barbin said this is obviously not true and wondered why the company would pick the Rush Township-Snow Shoe area "when there are so many other sites" that fall under that category.

Pam McCloskey discussed the impact the landfill will have on the quality of life for area residents. She said homes within three miles of the site will see an immediate decline in real estate value ranging from 2.5 percent to 7.8 percent. She added the number of tourists who visit the area would decline because they would not want to "drive by a dump" with the odor and traffic. She said expenses would also increase because of road repair and increased cost of emergency medical services because of the anticipated increase in accidents.

She said that every three minutes a truck would go to the site.

"Can you imagine the volume of trucks, the pollution, the noise, the accidents?" she asked, adding what about the children standing along state Route 144 waiting for school buses.

She asked who is willing to pay that price of a child being harmed or maimed because of the garbage trucks. Leone Crock, resident, said there are 35-40 children on a bus and about 17 buses travel that road, so if an accident would happen it could harm a lot of children.

Ms. McCloskey said Resource Recovery representatives' quality of life would improve because the proposed landfill will generate a lot of money for them. She also encouraged everyone to join the group because there is strength in numbers. She also encouraged people to write to their elected officials because they believe "silence means you are in favor" of the project. Ms. McCloskey said it only takes three lines: "I am a registered voter. I oppose this dump. I want you to oppose the dump."

While Rush supervisors contend the majority of residents want the landfill, group members said they spent two Saturdays going door-to-door survey people and more than 50 percent said they were not in favor of it.

John Mandel was at the meeting with his wife, Ann, and their son John Paul and said, "We're from Rush Township and we sure ... don't want it."

Ms. Padisak said there are several committees PPC wants to form, including a Rush Rally committee to get residents in Rush Township to voice their opposition. She said with the survey done by the group, it shows there are more people who are against the project then people realize.

Mrs. Mandel said they came to the meeting to show support for the PPC. She said she believes lots of people are apathetic and does not believe everyone is in favor of the landfill.

"I also don't think they should use local roads," she said. "I don't know the legalities or what right the supervisors have to allow them to use those roads; those roads are not made for big trucks, which means more maintenance and costs us more."

Rosemary Walsh said she attended a "talking trash" seminar with people who live near landfills. They suggested PPC have a strong protest by a grassroots group, not to wait before the permitting process, and obtain health impact, property impact and traffic data. "A lot of this we have already done," she said.

George Pytel, Ferguson Township Supervisor, who is also on the Centre County council of governments and the metropolitan planning commission, has also offered support to the group. He took a different approach on why the landfill should be stopped. He said the average truck coming in will travel about 400 miles one way, using about 160 gallons of fuel. With the number of trucks anticipated, he said that would account for about 1.92 millions of fuel a month. He added if the landfills were so safe, why aren't New York and New Jersey fighting for it?

Former DEP employee and attorney Steve Lachman also outlined some different plans of action for the group to take. He said the issue is resource conservation, and people should look at their lifestyles. He said it is DEP's nature to make issues go smoothly and said, "let's make life uncomfortable" for them, telling the group to inundate DEP with phone calls with opposition.

"There are a lot of opportunities to show this is harmful," he said. "This is a many-legged spider and there are many ways to attack this thing; but it will take a group effort."

Ed Walsh also updated the group on what has happened the past year, saying the high mark was the June 3, 2004, meeting. He said PPC has spent a long time internally organizing and the group has had support from businesses and a couple of Penn State student groups.

Ms. Padisak said the group is looking for volunteers for working booths at the carnival, getting information out, fund-raising, making signs, etc.

"The greater the membership, the greater the voice," she said.

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©2005 People Protecting Communities • last updated Nov 6, 2005
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