NEWS RELEASE
State Rep. Camille "Bud" George
D-Clearfield County
www.pahouse.com/George
CONTACT: Matthew Maciorkoski
Office of Rep. Camille "Bud" George
Phone: 717-787-7082
Email: MMaciork@pahouse.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
11/2/2005

Rep. George: State Supreme Court ruling bolsters landfill foes

HARRISBURG, Nov. 2 -- State Rep. Camille "Bud" George, Democratic chairman of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee today said a recent state Supreme Court ruling provides hope for citizens fighting unneeded and unwanted landfills.

"The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has upheld the state's harms vs. benefits test and ruled against landfill operators who have been trying to force landfills on residents in Clearfield and Mercer counties for many years," said Rep. George, D-74 of Clearfield County. "Residents in both communities deserve congratulations for persisting in this fight."

On Oct. 27, the state's high court upheld 5-year-old regulations requiring landfill operators to show that social and economic benefits from a new or expanded landfill clearly outweigh known and potential environmental harms. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court by Eagle Environmental II LP of Altoona and Tri-County Industries of Grove City.

"The Supreme Court's ruling was the third strike against the landfill developers and a home run for the communities," said Rep. George, noting that the operators appeals had previously been struck down by the Environmental Hearing Board and Commonwealth Court.

Eagle Environmental has been attempting to build a landfill on a 677-acre site in Chest Township, Clearfield County, where as much as 2,500 tons of residual waste would be deposited daily. In August 2001, the state Department of Environmental Protection issued permits for the Royal Oak Landfill, even though its permit application was denied in November 1996 because of technical deficiencies dealing with bedrock fracturing, ground settlement and coal-related concerns.

In October 2001, Eagle Environmental challenged its environmental assessment because of conditions placed on its permits.

The landfill battle in Mercer County dates to 1992, and Tri-County Industry's permit to build a municipal waste landfill within 6,000 feet of the Grove City Airport was denied in October 2001 partly because the risks of birds striking aircraft outweighed any benefits.

"The battle is not always won by the rich and powerful," said Rep. George, noting that in addition to the proposed landfill in Chest Township, residents also are fighting landfill applications for huge municipal waste landfills proposed nearby in Boggs Township, Clearfield County, and Rush Township, Centre County.

"Citizens trying to stave off landfills that would obliterate their communities should take heart from the court ruling," said Rep. George, whose House Bill 326 would freeze landfill and incinerator applications for three years and provide local control over landfill applications. "It shouldn't take this long or be this expensive to protect communities, but the ruling does uphold valid environmental protections."

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