When Pigs Fly: Part 4
Winners and Losers
So far, People Protecting Communities (PPC) has analyzed three benefits claimed by Resource Recovery, LLC (RRLLC) in their permit application for the proposed Rush Township landfill. RRLLC has exaggerated these benefits to the local communities by 3 to 4 times (see When Pigs Fly: Parts 1 [Waste Disposal], 2 [Real Estate Taxes], 3 [New Employee Salaries]).
This time PPC will identify and quantify the primary winners and losers using a harms-benefit approach. In the following table, both RRLLC's income data taken from their official permit application (Table D-7), and PPC's recalculation of their income data [in brackets] are shown.
| WHO BENEFITS? | WHO PAYS? | |
| RECIPIENT | Percent of TOTAL INCOME |
Percent of HARMS |
| RRLLC—Owners and investors | 56% [76%] | 0% |
| Nonlocal—Commonwealth of PA | 33% [15%] | 0% |
| Local—County, Townships, School District | 11% [9%] | 100% |
Whether RRLLC's or PPC's numbers are used, RRLLC is the big winner and the locals are the big losers. By RRLLC's own claim, they will earn and take away 5 times the income (56%) that Rush Township, Snow Shoe Township, the Philipsburg Osceola School District, and Centre County combined (11%) will get for assuming 100% of the harms. Using PPC's recalculation which corrects for RRLLC's exaggerated claims, RRLLC will take away 8 times (76%) the income than the locals (9%) who are assuming 100% of the harms.
Why do RRLLC owners and investors who will not be subject to any of the harms (health risks, odors, dust, litter, noise, environmental damage, air and water pollution, increased truck traffic, etc.) get 5 to 8 times MORE in income than the locals who assume all of the harms?
How many of you, local citizens,
think this is an acceptable deal?