"Dubious ‘benefits’

A great LTE on the DEP's mission and how it relates to the purported "benefits" of the proposed expansion.

"Dubious ‘benefits’

Editor: I have a question for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regarding its recent statement regarding the proposed Keystone Sanitary Landfill expansion.

But first, I had to go look up the agency’s mission statement. From the DEP website: “The Department of Environmental Protection’s mission is to protect Pennsylvania’s air, land and water from pollution and to provide for the health and safety of its citizens through a cleaner environment. We will work as partners with individuals, organizations, governments and businesses to prevent pollution and restore our natural resources.”

My question for DEP is: How can the so-called “benefits” to allow the landfill’s expansion have nothing to do with the environment? If the DEP’s mission is to protect the environment, but it can’t list a positive environmental effect of this expansion, why did officials there feel the need to list socioeconomic benefits as apparent decision-making positives?

COSMO LOVECCHIO

SOUTH ABINGTON TWP."