Thank you Scranton Council! We encourage everyone to submit comments to Roger Bellas, DEP Northeast Regional Office, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701, or email him at rbellas@pa.gov.

Excerpt: “Several council members expressed concern that the proposed expansion of the landfill, which is located in Dunmore and Throop, would adversely affect community health and the environment. The expansion would last 42.4 years, during which time the landfill would bring in about 188 billion pounds of waste, according to a timeline the landfill provided DEP.

“I see the landfill as a hazard to people’s health,” Councilwoman Jessica Rothchild said when reached between council’s caucus and regular meeting. “Based on what I’ve read and my understanding of the expansion, I think the negatives outweigh the positives by far.”

Council President Bill Gaughan suggested sending the letter, a plan Rothchild and councilmen Kyle Donahue, Tom Schuster and Mark McAndrew endorsed.

In July, DEP released the results of an environmental assessment weighing the harms and benefits of the expansion that determined the benefits “clearly outweigh” known and potential harms. Benefits listed in the assessment include tax revenue, continued employment of local workers, lucrative host agreements and recycling and cleanup programs. Landfill officials have pointed to the assessment as evidence the expansion won’t create serious environmental, public health or safety issues for residents.

The DEP announced last week that it had begun the technical review phase of the landfill’s proposed Phase III expansion, which includes a 60-day window for public comment that closes June 30 at 4 p.m. Council will send its letter as part of the comment process.”