WBRE's lead story tonight was the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Notice of Violation against Keystone Sanitary Landfill due to "putrid odors." Several community residents and FOL Board member, Michele Dempsey, give compelling interviews regarding their take on the violation.

LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) to Keystone Sanitary Landfill (KSL) in Lackawanna County for failing to control odors at its facility in the boroughs of Dunmore and Throop, this comes after the DEP confirmed landfill gas odors numerous times in the past several months.

During November and December, DEP staff conducted after-hours odor patrols twice daily, including nights and weekends, and were able to confirm landfill gas odors on numerous occasions. DEP staff also documented landfill gas odors during routine unannounced inspections.

DEP found that KSL failed to maintain a temporary cover over garbage at the landfill that prevents odors. The results of KSL’s own surface monitoring from September and October 2023. indicated extensive areas of the landfill with excessive methane gas emissions, which DEP also believes is causing odor issues.

“Every day, literally every day, I come off the highway, off 81, and I smell it immediately. I’ve been driving to Dunmore for over 30 years and this is the worst it’s actually been,” said Nanticoke resident Melanie Nardozzo.

“I’m extremely happy because it was multiple times a week, every week, you would smell it and it penetrates your car windows, air fresheners, everything, it doesn’t matter,” Sam Borgacci of Dickson City said.

During DEP`s November 16, 2023 inspection of KSL, strong landfill gas odors, and elevated methane gas readings were observed in intermediate cover areas near the Casey Highway.

DEP has determined that KSL violates the Solid Waste Management Act, the Municipal Waste Management rules and regulations, and KSL’s operating permit.

“Ironically, it’s a breath of fresh air that the secretary of the DEP Jessica Shirley said that residents of our community deserve to live in a place where they don’t have to smell putrid odors,” Friends of Lackawanna board member Michele Dempsey said.

KSL has 30 days to submit a proposed plan that corrects and prevents the violations. A copy of the NOV can be found on DEP`s webpage.

“As the dump gets bigger and expands over another 50 years, then those problems and nuisances just get worse and the smells are just the tip of the iceberg. Citizens are genuinely concerned about the long-term effects of chronic exposure to the chemicals being emitted by Keystone sanitary landfill,” Dempsey continued.

“When I went to Marywood 30 years ago, that mountain over there was non-existent. Now I look at it every day I leave work and I’m like, ‘That’s frightening,’ it’s frightening to me,” Nardozzo said.

In addition to the NOV, DEP suspended KSL’s Settlement Accommodation Plan (SAP) in late November. The SAP allowed the landfill to add more waste to areas of the landfill that had previously been capped. This action was also in response to DEP’s investigation of numerous odor complaints received and the regular confirmation of landfill gas odors offsite by DEP staff over the past two and a half months.

Residents can file complaints with DEP`s Northeast Regional Office at 570-826-2511, which is open 24 hours per day. Do not hang up when you hear the automated message as you will be connected with an operator. Residents can also file a complaint online.

For more information on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection visit their website.