Dear Friend,

The Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill has applied for a permit to evaporate leachate (liquid runoff) from the site, putting nearby residents, especially vulnerable populations, and workers at the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill at risk. This landfill started accepting shale gas drilling (fracking) waste in 2010. In May of 2019 the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) prohibited the company from continuing to send their leachate to outside waste treatment plants because “the leachates high volume and toxic chemicals were damaging the plant’s ability to treat wastewater discharged into the Monongahela River,” according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. 

If the company is allowed to evaporate the leachate, the air will be contaminated with pollutants and hazardous substances. Some pollutants of concern include known carcinogen arsenic as well as selenium, iron, strontium, and asthma-inducing particulate matter 2.5 and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Furthermore, the county already fails to meet the federal health standards for particulate matter 2.5 and ground-level-ozone. These emissions from the evaporation process will make it harder for Westmoreland County to meet the federal health standards.

Request a public hearing so that you and other members of the public can share your concerns directly with the DEP about this permit application. Your message to DEP that there needs to be a public hearing on this permit is more powerful if you can add to the suggested comments how this facility’s emission might impact you personally. Comments are due Today June 8th!

Sincerely,

Joseph Otis Minott, Esq.
Executive Director and Chief Counsel