Trucking leachate from BRADS landfill too much to bear, St. Clair resident charges
A public hearing was held by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in St. Clair to discuss a request by BRADS landfill to continue trucking leachate, which residents and local officials strongly opposed due to environmental risks. Amidst these local concerns, a congressional candidate also cited two proposed AI data centers as unwanted developments contributing to the county being perceived as a "dumping ground," urging community resistance. The article also notes a land dispute affecting potential landfill expansion.
David Plachko, a St. Clair resident and retired district judge, initiated testimony at a public hearing convened by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding the Blythe Recycling & Demolition Site (BRADS) landfill. The hearing, held in St. Clair, addressed BRADS' request to continue trucking millions of gallons of toxic leachate to a local sewage treatment facility, despite an alleged prior agreement for a pipeline installation. Plachko and other residents expressed strong opposition, highlighting environmental hazards and the unsuitability of Burma Road for heavy truck traffic.
Concerns were raised about the status of the proposed pipeline to the Schuylkill Valley Sewer Authority treatment plant, with conflicting reports on its completion and the sewer authority's willingness to connect. St. Clair Borough Councilman Norm Diehl and other speakers emphasized the long-term risks for Schuylkill County residents, urging DEP to uphold its regulatory responsibilities and deny permit renewal for trucking. All three Schuylkill County commissioners also attended, stating their opposition to trucking leachate.
The issue extended beyond leachate, with residents viewing BRADS as emblematic of external pressures on Schuylkill County, including warehouse, biosolid, and data center developments. Rachel Wallace, a Democratic congressional candidate, specifically cited "two proposed AI data centers" as part of the county's struggle against becoming a "dumping ground," rallying residents to oppose such projects. DEP had recently renewed BRADS' operating permit through April 2035, while a separate land sale for potential landfill expansion by Reading Anthracite is currently on hold due to title dispute claims by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, which is being reviewed by Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Hobbs.