The Citizens’ Environmental Association of the Slippery Rock Area has worked toward protecting our environment for over 30 years, with the help of many people.
We continue our opposition to the proposed Tri-County Landfill while focusing on expanding our public education emphasis and working with state agencies and other environmental groups.
We believe the local communities need an organization like CEASRA. Here are a few reasons why:
- Governmental agencies only know what is presented or reported to them.
- Businesses may or may not be good environmental stewards.
- Businesses can repeatedly violate laws and still be allowed to operate.
- Community members need and deserve an un-biased information source for environmental issues.
- Community members need a strong unified voice with elected officials and governmental agencies.
At this time, CEASRA has established some action items to serve as near and long term goals. As a group, we will continue and nurture our ties with the PA Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
We also endeavor to monitor local governmental activity through reviewing meetings and agendas. Specifically, we voiced our concern and filed an objection to storing millions of pounds of hazardous material at the Cooper Industrial Commons in Grove City.
We also worked directly with the DEP, after identifying a well that is leaking acid mine drainage, to get it addressed through their abandoned well program. We continue to monitor activity around the Osborne Superfund Site.
CEASRA will continue our focus on community education in 2018. Last April, we hosted a program entitled What Every Pennsylvanian Needs to Know About Their Water. The informative public meeting was presented by those who regulate water and those who are subject matter experts on water supplies – the DEP and the Penn State Extension Agency. This year, we will continue our emphasis by conducting two new education sessions, determined by member and public input.
CEASRA’s largest endeavor continues to be the opposition to the proposed Tri-County Landfill (TCL). Tri-County Landfill, and Vogel Holdings, has submitted new landfill plans to Pine and Liberty Townships, as well as the Mercer County Regional Planning Commission. The MCRPC has approved the plans “with conditions.” TCL continues to try to submit plans that do not comply with the PA Commonwealth Court ruling that Tri-County is limited to a 40-foot maximum height restriction. If they continue to the next step of applying for a new permit from the DEP, we will vigorously oppose it based upon their documented record of landfill and solid waste violations. For example, Vogel’s violations included Vogel Holdings, Inc. having to pay $682,500 in penalties (originally 1.2 million). DEP NW Regional Director John Guth said “The penalty reflects the seriousness of the violations committed by the Vogel companies.” Some of these violations included transporting illegal gas well wastes, exceeding daily volume limits, failing to control odors and erosion, and leaking garbage trucks.
We would love to have you involved in our efforts. Our next meeting is at 6:00 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Grove City Area Historical Society, 111 College Avenue, Grove City. To learn more about CEASRA, please go to our Facebook page or send questions/comments/tax-deductible contributions to ceasra@zoominternet.net, 25 Macrae Drive, Grove City, PA 16127.
Bill Pritchard
president of CEASRA, Inc.
