DREDGE PLAN RAISES QUESTIONS

The Mayor has scheduled a public meeting at 7PM on July 25 in Council Chambers in Hazleton City Hall with plans to reclaim mineland in Hazleton with a mixture of dredged mud, fly ash and cement kiln dust. The public will be able to ask questions and give opinions at the meeting.

When the plan was first presented in May, questions were raised about the metals and chemical contaminants which might be present in the material dredged from the Delaware River in the area of Philadelphia. Originally the material was to be used to restore wetlands in New Jersey and Delaware which are fairly close to the site of the dredged material, but those States refused to allow the material to be dumped there. Some of the complaints were published in the Standard-Speaker, but no explanation was given to the public about those refusals. The cost of hauling would be in the tens of millions of dollars. If the material were so good, why weren’t there other projects nearer to the River which could use the material and the cost would be minimal, and the possible damage to the highways from the heavy trucks which would take several years to accomplish the purpose suggested by the Mayor? Another question that should be answered is who would be paying the millions of dollars for the hauling and fees and the payment to the project.

In the two months that have passed since the initial proposal, there has been no public answer to the questions that were raised after the original proposal This silence in itself has created more questions about the proposed benefits of the dredged material which apparently no one else seems to want.

Recently the Mayor said that the people of this city don’t care about the possible effects because only 18% of the people voted in the last primary election, but there was nothing in the election about the use of the dredge material; therefore, the number of voters in that election is not relevant to their approval or disapproval. The only way to know the extent of the public interest would be an election at which the voters would vote on the dredge plan

A recent article by Sue Fracke of Environmental Coalition on Nuclear Power explains that there radioactive isotopes in the Delaware River from several nuclear power plants in New York and New Jersey which would be in the dredge and fly ash and which would be used in the proposed fills.

It might be well to consider the physical problems involved in the project. There is discussion about 5 to 10 million tons of material on the site. If it were assumed that the filling would take 10 years, that means that 500,000 to 1,000,000 tons would have to go in each year. If it were 500,000 tons a year, it would mean that each day there would have to be about 50 trainloads a day which would have to be unloaded on trailer trucks and about 100 truck trailer loads would be required each day. According to what was publicized, after the unloading they would have to be washed so that the residue left in the trailers would not be flying in the air. It would also seem as if the train cars bringing the material for over 100 miles would have to be washed.

If the filling of the coal mines is going to take over 10 years, there is a question as to why there is such a hurry to push it when there are many questions about the dredge/fly ash fill. The only immediate question seems to be the purchase of the land from the coal company during October. There does not seem to be a lot of competition for the property because of the environmental problems. In fact, it is suggested that nothing be done until after the Hazardous Site Cleanup Division has visited the site and made its report.

There are also other questions about the abandoned mine reclamation. The first question is about the land itself which is owned by Pagnotti. If the company is selling the coal property for another use, it is probably covered by the "grandfather clause" which is in the real estate law, and which might require the seller to correct hazardous conditions on the property. This could probably cost them more money than they would receive for the property. There is another question as to whether the land could be eligible for abandoned mine reclamation, since it is apparent that the land is not abandoned and would therefore not seem to be eligible for State funds for the reclamation. Even if these hurdles could be overcome, there is a risk involved if the proposed dredge and fly material would later cause serious health problems, which are now being discussed by governmental and environmental groups. If something serious did occur among the people that was even caused by a substance different from those discussed, could there be legal suits brought against the mayor who authorized it and the members of the City Council who approved it. These are matters which the lawyers for the purchasing limited liability company as well as the City of Hazleton should review and advise their clients for their protection as well as that of the residents of the area.

Considering the possible 15 to 20 years to fill the mines and construct the amphitheatre, the time and money could be better spent on something which would take less time to complete and give more money and more work for the people of Hazleton.

Bernard H. Kline, CPA

87 N. Church St., Hazleton PA 18201

570-455-7541