By CHRISTINE HAINES
Rostraver Township commissioners are going on record opposing plans for a leachate evaporation system at the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill.
The commissioners asked township Solicitor Tim Maatta to draw up a resolution before next week’s meeting along with a letter to the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Public comment will be accepted by the DEP through June 9 on the air quality plan for the evaporator system. Once the plan receives final approval, the landfill would be allowed to construct the evaporator system and operate it for a period of time before the DEP considers final approval of the operation.
Approval of the air quality plan is not an operating permit, according to DEP spokeswoman Lauren Fraley.
“This approval is required for the applicant to commence construction of an air contamination source and may allow for temporary operation,” Fraley said in an email. “A plan approval is not the same as an operating permit, which is required for long-term operation.
“The department has not made a decision on the application. The notice of intent signals that DEP has performed its evaluation of the application and begins the regulatory public participation process.”
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