LOWER SAUCON TWP. — Two days of hearings this week resulted in 57 residents and entities in and around Lower Saucon Township getting status to join a legal battle against the proposed expansion of the Bethlehem Landfill.
To expedite proceedings at a hearing Wednesday at Lower Saucon Fire Rescue, residents who sought party status who reside within the stipulated area adjacent to the current and proposed landfill were approved without objection.
The stipulated area is a half mile from the landfill site.
- Fifty-seven residents and entities were approved this week to join the legal battle stop the proposed Bethlehem Landfill expansion
- Opposition to the expansion ranges from the negative environmental impact, health concerns, and increased trash truck traffic
- Hearings will resume March 9-10 at Lower Saucon Township building
Seventeen party status requests were approved Wednesday.
The 70 additional residents who submitted party status applications Monday and who live within the stipulated area will be approved pending a formal request at a future hearing, hearing manager Attorney Scott MacNeil said Wednesday.
To get party status, local residents, municipalities and organizations presented evidence showing they have a direct, immediate and substantial interest relative to the landfill expansion.
Those getting party status are permitted to ask questions of witnesses, present evidence, make arguments and are allowed to participate in an appeal.
The scheduled afternoon session Wednesday was postponed because experts from the state Department of Environmental Protection who will testify on the landfill’s behalf were unavailable.
They now are set to appear at the next hearing at 9 a.m. March 9 at the Lower Saucon Township building, 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike.
A meeting also be held at 9 a.m. March 10 in the township building.
Status requests came from opponents
Each of those residents having received or requested party status are opposed to the landfill expansion planned for 117.4 of 275.7 acres at Applebutter Road and Riverside Drive.
The township council voted in December to rezone the parcel to allow the expansion. Residents oppose expanding the landfill because they say it would affect the environment as well as their daily lives and health.
On Monday, the township zoning hearing board voted not to hold a scheduled appeal of prior approval of the expansion, instead choosing to let the matter proceed to county court.
Much as fellow residents of Lower Saucon Township and neighboring communities did during Monday’s hearing, attendees on Wednesday shared concerns over the proposed landfill expansion.
Land preservation, contaminants from the landfill polluting the water table and existing waterways, repulsive odors emanating from the site and increased traffic by trash hauling trucks were among the concerns expressed by residents.
The parcel the proposed landfill plans to expand on is covered by conservation easements, originally filed with the city of Bethlehem and transferred to Lower Saucon Township. It’s currently a forested area, with a stream running through it.
Some requests rejected
Some area residents who complained about the impact of the current landfill and anticipated issues from the proposed expansion were rejected for party status mainly due to residing just outside the stipulated area.
Margaret Segaline, of 2075 Leithsville Road, Hellertown, was among those rejected for status. She resides about four miles from the current landfill.
On Wednesday, Segaline said her well water was tested last week and found to be contaminated, as is the well water of her neighbor.
MacNeil rejected her party status request because Segaline was unable to prove the landfill was responsible for her well contamination.
“My water is not potable,” Segaline said. “If that’s not a concern, I don’t know what is. I really don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Gary Asteak, counsel for residents opposing the landfill expansion, argued for Segaline that underground aquifers extend miles and miles.
“She shouldn’t have to truck in water to live,” Asteak said.
Landfill contributions questioned
One 21-year Lower Saucon Township resident who chose to remain anonymous argued that the parcel in question should never have been rezoned.
“The council members who voted to approve the rezoning don’t live anywhere near the dump,” the resident said. “They don’t have to smell it. They don't have to see it. They don’t have to worry about getting sick from it. Ask them if they’d switch houses with me. You know what the answer will be. They don’t care about anything but money.”
The resident also found it curious that council members who voted in favor of rezoning to clear the way for the landfill expansion received campaign re-election funding from a political action committee founded by an executive from Waste Management, Inc., of Texas, parent company of Bethlehem Landfill.
In October 2021, WLVR FM 91.3 reported that campaign finance reports showed that $75,000 was spent by the PAC in support of council President Jason Banonis, council member Tom Carocci and Vice President Jennifer Zavacky. Zavacky resigned in May 2022, five months after being elected.
“They got money to vote the way the owners wanted,” the resident said. “Connect the dots. It’s not hard to do.”
Despite distance, smell is there
Another resident who was denied party status complained she could smell the landfill odor even though she lives three miles away in a residence owned by her partner.
“I enjoy walking and jogging on the Rail Trail and D&L Trail,” said Kristin Volchansky, of Willings Lane in Hellertown. “I have migraines that are triggered by noxious odors. I don’t want to lose my ability to walk those trails.”
“I use the D&L Trail regularly. Who would want to ride the trail smelling that garbage and seeing vultures flying around like you're in ‘The Birds’ movie? It stinks there.”Christine Guro, of Hellertown
Armando Perez, who was denied party status, complained of vultures he believes are present near his home on Berger Road in Easton that impacts his raising of doves.
“Because of the vultures there, I can’t train my doves,” Perez said. “I do voluntary service with the doves for schools, show them the history of birds, and show them at military services. There’s no reason for the vultures to be there except for the dump.”
Christine Guro of Hellertown resides outside the stipulated area, but is affected by the landfill.
“I use the D&L Trail regularly,” he said. “Who would want to ride the trail smelling that garbage and seeing vultures flying around like you're in ‘The Birds’ movie? It stinks there.”
Guro said she believes the landfill expansion will change the area significantly.
“The wildlife will no longer be the same,” she said. “The habitat will be gone. I will miss seeing the eagles, orioles and osprey. The last thing we need is more garbage. To have this happen on a National Heritage Corridor is causing me emotional pain and anxiety.”
Bethlehem resident Tara Zrinski’s individual party status request was rejected relative to the location of her residence.
Her party status request for the Northampton County Energy, Environment and Land Use Committee, of which she is chairwoman, was tabled.
Landfill counsel Maryanne Garber objected to immediate approval because Zrinski’s request was not voted upon by her organization’s committee.
