- An agreement between Bethlehem Landfill and the people suing them was reached Tuesday
- St. Luke’s University Health Network's Anderson Campus and Bethlehem Township have joined the residents in the suit against both Bethlehem Landfill and Lower Saucon Township
- The pact requires Bethlehem Landfill Co. to notify the plaintiffs in advance if they plan to cut down any living trees on the tracts set to become landfill
EASTON, Pa. — An agreement between Bethlehem Landfill and the people suing them, reached Tuesday, limits the landfill’s work to expand while a series of lawsuits aimed at stopping the expansion go forward.
A group of Lower Saucon Township residents, represented by Atty. Gary Asteak, filed a suit contending the landfill must abide by conservation easements placed on the land designated to become landfill, and removed in August by the township council.
St. Luke’s University Health Network's Anderson Campus and Bethlehem Township have joined the residents in the suit against both Bethlehem Landfill and Lower Saucon Township.
Lawyers for all of the parties met in court Tuesday, after Asteak asked for an emergency order preventing certain work on the landfill expansion from moving forward while their lawsuit progressed.
Instead, after two hours of closed-door negotiations, the attorneys announced they had reached an agreement.
Pact requires notification
Most importantly for the plaintiffs, the pact requires Bethlehem Landfill Co. to notify them in advance if they plan to cut down any living trees on the tracts set to become landfill, giving time to object through the court.
“Our fear was that one morning we'd wake up and the hillside would be denuded and deforested. It was absolutely necessary that we put a hold on things until all the litigation is resolved.”Atty. Gary Asteak, who represents several Lower Saucon Township residents in the lawsuit
The landfill may continue applying for land development approval from Lower Saucon Township and landfill permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, but cannot submit final plans to the township until the lawsuit is resolved.
Additionally, construction on the expansion cannot begin until those final plans are approved, and the landfill receives a state Department of Environmental Protection permit.
Opponents of the landfill, gathered outside the courtroom after the hearing ended, cheered the agreement.
“Our fear was that one morning we'd wake up and the hillside would be denuded and deforested,” said Asteak, who represents several Lower Saucon Township residents in the suit.
“It was absolutely necessary that we put a hold on things until all the litigation is resolved.”
Bethlehem Landfill’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
