Rostraver Township officials address landfill complaints

By Christine Haines
chaines@yourmvi.com

Numerous complaints have been lodged against the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill in the past several weeks, with a few resulting in notices of violation by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Rostraver Township Commissioner Devin DeRienzo reported Wednesday there were five odor complaints filed against the landfill in December and numerous complaints about mud on Tyrol Boulevard coming from the landfill, creating hazardous driving conditions and interfering with de-icing measures.
“The DEP has oversight and authority over the landfill and Tyrol Boulevard is a state road, leaving Rostraver Township with little recourse,” DeRienzo said. “I cannot urge anyone enough to contact the DEP and PennDOT and complain.”
DeRienzo said the problems have been the same every year for the five years he has served as a commissioner. DeRienzo said there was a glimmer of hope in October when the landfill entered into a consent agreement with the DEP, which means it could face additional fines for future violations.
“What’s a fine going to do for residents who live on Tyrol or businesses on Tyrol or even passersby who have to use the road? It’s almost like it falls on deaf ears,” DeRienzo said.
Commission Chairman John Lorenzo said the landfill has provided the pollution control plan requested by the township, but the plan falls short of township requirements for a stormwater hot spot. Lorenzo said the township code enforcement officer will also be closely monitoring the situation on Tyrol Boulevard to see if it violates the public nuisance ordinance.
In other matters, the commissioners gave final approval to a three-year agreement with the police department. The agreement includes a 10% pay raise for officers divided over the life of the contract, increases in the uniform allowance and hourly increases for shift differential.
In other business, the Zoning Hearing Board was increased from three to five members plus an alternate. Appointed were Larry Callaway Sr., William D. Huffman Jr. and G. Adam Martin, with Justin Shawley as the alternate.
Jody Spedaliere, Bernadette Zunic and John Maisch were named to the Rostraver Library Board. Rudolph Godzak was named to the Rostraver Township Sewage Authority.
Donald Girasia was named to the Civil Service Commission, with Thomas Yoder and Justin Hillto as alternates.