Protect PT: Sanitary landfill withdraws air quality permit

Despite opposition from the community and Protect PT, the DEP previously approved a Landfill Leachate Air Permit for the Rostraver Township-based landfill.

Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill (WSL) withdrew an application to install a leachate evaporator system, which was approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection in January.

The Rostraver Township- based landfill has been fined three times in the last few years by the DEP, including in 2023 for leachate that leaked into Speers Run.

Leachate, a contaminated liquid, forms when water comes in contact with solid waste in landfills.

In a news release, environmental nonprofit Protect PT referred to the surrender of the evaporator plan approval as “one step closer to clean air” for area residents.

“Residents started complaining about the contaminated air around the landfill over a decade ago, and we got involved in 2020 when the PA DEP proposed this ridiculous solution to WSL’s leachate problem,” said Gillian Graber, Protect PT executive director. “We knew right away how bad this would be for a community already overburdened with toxic air from the landfill and we wanted to help. WSL relinquishing plan approval is a huge win for the community.”

After the issuance of the air quality plan approval for WSL in January, DEP Southwest Regional Director Jim Miller said the authorization meets or exceeds the air quality regulations and includes a number of safeguards and conditions to be protective of public health and the environment.

Residents near the Rostraver Township landfill have been concerned about the landfill’s practices for years.

In 2020, Rostraver Township resident James Sepesky distributed a petition in an effort to prevent the installation of a leachate evaporator at WSL, citing concerns about radioactive materials being released into the air.

In a statement, Sepesky expressed relief for WSL’s withdrawal of the application, but he’s not confident that it will spell the end of the evaporator.

“All of us residents here in the area around WSL must remain vigilant in our fight against all of the other issues that continue to pop up at that site, including noise, noxious smells, mud and runoff on our roads and in our streams…” Sepesky said.

With the help of attorney Lisa Johnson, Protect PT and Sepesky appealed the DEP’s approval of the leachate evaporator to the Environmental Hearing Board in February.

“Protect PT and Mr. Sepesky should have never had to bring this action,” Johnson said. “The Pennsylvania DEP’s issuance of the air plan approval was improper and violated resident’s constitutional rights under the Environmental Rights Amendment to clean air and pure water. The surrender of the air plan approval is testament to the power of Mr. Sepesky asserting his rights and Protect PT’s grassroots organizing. My team and I are proud to represent them.”

Protect PT and its attorney believe the landfill should be “shut down, inspected and remediated by the DEP and EPA.”