The Morning Call Archives

Copyright © 2009 The Morning Call

ID: 4462201
Publication Date: October 22, 2009
Day: Thursday
Page: A6
Edition: FIFTH
Section: News
Type: Local
Dateline:
Column:
Length: medium

Byline: By Christopher Baxter OF THE MORNING CALL

Headline: Plant's neighbors demand action **Upper Nazareth officials

say they weren't told of DEP violations at coating company.

Residents near a steel coating plant in Upper Nazareth Township

demanded Wednesday that local officials take action in response to a
Morning Call story detailing dozens of environmental violations at the site
during the past eight years.

"These violations are documented and we're still saying, "Here, you can
do business in our township,"' said Dorothy Nordmeyer, who lives about
2,000 feet from the plant. "Companies like this will not be welcome in a
residential Nazareth community."

Since 2001, two privately owned companies -- Steel Management

Systems and Encor Coatings -- with some common leadership have
operated the plant at 3045 Bath Pike despite repeated violations of
environmental rules, a Morning Call review of state documents revealed.

Problems noted by the state Department of Environmental Protection

include excess air pollution, burning solid waste without a permit and
failing to maintain key records. The plant also operated for more than
three years without a permit that allows officials to track and limit air
pollution, DEP records detailed.
Supervisors on Wednesday said state environmental officials kept them in
the dark about the problems noted at the plant. Supervisor Chairman
Joseph Emrick said the township has been searching records "feverishly"
and has so far found no evidence of the violations or notices from the
DEP.

"If DEP can provide letters or follow up, we will stand corrected," said
Emrick, who lives near the site. "Had we been aware of it, I can assure
you we would have addressed it to the best of our ability, to say the least."

Mark Carmon, regional spokesman for the DEP, said Wednesday he was
researching whether the township had been copied on the notices sent to
the plant. DEP spokeswoman Teresa Candori has said municipalities are
not always notified of violations.

Carmon added, "We are moving forward on our plan of action" at the
plant, but declined to offer details.

Township solicitor Gary Asteak said the zoning officer would inspect the
plant to enforce local regulations, but added that most enforcement would
have to come from the DEP. Asteak encouraged the residents to call the
DEP with concerns.

"We're going to take a look at what was permitted at this site for a
business use," Asteak said. "But when it comes to air quality and water
quality, those things are preempted by the state."

Many of the 25 residents in attendance pressed the township to take swift

action, to make contact with the DEP and to follow up on the issue at
future meetings. A few people said they were getting their wells tested,
and Nordmeyer suggested the homeowners draft a petition.

"Obviously, because this company is in our township, we're going to

make it our problem," Emrick said.

christopher.baxter@mcall.com

610-778-2283