County backs grant for Rostraver landfill project over local objections

Editor’s note: This story was updated to amend incorrection information.

Westmoreland County officials are moving forward with a proposed expansion of a natural gas distribution plant at a Rostraver landfill over the objection of local officials and residents.

“Our residents will live in fear, fear from too many contaminants, for anyone to be safe,” John Lorenzo, a Rostraver commissioner, told county leaders. The project at the Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill not only carries safety risks but will increase traffic and pollution near the facility, he added.

He and others cited the record of fines and safety failures of operator Noble Environmental as reasons to oppose the ongoing construction of a $10 million system to convert methane emissions from the landfill into natural gas used for fuel.

County commissioners on Thursday, however, backed an application for a $1 million grant to assist with the expansion.

Commissioner Doug Chew said he toured the facility and reviewed the science used for the conversion system. He is convinced the project is safe and presents no danger to the community.

“They have an opportunity here to be a good citizen, a good neighbor and to be a good environmental steward by harnessing the natural gas which is a natural product of a landfill,” Chew said. “I hope they live up to that commitment going forward so Rostraver Township neighbors have a good commercial neighbor, not a smelly eyesore.”

Officials with Noble Environmental, which also operates County Hauling waste disposal service, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Noble Environmental and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection this year entered into an agreement in which the company agreed to pay $24,000 to resolve outstanding violations. That agreement also required the company to take corrective measures to dispose liquids generated by oil and gas waste deposited in the landfill.

The county commissioners gave unanimous approval for the county’s redevelopment authority to formally ask the state for the grant on behalf of the landfill operators.

Commissioner Gina Cerilli said the vote was just an authorization for the county to back an application for state funds. No county funds will be used as part of the project, she said.

“Anytime a business asks us to apply on their behalf, we do,” Cerilli said.