Letter to the editor: Hazardous dump — enough is enough
After 50 years of living in the shadows of currently the only Resource Conservation Recovery Act subtitle C hazardous waste dump in Pennsylvania, Westmoreland County deserves better.
This Yukon area waste dump has been a source of environmental pollution since 1963. For decades, local residents have lamented horrific health problems. Children gasped for air, mothers miscarried while others lost their battles with cancers as government bureaucrats and regulators “rubber stamped” permits granting MAX Environmental (formerly Mill Service) “licenses to pollute.”
Recently, MAX asked DEP to approve a new air quality permit for its Yukon dump. Why does this matter? According to EPA (NPI) data, lead emissions from MAX in 2019 contributed to Westmoreland County ranking among the worst for lead pollution in Pennsylvania. Lead exposure can cause learning disabilities, developmental delays, birth defects, miscarriages, seizures, nervous system and kidney disorders.
If wildfire smoke travels here from Canada, how much lead and other pollutants are spewing from MAX into our local air? Tell DEP’s Thomas Joseph (tjoseph@pa.gov) and Westmoreland County commissioners that enough is enough. MAX has violated environmental laws for way too long. Deny any new air quality permits to MAX. We deserve clean air.
Diana Steck
North Huntingdon
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