Pennsylvania DEP Issues Draft Denial of Waste Permit

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced May 15 it has issued a Notice of Intent to Deny to Elcon Recycling Services, LLC for its Phase II Part B commercial hazardous waste treatment and storage facility application, based on a number of outstanding deficiencies that remain unaddressed to its satisfaction.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced May 15 it has issued a Notice of Intent to Deny to Elcon Recycling Services, LLC for its Phase II Part B commercial hazardous waste treatment and storage facility application. The company seeks to treat and store liquid waste at the Keystone Industrial Port Complex in Falls Township, Bucks County. After completing a 10-month technical review of materials submitted by the company, DEP reported it has found a number of outstanding deficiencies that remain unaddressed to its satisfaction.

"After a rigorous review of the application, supplemental materials submitted by the company, and input from the public, DEP will not approve this application in its current form," DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell said. "Unless the company can address these outstanding deficiencies, DEP will have no choice but to move forward with a full application denial."

A Notice of Intent to Deny is not a final or appealable action by the DEP. It is a draft decision, open to the public for comment and review. The applicant may comment on the notice and submit materials to address the deficiencies cited by DEP. The comment period will open on June 1 with a publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and will close on July 15. All comments should be emailed to RA-EPHWELCON@pa.gov. All comments received during the 45-day comment period will be reviewed and addressed in a public document.

The agency reporting that it is continuing its review of two additional applications from Elcon for air quality and stormwater. A copy of the hazardous waste application and deficiencies noted by DEP, as well as correspondence on the project, opportunities for public participation, and additional applications under review can be found at www.dep.pa.gov/elcon.