Burlington County Legislators Call on Pennsylvania

DEP to Reject Elcon Facility

(MOORESTOWN, NJ) – Citing potentially detrimental effects on Burlington County residents, the environment, and wildlife, Senator Troy Singleton, Assemblyman Herb Conaway and Assemblywoman Carol Murphy called on Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Patrick McDonnell to reject the construction of the ELCON waste treatment facility in Falls Township, Pennsylvania. The text of the letter is below:

October 29, 2018

Secretary Patrick McDonnell

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Rachel Carson State Office Building

400 Market Street

Harrisburg PA 17101

Dear Secretary McDonnell,

We are writing to you today to state our clear and unequivocal opposition to the construction of ELCON’s hazardous waste plant in Falls Township, Pennsylvania. As the State Legislators for the 7^th Legislative District, we have the honor of representing 17 towns in Burlington County, New Jersey, many of which are located along the Delaware River and the Pennsylvania border.

As you know, ELCON is an industrial waste treatment service provider based in Israel which processes waste produced by chemical, pharmaceutical, and other companies. Its plans to construct a facility in Falls Township is especially concerning given its track record in Israel, where it has been shut down due to air and groundwater emission standard violations and its negative impact on pollution and the environment overall.

Undoubtedly, the construction of this facility along the Delaware River, and nearly 200,000 tons of raw waste it would produce each year, would be detrimental to our residents, environment, and wildlife.  The Delaware River is not only an ecological haven to the wildlife populations that have made it their habitat, but it is a vital source of drinking water for over 8 million people in our region. Additionally, it is also an economic engine for both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, providing economic benefits through recreation, ecotourism and farming. To jeopardize this natural treasure for a facility that processes and incinerates hazardous and medical waste is unwise, unreasoned, and most certainly, unwelcome.

It is our sincere hope that the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will ultimately decide to reject the construction of this facility as it undertakes a review of ELCON’s application materials. To further demonstrate our opposition, we have introduced Senate Resolution 110/ Assembly Resolution 198, which formally opposes the construction of ELCON’s incinerator in Falls Twp. This is similar to a resolution we introduced in 2016 opposing ELCON. A copy of this resolution is enclosed for your further information.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this request. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Most sincerely,

Hon. Troy Singleton               Hon. Herb Conaway, MD                  Hon. Carol Murphy

Senator, 7^th District                 Assemblyman, 7^th District                  Assemblywoman, 7^th District

cc:

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine McCabe