WILKES-BARRE – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has made a Consent Order and Agreement (COA) with Keystone Sanitary Landfill for odor violations at its facility in the boroughs of Dunmore and Throop between November 2022 and February 2024, and affecting residents in nearby areas.
The $575,000 civil fine is the biggest penalty DEP has given to Keystone Sanitary Landfill in the last ten years.
According to the agreement, DEP has instructed Keystone to take action to reduce the potential for off-site smells from its leachate lagoons. Some of these actions include using foam, introducing a new cover system, and requesting a permit change for the installation of two 2,500,000-gallon leachate storage tank systems.
DEP has also told the landfill to reassess the effectiveness of its Reverse Osmosis (RO) system for treating leachate and make any necessary adjustments.
As per the agreement, Keystone is also obligated to diminish landfill gas smells from the site. Keystone must carry out additional surface monitoring and follow an accelerated capping schedule of at least 30 acres to reduce areas of cover.
A $575,000 civil fine will be divided between DEP and the boroughs of Dunmore and Throop. DEP will get $180,000 from the COA, plus $35,000 for cost recovery. The $180,000 will go into the Solid Waste Abatement Fund, which is a statewide fund created to eliminate potential dangers related to solid waste.
DEP also made sure that the boroughs of Dunmore and Throop will each receive $180,000, which Keystone Landfill has to put into a separate bank account for both parties. This money will be used to support projects that significantly improve, protect, restore, or fix the environment, or improve, protect, or reduce risks to public health or safety. Keystone must make these deposits within 30 days.
“The Department thanks impacted Pennsylvanians for working with DEP staff over the past few months,” said DEP Northeast Regional Director Joseph J. Buczynski, PE. “The complaints we received were crucial in helping to confirm the source of the smells and hold the landfill accountable.”
DEP will keep an eye on the landfill and investigate complaints to ensure Keystone Sanitary Landfill is reducing odors, as required by the COA. If Keystone Sanitary Landfill fails to adhere to the terms of the COA, they could face further penalties.
