Bill Text: NJ AR37 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Opposes construction of hazardous waste incinerator in Falls Township, Pennsylvania.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee [AR37 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AR37-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblymen Verrelli and Zwicker
SYNOPSIS
Opposes construction of hazardous waste incinerator in Falls Township, Pennsylvania.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Assembly Resolution opposing the construction of a hazardous waste incinerator in Falls Township, Pennsylvania.
Whereas, Elcon Recycling Services is an industrial waste treatment service provider based in Israel which processes hazardous waste produced by chemical, pharmaceutical, and other companies; and
Whereas, Elcon Recycling Services is applying a second time to build a hazardous waste incinerator in Falls Township, Pennsylvania to process hazardous industrial, medical, and other waste; and
Whereas, Falls Township, Pennsylvania is located just across the Delaware River from many New Jersey municipalities, including our state capital of Trenton City, Hamilton Township, Bordentown Township, and other nearby communities in Mercer and Burlington counties; and
Whereas, Currently, Elcon Recycling Services only has facilities operating in Israel where its Haifa Bay facility has recently been ordered to shut down and relocate due to its history of violations of air and groundwater emissions standards and its negative impact and pollution to the surrounding environment in Haifa Bay; and
Whereas, Elcon Recycling Services has been denied authorization to build facilities in Italy due to environmental issues created by its treatment facilities; and
Whereas, In 2015, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection denied Elcon's request to construct a facility in the Keystone Industrial Port Complex in Falls Township, Pennsylvania because the business failed to demonstrate compliance with flood-hazard regulations; and
Whereas, In addition, the Delaware River serves as a primary source of drinking water and a popular recreational destination for millions of New Jersey and Pennsylvania residents and visitors; and
Whereas, A hazardous waste treatment facility would likely degrade and pollute the surrounding area and waterways which will be detrimental to residents, the environment, and wildlife; and
Whereas, According to the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Pennsylvania League of Woman Voters, the facility would process hazardous and medical waste including the treatment of 210,000 tons of raw waste per year that would include high levels of mercury, cadmium, and lead; and
Whereas, According to local environmentalists, the incineration treatment process would likely produce over 39 tons of air emissions containing, among other pollutants, nitrous oxide, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, volatile organic compounds, sulfur oxide, and total particulate matter; and
Whereas, In July 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced that Elcon has submitted all necessary application materials to the department commencing a 10-month review period for the facility; and
Whereas, In July 2016, the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders adopted a resolution opposing the construction of Elcon's proposal for a hazardous waste incinerator facility in Falls Township, Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, Due to the high probability of pollution from both permitted and accidental discharges that would affect the air quality in the region and the water quality of the Delaware River, the Delaware Bay, the Chesapeake Bay, and other bodies of water, this House opposes the construction a toxic waste incinerator in Falls Township, Pennsylvania; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House opposes the construction of a toxic waste incinerator in Falls Township, Pennsylvania due to the high probability of pollution from both permitted and accidental discharges that would affect air quality in the region and the water quality of the Delaware River, the Delaware Bay, the Chesapeake Bay, and other bodies of water.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, each member of the Falls Township Board of Supervisors, and the Clerk of the Board of Chosen Freeholders in each county in New Jersey.
STATEMENT
This bill would oppose the construction of a hazardous waste incinerator in Falls Township, Pennsylvania by Elcon Recycling Services. Elcon Recycling Services is an industrial waste treatment service provider based in Israel which processes hazardous waste produced by chemical, pharmaceutical, and other companies. Currently, Elcon Recycling Services only has facilities operating in Israel where its Haifa Bay facility has recently been ordered to shut down and relocate due to its history of violations of air and groundwater emissions standards and its negative impact and pollution to the surrounding environment in Haifa Bay.
Elcon Recycling Services has been denied authorization to build facilities in Italy due to environmental issues created by its treatment facilities. In 2015, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection denied Elcon's request to construct a facility in the Keystone Industrial Port Complex in Falls Township, Pennsylvania because the business failed to demonstrate compliance with flood-hazard regulations.
Elcon Recycling Services is applying a second time to build a hazardous waste incinerator in Falls Township to process hazardous industrial, medical, and other waste. In July, 2018, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced that Elcon has submitted all necessary application materials to the department commencing a 10-month review period for the facility. Falls Township is extremely close to the Delaware River and is a part of a densely populated residential region. In addition, the Delaware River serves as a primary source of drinking water and a popular recreational destination for millions of New Jersey and Pennsylvania residents and visitors.
A hazardous waste treatment facility would likely degrade and pollute the surrounding area and waterways which will be detrimental to residents, the environment, and wildlife. According to the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Pennsylvania League of Woman Voters the facility would process hazardous and medical waste including the treatment of 210,000 tons of raw waste per year that would include high levels of mercury, cadmium, and lead. According to local environmentalists, the incineration treatment process would likely produce over 39 tons of air emissions containing, among other pollutants, nitrous oxide, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, volatile organic compounds, sulfur oxide, and total particulate matter.
Due to the high probability of pollution from both permitted and accidental discharges that would affect the air quality in the region and the water quality of the Delaware River, the Chesapeake Bay, and other bodies of water, this House opposes the construction a toxic waste incinerator in Falls Township, Pennsylvania.
