Poland residents air concerns at landfill hearing tonight

POLAND

No one at a public hearing this evening opposed expansion of the Carbon Limestone Landfill, but several people raised concerns about a horizontal-drilling permit issued for the property.

The landfill wants to add 73 acres and 47 million cubic yards of airspace, which would equate to about an 85-foot height increase. It first applied to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the expansion permit in 2007.

Since then, the application was under technical review, and the EPA had a public hearing here as part of the application process.

The expansion would add about 50 years of active life to the 750-acre landfill on State Line Road so that it would remain active for 80 more years.

Albert Sciulli, of Miller Road, was the only resident who entered his comments into the EPA record at the hearing.

“I don’t have a problem with the expansion, but I think they could do [more] for the residents near the landfill,” said Sciulli, who lives a half-mile from the landfill.

He said he believes the landfill has been a good neighbor with its contributions to the township park and local governments, but said the residents who live nearby have the burden of being close to the landfill. Residents who live near the landfill do have free garbage collection.

At least a dozen days out of the year the landfill gives off a strong odor in the morning and the expansion will make the landfill more pronounced in the landscape, possibly affecting property values and making it difficult for residents to sell their homes, Sciulli said.

During the information session that preceded the hearing, Anthony Vecchiarelli, of Stymie Road, was one of the residents who asked EPA representatives about the horizontal-drilling permit issued to Hillcorp Energy Co. for a site near Cowden Road.

Read more about the hearing in Friday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.