By Rick Dandes
The Daily Item
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SELINSGROVE — The owner of the property on which two businesses, Ethnogenesis Foods Inc. and Chesapeake Gardens Inc., are located has agreed to a random 45-day monitoring of organic waste coming from the site in an effort to clear their names.
“The samples of wastewater tested at our plant have shown levels of waste considerably less than anyone expected,” said Tom Springman, a principal of GLSS Partnership, the owner of the property at 21 Industrial Park Road on which Ethnogenesis Foods, a culture dairy plant, is located. He spoke at Tuesday night’s Borough Council meeting.
The test data samples were requested by John Abromitis, of the Eastern Snyder County Regional Sewer Authority. The goal, Abromitis said, is to ensure that the company is in compliance with the specifications outlined in the business permit.
Abromitis said last spring, there were two months when “the organic contaminants that were coming into the treatment plant were in excess of what our treatment plant was designed to handle.” The same thing happened in 2007, he said.
Both times, it was determined that an abnormal amount of organic material waste was coming from a site on Industrial Park Road.
“But not our site,” Springman insisted as he stood before the council. He maintained that all data that has been requested by Abromitis was given to him “as quickly as possible, as asked. Since 2007, the level of organics has steadily come down.”
Springman urged the council to look upon his company as a business partner. “We are trying as hard as possible to be good neighbors,” he said.
Council Vice President Erik Vicker answered: “No one here is suggesting that Ethnogenesis is not a good company. We recognize that it brings jobs into the area. What we are saying is that there is unacceptable ‘stuff’ in the wastewater.”
Abromitis explained to the council that, by contract, the company is self-monitoring. It installs the monitoring device and is responsible for maintaining the equipment.
The permit calls for daily flow monitoring of waste material, he said, adding, “These businesses have been working to come into compliance with the permit.”
“All I know is that something is happening,” said council President Carol L. Handlan. “We will take samplings and get readings.”
Though not set in stone, the municipal authority is anticipating a $7 million mandated upgrade to handle even more stringent regulations on the amount of wastes it is allowed to discharge, due to the new Washington administration’s emphasis on the restoration of water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.
The authority serves Selinsgrove and Shamokin Dam boroughs and the Penn Township and Hummels Wharf municipal authorities.
Earlier in the Tuesday meeting, an Orange Street woman complained about excessive noise by Susquehanna University students late Friday and Saturday nights.
“I counted 137 people on the 100 to 300 blocks of Orange Street on Saturday night,” she said. “It began at 11:15, and the noise and partying didn’t stop until 3:30 a.m.”
Handlan noted that the vast majority of SU students are “well behaved, good students.”
“But you’ll see them holding cans, walking on lawns, urinating, and it’s very upsetting,” the resident said.
She also said there is fear of retribution if residents call police. “I don’t mind partying,” she said. “It’s the disrespect for others that bothers me. It’s horrible to live where I live.” She praised police for responding promptly to her phone calls. “But I need them to be more proactive,” she said.
Vickers said the council would look into the situation.
In the police department’s monthly report, Chief Thomas L. Garlock noted 27 serious crimes, including 14 reported assaults, six burglaries and six general thefts, occurred in July.
Brush pickup will be on Oct. 25. Brush should be placed at curbside before 7 a.m. in containers that do not exceed 30 pounds.
