A Dunmore councilwoman sent Gov. Josh Shapiro a letter Wednesday urging him to add stricter penalties to the Keystone Sanitary Landfill’s remanded Phase III expansion while also raising concerns over the role of a state Department of Environmental Protection supervisor who concluded the expansion’s benefits outweigh its harms.

Dunmore council President Janet Brier, who emphasized she wrote the letter as a Dunmore citizen and not as a representative of council, sent Shapiro the letter in response to the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board’s decision Tuesday to send the landfill’s 42.4-year Phase III expansion permit approval back to the DEP to potentially address issues with odors and leachate generation. As the culmination of a nearly 4-year-old legal battle brought by grassroots landfill opposition group Friends of Lackawanna, environmental judges ruled Tuesday that the department erred in issuing the Louis and Dominick DeNaples-owned landfill’s Phase III expansion permit in June 2021, which allows the landfill in Dunmore and Throop to triple its volume of waste through the 2060s by hauling in just over 94 million tons of additional garbage, or about 188 billion pounds.

“The Environmental Hearing Board’s order confirms the DEP knew that KSL could not contain the leachate that it was already producing, yet they approved the permit for 94 million more tons of garbage to be dumped on our region,” Brier said in a phone interview Thursday. “One can only conclude that DEP is either grossly negligent or that political influence prevailed over science.”

The DEP did not respond by press time Thursday to emailed requests for comment on Brier’s letter. Brier did not include her council title in her letter.

In their 74-page decision, the five judges who make up the Environmental Hearing Board said the landfill has experienced challenges controlling offsite odors and excess leachate generation at its facility for several years, and the DEP knew about those issues prior to approving the expansion.

“The Department erred in issuing a permit that does not sufficiently control or mitigate these issues,” the judges wrote. “The Department must assess on remand whether additional measures to control odors and leachate, some of which have been required by a recent Consent Order and Agreement, warrant inclusion in the landfill’s permit or changes to the landfill’s operating plans.”

Harms vs. benefits

Brier took issue with the Environmental Hearing Board’s findings regarding a July 2019 environmental assessment by the DEP that weighed 15 known and potential harms, with accompanying mitigation measures, of approving the landfill’s Phase III expansion against eight benefits.

The harms included visual impacts, odors, litter, noise, vectors/birds, traffic, runoff, air quality and groundwater impacts. The benefits were: environmental education, continuation of recycling and cleanup programs, goods and services, continued employment for 145 full-time workers, tax revenue, participation in Pennsylvania’s Adopt a Highway Program and financial benefits for Dunmore and Throop from their host agreements.

A section titled “Excess Leachate Generation” under groundwater impacts determined that “it is apparent KSL continues to have an issue with either excessive leachate generation and/or infiltration into the leachate conveyance system.”

“KSL continues to have current flow amounts not only higher than what was predicted for the current landfill, but also higher than what was predicted as a maximum peak flow for the proposed Phase III expansion,” according to the analysis.

In its ruling, the Environmental Hearing Board wrote that Erika Bloxham, a facility specialist in the DEP’s waste management program in the Northeast region who was tasked with completing the analysis, concluded that the benefits did not outweigh the harms, primarily because, in her opinion, Keystone had not mitigated the excess leachate production to the fullest extent possible.

Her supervisor said otherwise.

“However, Ms. Bloxham’s supervisor, Roger Bellas, the waste program manager for the Northeast region, disagreed and authored the conclusion of the analysis for the Department,” the judges wrote.

The analysis concluded, “DEP has determined that KSL has demonstrated that the benefits to the public from the project clearly outweigh the known and potential harms.”

In her analysis, Bloxham pointed to the landfill resorting to hauling excess leachate offsite and adding temporary leachate storage. She said the landfill’s excess leachate flows increase the potential for it to have overflows and other incidents that could impact groundwater, though on Wednesday, landfill consultant Al Magnotta said Keystone has never been close to overflowing.

Despite Bloxham’s concerns, the judges said, “The Department concluded that Keystone’s current and proposed efforts to isolate and mitigate excessive leachate generation were expected to limit the number, duration, and intensity of future excessive leachate flows.”

The landfill is required to keep its leachate below 25% of its maximum 9.7-million-gallon capacity, but from May 2021 through April 2024, it exceeded that at least 20 out of 36 months, according to the ruling. The DEP cited Keystone last year for exceeding the maximum limit every month from October 2023 through June.

The landfill’s leachate generation is also more than double what it predicted, averaging 282,676 gallons per day, and nearly 8.2 million gallons per month — enough leachate to fill about 12 Olympic-sized pools each month.

Brier’s letter

Brier criticized Bellas’ role in her letter.

“Throughout its existence, KSL has never been able to mitigate the excess leachate production for any length of time, yet the order remands the permit back to the very people who overrode the waste management facility specialist’s conclusion that the benefits do not outweigh the harms,” Brier wrote. “(Roger Bellas) still holds the position of Environmental Program Manager in the Waste Management Department in the Northeast Regional Office. I think it is fair to say that his mind is made up.”

Brier contended Northeast Pennsylvania has been “subjected to malodors, insufficient leachate containment, methane flare offs, out-of-state truck traffic and indifference to all of this by the Department of Environmental Protection.” She said conditions have worsened at the landfill since its expansion approval, and the DEP’s response was inadequate.

Brier also criticized the department’s odor reporting process, describing an after-hours voicemail that tells callers to “stay on the line if it is an emergency.” She asked the DEP to remove “emergency” from the message to avoid callers hanging up because they don’t consider an odor an emergency.

“The whole process places the burden of reporting on the very people who are suffering from pervasive odors in their homes, their schools, playgrounds, churches, athletic facilities and in their children’s bedrooms,” she wrote.

She contended there are minimal consequences for noncompliance. Last year, in March 2024, the DEP levied its largest fine for the landfill at $575,000. The civil penalty was the culmination of 14 odor-related violations since January 2023, close to 1,000 odor complaints in seven months and at least 70 instances of DEP staff detecting offsite landfill gas and leachate odors attributed to Keystone.

“There needs to be substantial penalties for noncompliance,” Brier wrote. “Otherwise, the result will be the same harmful decisions.”

Brier also called for a reduced duration of the expansion, bringing it from 40 years to 10 years, calling four decades absurd.

The expansion approval was an “egregious transgression,” Brier said, adding that the responsibility rests on past administrations.

“My only hope is that the Shapiro administration will permanently reverse DEP’s prior decisions and finally put the people’s health and well being before politics,” Brier said. “The Environmental Hearing Board’s remand order presents a tremendous opportunity for Gov. Shapiro to reverse the mistakes of the past.”

The initiative, named ‘Don’t be a TO55 3R – take your litter home!’, aims to remind residents and visitors that littering is illegal, anti-social, harmful to the environment and wildlife, and costs thousands of pounds each year to clean up.

The campaign’s tagline is designed to grab attention and encourage people to take responsibility for their waste.

Cumberland Councillor Denise Rollo, executive member for sustainable, resilient and connected places, said: “Littering isn’t just about rubbish—it’s about respecting our community and environment.

“And while some of the things we find left behind make us do a double take.

“A single sock?

“A random glove?

“Dirty nappies?

“The impact of litter is no laughing matter.

“Every stray piece of rubbish harms our environment and can put Cumberland’s hardworking cleanup teams at risk.

“These dedicated workers brave busy roads to tidy up what shouldn’t have been left behind in the first place.

“A cleaner, greener Cumberland is in all of our hands.

“By simply binning our rubbish, we can protect our beautiful surroundings and make a difference for future generations.

“This campaign aims to get people thinking about how they discard unwanted items and, hopefully, encourages everyone to take litter home and discard of it correctly.”

The campaign, inspired by the Keep Britain Tidy movement, will include posters and signage in public spaces across Cumberland, questioning why people continue to dump their rubbish and urging them to dispose of waste responsibly.

The campaign also incorporates social media messaging, using the hashtag #DontBeATO553R, with the aim of increasing awareness and encourage community engagement.

As part of the campaign, Variable Message Signs (VMS) have been placed on roads across Cumberland, designed to help the council understand whether stronger, more direct messaging can have an impact on littering behaviour.

The most littered items in parks and public spaces include picnic debris, gas canisters, balloons, glass, disposable barbecues, cans, plastic bottles, and bags of dog waste.

Even more, cleanup efforts unite us. Events, recycling programs, and education initiatives give everyone — especially young people — a chance to take part and see that change starts with action.

Let’s take pride in our city and take responsibility for our shared spaces. Whether it’s picking up litter, organizing a cleanup, or encouraging others to care, every small act makes a big difference. Dayton deserves to shine—and it starts with us.

-Fletcher Davies, Dayton

A principal aim of the law is upholding the infinite dignity of those needing the most support in society, especially families caring for the youngest in our state. For this reason, we, the Catholic bishops of Ohio, have long advocated for the creation of a refundable child tax credit. Child tax credits are a hallmark of pro-family public policy, as reflected in their broad, bipartisan support at the federal level. We are encouraged by the child tax credit proposal in the Executive Budget. This refundable $1,000 per child credit would give evidence that our society welcomes and cherishes new life while helping families meet their unique needs in a flexible manner. The credit does not solve all of the difficulties of the increasing costs of raising children. Still, it is a critical step in allocating the state’s resources to address a family’s needs.

As the General Assembly continues deliberation on the operating budget, we urge lawmakers to restore the child tax credit. Prioritizing young children and their families recognizes the dignity of life and helps expectant parents to trust that their child will be born into a life-affirming culture. The child tax credit is sound economic policy, an incomparable tool for raising children out of poverty. It is also sound moral policy, fulfilling our shared responsibility to children and families who must come first in policymaking. We urge the Ohio Senate to craft a budget that more clearly reflects a civilization of love by prioritizing a refundable child tax credit.

– The Catholic Bishops of Ohio

In 1998, Ohio’s school funding system was ruled unconstitutional for relying too heavily on property taxes. Our communities are stuck passing endless school levies just for schools to survive, putting a huge strain on homeowners. In my hometown of Germantown, I’ve seen firsthand how this cycle of levies divides good neighbors. People want to support our schools — but the burden is getting too heavy. The Fair School Funding Plan, a bipartisan bill passed in 2021, was designed to fix this — a systemic solution to ensure every district gets enough support from the state based on real needs, not just local wealth. It means stable schools, fair taxes, and stronger communities. Yet the Ohio House just passed a budget that does not fully fund Fair School Funding. Meanwhile, over $400 million is being spent on private school vouchers — even for families making up to $135,000 a year. Now the Senate is writing its version of the budget. The Senate Finance Committee can revise it before the full Senate votes. This is our moment to act. Contact your state senator and the Ohio Senate Finance Committee. Tell them to protect taxpayers and our public schools by fully fund the Fair School Funding Plan. Let’s protect our schools — and our community — for the next generation.

– Anna Studer, Germantown

Credit: JIM NOELKER Credit: JIM NOELKER

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Portsmouth Herald

How many fireworks displays do we need? Think of the environment

May 29 − To the Editor:

The recent COVID pandemic gave us humans an opportunity to reflect. Alongside the horrors and controversies, I heard people utter, “I hope we humans come out of this more willing to help one another and Mother Earth.”

There were news headlines noting the ecological benefits of less traffic, less consumption, and the lessening of our collective, day-to-day imprint on this planet. The light-bulb moment here is that this planet may not need less people, but instead more people who are willing to lean into a little less convenience, and a little more discomfort for the greater good of us all (Mother Earth included).

Begin with reflection and awareness of our everyday actions. Bring in a little Seinfeld humor such as, “Have you ever noticed how humans create a law that imposes fines for littering? Then we celebrate the explosion of papers, plastics, metals, and chemicals that end up in our precious water resources, fields, and roadsides?”

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Post-fireworks, notice the litter we see and imagine the litter we don’t see as it hides beneath the water’s surface.

My small town alone will host three different firework displays within one week. I ask—like Seinfeld, “Who owns the airspace? Why can’t we town folk all enjoy the same one display? How much is the collective cost and effort put into three different displays? Is the investment and effort put into post-firework clean up equal, or far less?”

Dr. Gabor Mate states within the documentary, “The Wisdom of Trauma,” there is a correlation between violence against women and the destruction of planet earth. Let’s talk about this more, and become better stewards of our communities.

Suzanne Barton

Rye

Calling on NH lawmakers to fully fund public education

May 28 − To the Editor:

My name is Sarah Gentile, and I live in Rochester. I’m a small business owner, a taxpayer, and a mother of two elementary school children—one of whom is currently navigating the 504 plan process. I’m calling on state lawmakers to support a budget that fully funds public education, eases the burden on local property taxpayers, and removes harmful policies like universal school vouchers.

My children love their school. Their teachers and administrators go above and beyond every day, often with limited resources and inadequate pay. But our public schools are being stretched past their limits. There’s no money for extra help when students struggle, and families who can’t afford outside support are left with nowhere to turn. This hurts not only our kids—it weakens our entire community.

At the same time, universal vouchers are draining public funds to cover private expenses for families who never enrolled in public schools in the first place. It’s outrageous that taxpayer dollars are covering horseback riding and clarinet lessons for some while public school students go without tutoring or lunch.

Rising property taxes are making it harder for families like mine to stay here. We’re watching great teachers leave, and students slip through the cracks. We need a sustainable, equitable school funding solution—now.

New Hampshire deserves a budget that works for all students, not just those in the wealthiest towns. Let’s invest in our kids, our communities, and our future.

Sarah Gentile

Rochester

LGBTQIA+ rights are human rights

May 28 — To the Editor:

If the placard in front of Rye Public Library had advertised a “Presentation on Civil Rights and Allyship,” would the Rye Republicans be outraged?

In 1998, the NH legislature passed a ban on discrimination against LGBT people. In May 2018, the legislature banned discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression. This is law, not “ideology.” When you choose to identify with a political party and proselytize policies that deny acceptance and support of LGBTQIA+ youth in our community, that is ideological.

Mr. Michael Bean, in your May 26 column, you “call upon our Library Trustees and Director to maintain a position of neutrality on matters that are politically or socially controversial.” The only reason these “matters” are “political” is because the Republican MAGA party insists on it. The only reason organizations like NH Outright exist is because some people continue to vilify LGBTQIA+ people, denying them rights and safe spaces to be themselves.

Rye Public Library is offering a program for community members to learn and develop compassion for all community members. The program aims to “foster understanding, empathy, and belonging for LGBTQ+ youth and adults.” According to NH Outright, it “provide[s] foundational knowledge on gender identity, sexual orientation, and the real impact of discrimination, while equipping participants with tangible ways to support LGBTQ+ individuals.” How is this “offering alternative lifestyles as therapy” or “proselytizing alternative lifestyles for youth”? What are you, Mr. Bean, and the Rye Republicans so offended by? That our community may learn to be more compassionate toward community members who identify as LGBTQIA+? Would you rather have LGBTQIA+ youth stay silent and feel shame?

Identity and sexuality are the most private parts of human existence. We begin experiencing both at an early age. Being LGBTQIA+ is not a “lifestyle choice” or “an ideology,” like choosing a political party or religion. Being LGBTQIA+ is who people are, both youth and adults. Mr. Bean, when was the first time you felt something for someone outside of your family? I’m guessing you were young, and it wasn’t an “a priori” experience. Whether you like it or not, as Lady Gaga sings, we are born this way.

If you and your fellow Rye Republicans are afraid to learn about LGBTQIA+ issues, I suggest you look in a mirror and ask, “Why do I feel threatened?” Can you answer without ideology? The question to ask is not “whether there are Republicans in the LGBTQIA+ sphere?” It is whether you can accept people who may be different than yourself. Human differences and variety are the biological and cultural strength of Homo sapiens. Without difference, we perish.

Learning to live with differences related to human identity and sexuality is what most great literature and art have grappled with since ancient times. It’s what many of the books in Rye Public Library are about. What’s next on the Rye Republicans’ agenda? Banning books from Rye Public Library that don’t conform to your ideology in the name of neutrality?

Debra Holloway, PhD

Rye

Taking right to drive away from legal residents is dangerous

May 29 — To the Editor:

If SB13 becomes law, New Hampshire will deny driver’s licenses to legally present asylum seekers, based on political grandstanding and misinformation.

The original bill would invalidate certain out-of-state licenses issued to undocumented immigrants. An amended version of the bill, passed by the House on May 22, also restricts individuals with pending asylum claims AND, even those already granted asylum, from obtaining or renewing a New Hampshire driver’s license until they receive a green card. This applies even to people with federal work authorization.

A driver’s license is a privilege, yes—but for many, it’s also a lifeline. It enables people to work, support their families, and comply with the asylum process, which requires them to remain in the U.S. while their claims are reviewed. Denying licenses to people who are legally present is both unsafe and inhumane.

Supporters argue the immigration system is broken, and this bill is a necessary response. But punishing people who are following the law and navigating a slow, complex federal system is not a solution. It is scapegoating. Asylum seekers are in a lawful status and working hard to rebuild their lives. Taking away their ability to drive safely and legally only creates more harm.

Thankfully, there are voices of reason, including Senator Denise Ricciardi, Republican chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, who has told me she is strongly opposed to this bill.

I urge the NH Senate to reject SB13. I urge New Hampshire residents to speak up for fairness, safety, and decency.

Kathy Brunet

Durham

Goodbye Standard Form 86, hello Standard Form 47

May 27 − To the Editor:

With all the fervor surrounding the number 86 lately, the US government may have to 86 two old forms and create a new one.

Millions have filled out a Standard Form 86 to receive/retain a security clearance for their jobs. This includes certain government jobs, military jobs, or working as a contractor for the government. The tile of the SF-86 is: Questionnaire for National Security Positions, and can be found online. A number of things can disqualify a typical person from getting a security clearance. Negative items include: being untruthful filling out the SF-86, not being a US citizen, not being loyal to the US, having foreign influences, being mentally incompetent or having certain psychological conditions, having had a security clearance revoked (e.g., due to inability to safeguard classified information), receiving a dishonorable discharge, having a history of financial problems or being involved in criminal activity.

Lately, it doesn’t seem like many of those items are disqualifying for some in Washington, DC handling our most sensitive information anymore. They also don’t seem to want federal employees who sign a SF-61, titled Employment Affidavits, requiring a pledge to the US Constitution and an agreement not to strike. Perhaps a new SF-47 can be created to replace the increasingly irrelevant SF-86 and SF-61. The new title could simply be: SF-47, Presidential Fealty Oath. In our new world, abilities, constitutionality, lawfulness, empathy and morality don’t seem to matter, although it is putting the security, safety and financial solvency of our nation at risk.

Don Cavallaro

Rye

Goodrich for NHEC Board

May 29 − To the Editor:

I wish to express my strong support for the re-election of John Goodrich to the Board of NH Electric Cooperative. Having known John through his leadership as a Bank Board member and as an executive in a global high-voltage electric insulation business, I can confidently say he brings a wealth of expertise, industry knowledge, and strategic vision—qualities that are essential for guiding the cooperative in an era of rapid technological and economic change.

John’s dedication to his local community extends beyond his professional achievements. His extensive volunteer service showcases his unwavering commitment to making the area a better place. He understands the needs of the people he serves and works diligently to ensure that NHEC remains an efficient, reliable, and forward-thinking organization.

Additionally, John has been a strong advocate for expanding broadband access to cooperative members. He recognizes the crucial role that high-speed internet plays in daily life, and has worked to ensure that NH Electric Cooperative takes proactive steps in improving connectivity for all members.

His executive experience allows him to make thoughtful, informed decisions that benefit cooperative members. John’s leadership has always been marked by integrity, practical problem-solving, and a clear focus on long-term sustainability.

I urge cooperative members to elect John Goodrich to the Board of NH Electric Cooperative. His knowledge, dedication, and community-focused leadership make him the ideal candidate to continue serving us all.

John Malm

Stratham

Grateful for thought-provoking lectures at Portsmouth Athenaeum

May 30 − To the Editor:

This May, the Portsmouth Athenaeum’s Current Affairs Committee hosted two powerful lectures that sparked lively discussion and deepened public understanding of complex global issues—showcasing the Athenaeum as a vital community resource.

Sociologist and author Professor Brooke Harrington presented insights from her book Offshore: Stealth Wealth and the New Colonialism. Drawing on eight years of research, Harrington revealed how offshore finance allows the ultra-wealthy to hide assets, evade accountability and quietly influence global systems — deepening inequality and echoing colonial patterns. Her eye-opening talk prompted meaningful dialogue on financial transparency and reform. We are grateful to Athenaeum Member Andy Lord and Essential Planning for sponsoring this event.

Later in the month, author Linda Dittmar offered a moving lecture based on her memoir Tracing Homelands: Israel, Palestine and the Claims of Belonging. Moderated by Athenaeum Proprietor Jeff Bolster, the event explored the personal and political legacies of the 1948 war. Dittmar’s reflections on identity, loss and buried histories offered a rare, human lens into the Israeli-Palestinian experience.

Both lectures were open to the public, drawing full audiences and fostering informed conversation. We thank the speakers and the Current Affairs Committee for bringing such thoughtful, timely programming to Portsmouth. Events like these are a true asset to our civic and cultural life.

Kristen L. Peterson

Member, Current Affairs Committee, Portsmouth Athenaeum

Press should focus on substance, not personalities

May 30 — To the Editor:

The press’ fascination, bordering on obsession, with Trump’s -and Musk’s–megalomania is profoundly disturbing. Essentially, the current Administration is screwing with our national security as well as our economic stability while disrupting the processes and programs that make day-to-day life bearable for millions for American families and small businesses, not to mention non-profits and other societal institutions that serve the public interest in cities and towns across the nation,

A fundamentally criminal enterprise is reshaping international relationships making all of us less safe. Yet, the daily news feed, almost regardless of what media ecosystem one tunes into, is all about personalities. The fourth estate–the PRESS–must do better!

Ronna Flaschner

Rye

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“It will take everyone pitching in to help.”

An Alabama resident was charged with criminal littering after being caught illegally dumping trash in a neighborhood in northeastern Birmingham, per ABC 3340.

A resident captured footage of Richard Selman, 69, of Leeds, Alabama, discarding debris on a roadway in South Eastlake and reported the crime to the authorities. Under state law, criminal littering is a class B misdemeanor that carries a fine of $500 for the first offense but also includes further penalties depending on the material dumped. Further offenses carry higher fines and mandated community service.

As the Environmental Protection Agency reports, illegal dumping is a widespread problem that poses health and safety hazards for locals and negatively impacts quality of life and property values. It’s an inherently anti-social crime that harms the ecosystem and people. Illegally discarded debris can contaminate the soil and local water sources and attract vermin. Litter isn’t just an eyesore; it can also devastate local wildlife that ingest toxic substances and spread disease.

The city of Birmingham has taken steps to address the issue with its D.U.M.M.Y (Dumping Ugly Mess in My Yard) campaign. The initiative seeks to change anti-social behavior and empower residents to help keep Birmingham free of illegally discarded waste.

The project also offers information for residents seeking to discard waste responsibly. It emphasizes the importance of collective action, stating: “It will take everyone pitching in to help keep our city clean and prosecute those who don’t.”

In this case, it was thanks to a civic-minded resident that Selman was ultimately brought to justice. The story shows that properly enforced legislation and taking local action can go a long way to protecting the environment.

Birmingham police chief Michael Pickett told WBRC News his department takes such offenses seriously.

“We need to send a message that illegal dumping will not be tolerated in the city limits of Birmingham,” he said. “We are not a dumping ground for anyone. Whether they are a resident in our city or someone coming in simply to dump in our city.”

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