U.S. Senate candidate Katie McGinty opposes Keystone Sanitary Landfill鈥檚 controversial expansion plan and supports legislation that would give states new power to regulate incoming garbage, the Democrat said Monday.
The Dunmore and Throop facility 鈥� Pennsylvania鈥檚 third-busiest landfill by permitted average daily volume 鈥� is seeking approval from the state Department of Environmental Protection to expand its disposal area 100 acres and extend its lifespan by 44.6 years.
McGinty, who is challenging Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, said she saw promise for Northeastern Pennsylvania鈥檚 future in young professionals she has met, the region鈥檚 health care industry and area colleges 鈥� but not in the landfill industry.
鈥淚t鈥檚 time to hold up the incredible promise and possibility of Lackawanna County, of Luzerne County, of northeastern Pennsylvania,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about trash. It鈥檚 about treasure. The treasure of education. The treasure of excellence in life sciences, in medicine, in medical devices. … I oppose the expansion of the Keystone landfill because it鈥檚 not in keeping with the promise and the future of this community.鈥�
In the appearance with anti-expansion group Friends of Lackawanna at Courthouse Square in Scranton, the former DEP secretary and chief of staff to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf also expressed support for Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey鈥檚 proposed TRASH Act.
Courts have ruled states cannot ban out-of-state garbage without a new federal law giving them that power; Casey鈥檚 proposal would allow states to require incoming waste to meet their own standards for disposal and charge 鈥渃ommunity benefit fees.鈥�
鈥淭his community has stepped up for decades to manage more than its fair share of this country鈥檚 waste management challenge,鈥� McGinty said. 鈥淔rankly, it鈥檚 time for New York and New Jersey to step up and take care of our own trash.鈥�
Toomey has not taken a position on the landfill expansion and his campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the TRASH Act.
Keystone describes benefits of the expansion plan including holding down the region鈥檚 waste-disposal costs, keeping about 140 people employed and continuing fees the operation pays to state and local governments flowing.
McGinty said environmental issues Friends of Lackawanna raises 鈥渘eed to be given thorough consideration and examination鈥� through a thorough, open, transparent and inclusive DEP review.
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