The Schuylkill County Commissioners provided an update on Wednesday after a meeting with DEP in regard to biosolids odors in Frailey Township.
Anyone who has travelled down Interstate 81 near the Tremont Exit has smelled the odor of biosolids just north of the exit. People that live in the area have been fighting Natural Soil Products over the smell which has been coming from their property near Joliett.
The fight has been going on for well over a year and came to a head back in May of 2023 when DEP fined the company $50,000 for several violations. Since then, the issue hasn't been corrected.
After residents continued to push for help, the Schuylkill County Commissioners were able to schedule a meeting with DEP and other state officials about the matter, including officials from as high as the Governor's office.
Schuylkill County Commissioner Larry Padora provided an update on the meeting at the start of Wednesday's Commissioners Work Session, which was attended by concerned Frailey Township residents.
Commissioner Padora stated that the state officials are going to be looking into everything and also to get someone certified in Schuylkill County to go out and document each of the reports each time a resident files a complaint.
"We are working to get someone on our end, who can build a report to support our case", Padora said. Commissioner Hetherington would expand on this stating "The process now, by the time the complaint gets to Wilkes Barre and someone gets out to check it, the smell is gone. If we can get someone that's 10 minutes away, it would certainly help".
Padora also stressed for residents to continue to call.
"Continue to call every . . . single . . . day. Every time there is a smell again, give them a call." Padora stressed.
He also referenced the petition that residents have created and signed. "Go to Amazon and Big Lots and get them to sign. That would really help a lot." Padora said.
He also said he was going to begin surprise site visits.
Padora said "I know you want to hear that it's stopped, but we are trying to. We are trying to do all we can. We are trying to put as much pressure as we can".
"The way things are now are not accessible. You got to see that there is change. People can't continue to live the way they are." Commissioner Hess added.
Commissioner Padora also said a public meeting with officials is in the planning stages.
Further, Padora commented on a "Gore System" that the company is reported to be using to mitigate the smell. "I think it's a glorified blanket. It's not doing anything." Padora said.
"You have to be a good neighbor. That's where we start. We are going to keep pressuring. We are going to keep trying. I promise you that." Padora said in closing.