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County records notices for Elwood expansion, gas-line work and 40‑MW Green Meadows solar project
Summary
The commissioners entered five written notifications into the record on Feb. 11, including an expansion at Elwood Specialty Metals, a Berner International expansion, a Peoples Natural Gas line replacement in New Wilmington and the 40 MW Green Meadows solar farm plus a 7‑acre switchyard in Washington Township.
Lawrence County commissioners on Feb. 11 formally entered five written notices from developers and engineering firms into the meeting record, including industrial expansions and a proposed utility‑scale solar project.
County staff read a letter from Wallace Panchor Engineering on behalf of Elwood Specialty Metals notifying the Department of Environmental Protection of an expansion of its existing facility in Wilmington Township. The correspondence was recorded as required and entered into the county record; no action by the county is required beyond filing the notice.
A second notice from Gateway Engineers on behalf of Berner International in Shenango Township indicated an upcoming application to the DEP for a MPDES Chapter 105 permit related to expansion activities. Gateway Engineers also submitted a separate notice on behalf of People's Natural Gas describing planned gas-line replacement work on South Market Street in the borough of New Wilmington; the firm said it will apply for DEP General Permit 5 for utility-line stream crossings.
County staff also read two letters from ARM Group LLC describing the proposed Green Meadows solar project in Washington Township: a 40 megawatt AC solar farm to be built across approximately 449 acres and a related switchyard and access road on about 7 acres (the switchyard site noted as George Washington Road in Washington Township). ARM Group said it will submit a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit application to DEP to authorize stormwater discharges during construction.
County staff characterized the notices as routine, required notifications to state agencies. Commissioners commented that these filings are “good news” for the county because they indicate local expansion and investment; the correspondence was accepted into the record on a unanimous vote. No permits were approved or denied by the county during the meeting; the letters document applicants’ intent to seek state permits and notifications only.
Clarifying details - Elwood Specialty Metals: expansion notice filed by Wallace Panchor Engineering (no expansion size specified in county correspondence). - Berner International (Shenango Township): filing to DEP for MPDES Chapter 105 permit (MPDES 105) for expansion activities; submitting firm: Gateway Engineers. - Peoples Natural Gas (New Wilmington borough): gas-line replacement on South Market Street; permit sought: DEP General Permit 5 (utility-line stream crossings); submitting firm: Gateway Engineers. - Green Meadows solar project (Washington Township): proposed 40 MW (AC) solar farm on ~449 acres; separate switchyard/interconnection and access road on ~7 acres; submitting firm: ARM Group LLC; planned permit: NPDES construction stormwater permit.
No public testimony or formal county approvals of these projects occurred during the meeting; the items were entered into the record as notifications to be handled through state permitting and through standard county referral channels.
