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Resident tells Plankton planning commission fumes from nearby mulch/compost site made him ill; commissioners to investigate
Summary
At the meeting a resident, Jim Waldron, described repeated incidents of noxious fumes he said entered his home from a nearby mulch/compost operation and asked the township to obtain air monitoring and investigate whether the operation was functioning as a composting facility; township staff and the zoning officer said they have inspected the site and will follow up.
Resident Jim Waldron addressed the Plankton Township Planning Commission during public comment, saying on multiple occasions his house filled with what he described as 'toxic fumes' arriving from a nearby mulch/composting operation and that the fumes caused illness in his household.
Waldron said the earliest incident occurred in April, and that a more recent episode on Aug. 20 led him to call the fire department. He urged the commission to procure air monitoring and to determine whether the mulch operator is operating as a composting facility, which he said would trigger additional regulatory requirements when located within 300 feet of a dwelling (he cited “25 code 281.02”). He said he wanted the operation shut down if it was out of compliance and asked the township to prioritize neighbors’ health.
Township staff and other commissioners responded that they have inspected the site and that the operation is permitted through the Dauphin County Conservation District and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Commissioners said they expect the operator to follow rules and that they would continue to monitor compliance; one commissioner reported having visited the site multiple times.
A company representative who addressed the commission clarified that JBI (or JVI, as discussed) does not own the Steelton dump site referenced in news coverage and said the site predates nearby homes and has been permitted and inspected. The representative acknowledged some minor violations that are commonly found during inspections and said the company is following applicable rules and inspections.
The commission agreed to look into the regulatory distinction between mulching and composting under state and county codes, to review inspection records, and to follow up on Waldron’s request for air monitoring.
Waldron’s primary claims during his remarks were not adjudicated at the meeting; DEP review, conservation-district records and any air-monitoring results would be required to substantiate or refute his allegations.
