UPDATE ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEARING BOARD APPEAL
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board Docket #2023-088; Plainfield Township, Delaware Riverkeeper Network & Maya K. Von Rossum, and Save Plainfield Township, Inc., Intervener vs. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Nazareth Borough Municipal Authority (NBMA) has been extended once again. On October 30, 2025 the Environmental Hearing Board granted an extension for all Discovery in this case to be completed by June 1, 2026.
The original Notice of Appeal was filed by Plainfield Township on October 27, 2023. There have been numerous extensions since that date. The concerns of Save Plainfield Township, Inc., Plainfield Township and the Delaware Riverkeepers Network have not changed. Please read the information below to get details on the Appeal.
Plainfield Township Ordinance #419 limits the amount of biosolids/sewage sludge that can be land applied on farmland and requires testing for various pollutants in biosolids. The NBMA is currently challenging this ordinance in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, seeking “Declaratory Judgment and Permanent Injunctive Relief”. Earthjustice, a nonprofit public interest environmental law organization, is assisting in the defense of Ordinance #419.
As of this date the NBMA has not land applied their biosolids/sewage sludge on the Preserved Farm on Hower Road, Plainfield Township.
Save Plainfield Township, Inc. will continue to diligently make the public and lawmakers aware of the NBMA’s intention to spread their biosolids/sewage sludge on preserved farmland in Plainfield Township and seek changes to the rules and regulations of biosolid/sewage sludge land application across Pennsylvania.
Save Plainfield Township, Inc. applauds the Plainfield Township Supervisors for unanimously approving an ordinance to regulate the land application of sewage sludge and to provide penalties for violation of the ordinance.
On September 26, 2024 Plainfield Township adopted Ordinance #419, titled “Plainfield Township Sewage Sludge Land Application Ordinance”. The ordinance finds that The Environmental Rights Amendment set in the Pennsylvania Constitution provides that “the people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment.”
The ordinance also finds that PFAS threaten public health and welfare, and sewage sludge contains PFAS and other pollutants that contaminate soil, water and air. Federal regulations recognize that PFAS in sewage sludge pose threats to public health and welfare. Ordinance #419 includes Plainfield Township specific factual findings and sets out specific conditions for the land application of sewage sludge within the Township of Plainfield.
You can contact Plainfield Township (610-759-6944) to see Ordinance #419.
Biosolid Land Application Is Coming to Plainfield Township Unless We Take Action
Biosolids Application signs posted by Nazareth Borough Municipal (Sewer) Authority on Preserved Farmland at Hower Road in neighboring Plainfield Township.
Special thanks to Delaware Riverkeeper Network (DRN) for their efforts and support to keep the streams and waterways of Plainfield Township clean and healthy!
In December of 2023 the DRN submitted comments to PADEP criticizing the proposed NPDES permit for Discharges of Storm Water and the deficiency of the application the NBMA filed. The DRN was also helpful with the opposition to the Synagro sludge treatment plant which was abandoned in 2020.
Please see the link below for details and information on both these projects:
https://delawareriverkeeper.org/search/term/plainfield township PA
There are many organizations throughout Pennsylvania and the country that are dedicated to making the public aware of the harmful effects of biosolid land applications and PFAS. See more information below:
This article, regarding a farm in Maine that was forced to shut down when sludge on the land was linked to high levels of PFAS in milk, was published in the Guardian.
Legal action could end use of toxic sewage sludge on US crops as fertilizer | PFAS | The Guardian
PFAS Project Lab reports PFAS are nine times higher in water from sites adjacent to fields spread with sewage sludge.
Here in Pennsylvania citizens in Carbon County and Upper Mount Bethel are also opposing the spread of sewage sludge.