Hawbaker Up To No Good Already

According to the Times Leader:

Company warned of violations
Firm reportedly began building asphalt plant in Lattimer without a permit.
By Steve Mocarsky smocarsky@timesleader.comStaff Writer
HAZLE TWP. – The state has issued a warning to a company that wants to build an asphalt plant in the Lattimer section of the township.
The owners of Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., a State College-based company, violated the Air Pollution Control Act by beginning construction activities without securing a permit, according to a notice from the state Department of Environmental Protection. The notice was dated Monday – the same day a group of residents from Lattimer and surrounding villages attended a meeting asking township supervisors to join them in their opposition to the asphalt plant.
Hawbaker has been operating a quarry in the area for the past few months. Company officials want to build the asphalt plant next to the quarry, using stone removed in nearby coal-mining operations in the asphalt production.
About 100 residents of the villages of Lattimer, Pardeesville and Milnesville voiced opposition to the plant during a packed meeting at the Township Commons building in July. Landowner Pasco Schiavo arranged the meeting to allow residents to address their concerns.
Residents asked if the plant approval was a “done deal” because the company had already located silos for the plant on the property.
According to the violation notice, DEP officials saw three asphalt silos, a “baghouse,” at least one blower and several sections of duct work onsite during an Aug. 30 inspection of a stone crushing plant being installed nearby.
“The plan approval for this equipment has not yet been issued,” the notice states.
The notice instructs the company to submit an explanation of why construction began and to provide measures that the company will take to ensure further violations don’t occur. The letter also warned that failure to comply with DEP rules and regulations “constitutes unlawful conduct and could result in legal action.”
DEP spokesman Mark Carmon said abatement could include either having the company remove the equipment or ceasing construction activities.
Messages left for three Hawbaker officials were not returned on Thursday.
Michael Gombeda, a Lattimer resident who opposes the plant, said the violation concerns him because quarry officials pledged to be good neighbors, “yet they’re already violating the law.”
Gombeda said residents oppose the plant mainly because of anticipated noise and traffic problems. He said noisy quarry operations are expected to triple in size if the asphalt plant was opened, and company officials “openly admitted there would be 400 to 500 trucks a day coming in and out of the facility.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Glenn O. Hawbaker officials will present information on the plant to the township Zoning Board at an Oct. 15 meeting to determine if the board should grant a special exception that would allow the plant to operate in Lattimer.
Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 459-2005.