House Approves Mako Bill to Keep Municipalities, Citizens Aware of EPA Violations

April 30, 2019

HARRISBURG – The House today passed legislation authored by Rep. Zach Mako (R-Lehigh/Northampton) to improve notification of environmental violations at quarries and landfills.

The bill is the result of a several months-long lag last year in notifying Whitehall Township and residents that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had cited the Coplay Aggregates’ quarry for high levels of PCBs in material accepted at the facility.

“Residents have a right to know immediately if the actions of a nearby quarry or landfill could negatively affect their health and safety.” Mako said. “Quarry and landfill operators need to be held accountable and be good neighbors. I’m hopeful the Senate will vote on this legislation quickly. I am deeply troubled that it took months for local government and residents to be alerted to the Coplay Aggregates notice of noncompliance.”

House Bill 476 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to forward to municipalities notices of noncompliance it receives that were issued by the EPA for violations of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and Solid Waste Management Act (SWMA).

The bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.

The 183rd District includes South Whitehall (part), Washington and Whitehall (part) townships and Slatington Borough in Lehigh County. It also consists of Allen, Lehigh and Moore (part) townships, and North Catasauqua, Northampton and Walnutport boroughs in Northampton County.

Representative Zachary Mako
183rd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tracy Polovick
717.260.6358
tpolovick@pahousegop.com
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