Keystone Landfill issued violation notice for failure to control odors

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued a notice of violation (NOV) to Keystone Sanitary Landfill (KSL) in Lackawanna County for failure to control odors at its facility in the boroughs of Dunmore and Throop. The action comes after DEP confirmed landfill gas odors numerous times in the past several months. 

During the months of November and December, DEP says staff conducted after-hours odor patrols twice daily, including nights and weekends, and were able to confirm landfill gas odors on multiple occasions. DEP staff also documented landfill gas odors during routine unannounced inspections. 

"We want the public to know that DEP hears them, is conducting investigations and is taking action according to our findings,” DEP interim acting secretary Jessica Shirley says. "Residents deserve to live in their community without having to smell putrid odors. This is totally unacceptable and adversely affecting quality of life. We are asking residents to continue to call DEP with odor complaints, and the Department will continue its enhanced response to make sure residents no longer have to deal with this nuisance.” 

DEP found KSL failed to maintain a uniform intermediate cover over waste at the landfill that prevents odors. The results of KSL’s own surface monitoring in September and October indicate extensive areas of the landfill with excessive methane emissions, which DEP also says is causing odor issues.  

DEP has determined KSL is in violation of the Solid Waste Management Act, the Municipal Waste Management rules and regulations and KSL’s operating permit.  

KSL has 30 days to submit a proposed plan that corrects and prevents violations.

In addition to the NOV, DEP suspended KSL’s Settlement Accommodation Plan (SAP) in November. The SAP allowed the landfill to add more waste to areas that had previously been capped. This action was in response to DEP’s investigation of odor complaints received.