http://citizensvoice.com/news/dep-halts ... -1.1622047

Demolition work on the Huber Breaker has to stop until its owner files required paperwork with the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Jonathan Comitz, attorney for Philadelphia-based Paselo Logistics, LLC, said the big breaker won't be coming down until "April or May or maybe even June," but demolition started this week on several ancillary structures, including a conveyor belt between two buildings.

"We deem that to be imminently dangerous," he said.

DEP spokeswoman Colleen Connolly said Thursday that the company agreed to temporarily stop the work.

In order to continue, the company has to file a written 10-day notice of demolition with DEP's Harrisburg office, which then notifies the regional office in Wilkes-Barre, she said.

"One of the reasons we ask for that is it explains how they're going to control the dust that flies around from the demolition," Connolly said.

The company also needs to provide DEP with an asbestos abatement form letting the state agency know how they dealt with any asbestos in the buildings, she said.

"Where they're working now, there is no asbestos, but that's not indicative of the rest of the buildings," Connolly said.

She said DEP and representatives from Paselo Logistics plan to meet Tuesday to "figure out the next step."

"We're very willing to work with DEP, obviously," Comitz said.

The plan is to bring in equipment and clean up the site when the weather gets better. Comitz said Paselo Logistics will have an environmental company "watching over every step."

Paselo Logistics does not yet have plans for the site. The company has some ideas, but Comitz - who is the grandson of a coal miner - said his client has "repeatedly" told him they want to do something to benefit the community. They are sensitive to the region's coal mining legacy, he said.

The company plans to include Ashley officials in future development plans.

"Our focus right now is cleanup," Comitz said.

The breaker has been left such a mess by the previous owner that it is only fit to be demolished and scrapped, he said.

"It's just unfortunate it was let go to such a state it's in right now," he said.

eskrapits@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2072

http://citizensvoice.com/news/dep-halts ... -1.1622047

figured that would happen sooner or later.......

_________________
Come over to the Dark Side....... We have Cookies!

Usually, on stuff like this they have pollution control and asbestos abatement plans on file well in advance of the planned demolition date or else large fines and court dates will ensue. At least that's how it is here.

_________________
May all those who have gone before us have a carbide lamp with an eternal flame.