St. Luke’s reiterates opposition to landfill expansion in letter sent to patients, employees - lehighvalleylive.com

St. Luke’s reiterates opposition to landfill expansion in letter sent to patients, employees - lehighvalleylive.com

St. Luke’s University Health Network, a longtime opponent of the Bethlehem landfill expansion project, sent a letter on Monday to patients and employees who live in the vicinity of the landfill.

The letter reiterated and explained the reason for the health network’s opposition to the project, which took a major step in August after Lower Saucon Township Council voted 3-2 to rezone the land, allowing for the landfill project to continue.

“The proposed expansion would compromise the special healing environment that defines our Anderson Campus,” the letter stated. “When fully developed, the landfill would become a repository for garbage alongside the region’s defining natural feature, the Lehigh River, forever blighting the historic Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor and other environmentally sensitive uses.”

St. Luke’s Anderson Campus is home to the network’s popular sunflower fields and the organic farm operated in partnership with the Rodale Institute. Among other concerns, SLUHN’s letter advised that the the landfill expansion’s location along the Lehigh River could damage the water supply, in addition to the visual blight it would bring the the immediate area.

The parcel of land that the expansion would affect had previously been marked with conservation easements, a legal agreement limiting usage of the land in order to protect the environment. The council also voted to relocate those easements in order to continue with the project.

The walking trails in the area, including the D&L Trail, are popular year-round, but also play a major role in the health network’s outreach. SLUHN has “a special relationship with the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor,” the letter said, “and for the last 10 years, we have cosponsored the Get Your Tail on the Trail program, comprised of 15,000 participants who regularly use the section of the trail adjacent to the proposed expanded landfill. Additionally, we cosponsor the St. Luke’s D&L RaceFest, the Lehigh Valley’s signature running event that includes the region’s only marathon, which relies on this section of the trail.”

The letter was signed by St. Luke’s President and CEO Rick Anderson and President Ed Nawrocki.

Maryanne Starr Garber, the attorney for the Bethlehem Landfill Company, provided a statement in response to the SLUHN letter: “As Lower Saucon’s residents know, the Bethlehem Landfill is an important asset to our community that contributes 30% of the Township’s budget. We help the town fund important resources such as police, fire departments, and schools while keeping property taxes low. We have a strong compliance record and are monitored regularly by state environmental regulators. In addition, we generously donate to more than 40 local organizations including ones that support youth sports, health organizations, our veterans, and are a proud sponsor of Musikfest & ArtsQuest. Plus, we have given over $100,000 in scholarships to local students pursuing environmental or engineering studies. Without the landfill, the township’s residents will experience tax increases and significant cuts to local services. We are proud of the role we play in Lower Saucon. We are confident that the proposed expansion will result in long-lasting advantages for Lower Saucon Township and its residents in the years ahead.”

The Bethlehem Landfill Company is a is a subsidiary of Texas-based Waste Connections. Waste Connections funded a political action committee called Responsible Solutions for Pennsylvania, which campaigned for 2021 Republican candidates for Lower Saucon Township Council Jason Banonis, Thomas Carocci and Jennifer Zavacky. Zavacky resigned five months into her term and was replaced with Mark Inglis. Banonis, Carocci and Inglis voted to approve the rezoning for the landfill.

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Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com.