Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
10 issues in environment
Countywide recycling program contract
The Big Blue Bin recycling contract is up for rebid after five years, jointly with Mercer County. Bids are due October 19 and some aging bins will be replaced or repainted.
Blue Bin and Glass Recycling Program contract
Lawrence County is finally bringing permanent glass recycling to residents, with a drop-off site at the Wayne Township VFD on Route 65 and another at the courthouse. It's true glass-to-glass recycling — containers get cleaned and sent back to market. Bins should be in place by the end of the month, with cameras to monitor misuse.
Industrial and pipeline permit notifications
Two routine DEP notices: a sewage NPDES permit reissuance at 259 Classic Lane, and a Slippery Rock Creek fish habitat/streambank permit application — both entered into the record.
Abandoned mine reclamation on Rock Springs Road
The state's Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation plans to reclaim mining hazards in Scott Township along Rock Springs Road and is seeking a DEP stormwater permit for the work.
Rail line environmental review — Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger
Union Pacific wants to buy Norfolk Southern, and a four-mile stretch of rail in the county's southwest corner could see more trains per day. The county planning department filed environmental comments with the federal Surface Transportation Board.
Gibsondale Nova solar project (Slippery Rock Township)
A 4-megawatt ground-mounted solar facility is proposed on a 140-acre leased property at 2752 Frew Mill Road, within three existing agricultural fields. The county received the notification and entered it into the record.
Farmland preservation funding boost
The Ag Preservation Board received $33,825 in unbudgeted state revenue, which commissioners added to its budget for farmland preservation work in the county.
Carokann Solar facility proposed in Taylor Township
A Colorado-based solar company is seeking a state stormwater permit to build a solar power facility in Taylor Township, off Martha Street Extension south of the Route 422 bypass. The county commissioners have no approval authority, but the notice signals real solar development interest in the area.
Radium-226 warning signs at boat launches
Two county residents warned that Lawrence County waterways carry radium-226 from fracking waste at levels well above federal drinking water limits, citing a 2016 DEP study. They want warning signs posted at three boat launches, but only one is county-owned, so the board sent them to the planning department to sort out permissions.
Three Rivers Aggregate Old Ash Mine permit application
Three Rivers Aggregate is seeking a DEP permit for a roughly 126-acre sand-and-gravel surface mine in Plain Grove Township. The county just had to take formal notice — the state makes the actual call — but neighbors near West Park and Corry Roads will want to watch this.