Poo Mountain

Notice the biosolids laying on top of the ground? According to DEP regulations this material is supposed to be turned into the ground when it's spread. Instead it is left there to rot, destroying the quality of air we breathe and drawing germ and bacteria carrying flies. Hey, it's okay, they brought in machines to mask the odor. The air STINKS!!! I don't care how you try, you can not mask the odor of sewage. Sewage is exactly what is laying out in the open field, up on that hill.

Why follow the law or regulations when you have politicians that don't know their butt from first base backing you up? Why follow the law when DEP Moshannon takes your complaint and then turns them over to the contractor? Why have a complaint department if all they are going to do is give your personal information to the contractor? Who will be held responsible for the retaliation of the contractor against citizens filing complaints? These contractors have not followed the law since the first load was hauled in and dumped up on the hill.

Hey Bruno, is this the lush green grass you were talking about when you were touting the benefits of Biosolids?

Shooo Flies

After many complaints sent in to us regarding the swarms of flies taking over the area, we decided to see what PA DEP has to say about flies in regard to biosolids. We all know what they say about the odor. Tina Pickett said there was no odor when she was there. Yeah, well, what does she know, she's a politician and everything they do stinks.

According to PA DEP's website the biosolids are supposed to be treated for odors and attracting disease carrying flies.

"Once wastewater reaches the treatment plant, it goes through physical, chemical and biological processes which clean it and remove the solids. The collected wastewater solids then undergo extensive stabilization treatment. This treatment reduces odors, pathogens, or disease-causing organisms, and vector attraction, or a characteristic of the wastewater that attracts rodents, flies, mosquitoes, etc." PA DEP Biosolids Program

Obviously, due to the swarms of flies experienced lately, someone is not following procedure and someone else is letting this slide by. Why? According to what appears to be a canned reply to all complaints, "Barchey is nearing the end of the project". Is Barchey and Doug Saylor going to take the flies with them when they leave? After speaking with the contractors, it is my opinion, they have a "give a shit" attitude. They give shit, you take shit.

Thank you, White Ash and Lewis Lumber Co.!

PA DEP - Moshannon Office Releases Names of Complaintants to Contractors

Why are the taxpayers of Pennsylvania funding a position for complaints to be filed when all they do is call the contractor and give them the complaintants name, and phone number to handle the complaint themselves? If I wanted to call Greg Barchey or Doug Saylor I would call them myself. In fact, I have called Kyler Enviromental Services only to get voice mail.

Is this how the state handles complaints? Give personal info out to former PA DEP employees, that are now working for the contractor, that is creating all of these issues? Are the employees at PA DEP to lazy to do their taxpayer funded jobs? Let's look at these departments for a minute.

PA DEP office of Air Quality in Williamsport. You call there, lodge a complaint of poor air quality created by the stench of biosolids being spread all over the mountainside. What do they do? They pass the buck to Moshannon Mining office because it is their contract. What the hell? What does Air Quality have to do with Mine Reclamation? I realize this is a bad economy, but these people in AIR QUALITY, are paid to do a job, not pass the buck.

Call Moshannon Mining office, a very nice woman will take your complaint. She will never tell you that she is going to forward your personal contact information on to the offending contractor for him to deal with you. If people knew this in advance they would never give their name or any contact info for fear of retaliation by the contractor(s). Are these people lazy or just plain stupid?

Elected officials are of no help either. Tina Pickett is as dumb as a box of rocks, in my opinion. All she knows how to do is return calls or emails and blow smoke because she damn sure doesn't know what she is talking about. She'll tell you that she will contact the contractor. BIG F'ing DEAL. Does she think no one else has done this? Just because she returns a call doesn't make her a good representative of the people. She certainly doesn't give a rats patoot about the quality of air we're breathing in Mildred because she doesn't have to live here. Neither does Barchey or Saylor.

So now, we have disease carrying flies that are feeding on their supposedly treated biosolids. If it were treated we wouldn't be over run with flies. First we couldn't go outdoors because of the stench, now we can't go outdoors because of the flies. Next thing you know we won't be able to drink our own well water. Have you tested your water lately?

If you filed a complaint, did you get a call from Doug Saylor or Greg Barchey? Did either of them contact you in person, regarding your complaint? Did you get a letter from Moshannon Mining office notifying you that your information was being forwarded to the contractor? Did the letter come before or after Barchey or Saylor contacted you?

Flies Everywhere - Comment From a Reader

Editors note: This comment was originally posted by "EMT on Call" on the Hows the Air Quality Now post.

Are you kidding me? It's 0400, 62F, not muggy.. and there are swarms of flies outside. Moths, sure.. But flies? Mildred has nocturnal flies, black flies of all sizes, shapes; and varying irritation from bites. I spent most of my week in Mildred, "by choice", only b/c I'd feel guilty otherwise. I'm here now, b/c I'm doing my "Patient Care Report". The flies are driving me nuts, last week I broke the swatter trying to kill them, and put out a screen. The bay door was open for maybe 45 seconds while we backed the meat wagon in, and that was enough to let some in. They were everywhere outside at the fireman's fest, they were everywhere at the cub scout camp.. That can't be healthy, flies are a health hazard... and if they aren't, it's at least going to raise my BP till I get my "Civic Duty" finished and go home to my own fly-free town. I've filed complaints, you know what happens? Some confrontational @$$bag calls. What are they going to do, hang giant flypapers from WWII Anti-Aircraft Balloons? Can't open the basement (office) door, flies come in.. Can't spray Raid, it makes my lips numb, because I can't open the damn door to air it out... B/c more flies come in.

How's The Air Quality Now?

How bad does it have to get before enough people are motivated to do something about it? Do they have to dump piles in your front yard? File a complaint with PADEP. For those with a computer it's as simple as clicking this link and filling out the form. For those without a computer, it's as easy as picking up your telephone and lodging a complaint.

How can anyone enjoy a meal while sitting in a cesspool? For those of you that don't know, that is what it is like in Mildred, Pennsylvania. We're living in a cesspool.

Here's the link to a secure site to file your complaint.
PA DEP ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLAINT FORM


Here are the phone numbers to call in your complaint. Speak with the Regional Director, Mr. Nels Taber, start at the top, as we all know, shit rolls down hill.

Phone: 570 327-3636 (business hours)
570 327-3636 (after hours)

The Smell - IT'S BAAAAACK

Welcome to summer in the beautiful town of Mildred, located in Pennsylvania's Endless Mountains. Get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Sit back, have a beer, a barbecue or join in one of the many weekend fun events around the area. Just be sure all activities in the surrounding area of Mildred and now Lopez is indoors. You damn sure can't do anything outdoors unless, of course, you enjoy the stench of human waste. Yes, that's right, the smell of biosolids is back and Mother Nature is not happy. She's been raining on us for so long, we're as soggy as the shit that is sliding down the hill into the creek. Compliments of, Bruno Najaka and the White Ash Land Association.

Enjoy the summer...INDOORS!!!

I Lied??? I Don't Think So

This post is in response to a few comments that came in this evening. It appears some feathers are ruffled.

Let's get something perfectly clear. I didn't lie about anything. You and everyone else has heard the same things posted here, don't even try to say you haven't.

I am guilty of putting in print things everyone has been saying for years, ever since they started spreading biosolids. The only fault you can find among all these posts is those few lines and nothing else? It doesn't bother you that the very air you breathe is being polluted? It doesn't bother you that this could very well pollute the water you fish and swim? It doesn't bother you that procedures set forth by PADEP have not been followed? Of course it doesn't, the only thing that bothers you is the fact that we publicized it and you don't know who we are.

That's right, I said WE, as in more than one person. Because of the nature of life in small towns WE have to remain anonymous due to the harsh retaliation we know we will suffer. WE have to reach out far and wide to get information we want to prove our point. WE have to utilize all of our resources because those that are supposed to enforce the laws, rules and regulations appear to not be doing their jobs.

So instead of wasting so much time nitpicking and trying to find out who we are, you have options. You can lead, follow or get out of the way.

Mary Saul Speaks Out

No central air or new windows were ever installed or promised to me. I did however stop a truck once during the day because they were flying up and down the road by my house and i did hear and see trucks going up and down after midnight.
I have complained numerous times that they damaged the road that goes by my house and the horrible smell to the representative of the company and nothing was done about it, obviously. All they did to try and disguise the smell was put kitty litter down, so instead of just crap it smelled worse than dirty litter box.
I have made my complaints to the PA DEP. No one ever bribed me or paid me off to keep my mouth shut. Anybody who knows me knows I complain about this issue often. So as far as these allegations are concerned at least one is false.

Posted by Mary Saul April 26, 2011 2:03 PM

Editors Note: We apologize to Ms. Saul for misstating her situation.

Now What???

This problem has gone on far to long. Over three years to long, with no relief. It seems the more complaints lodged, the more dumping and spreading, they do. So, now what? Lets make a list of those elected officials and agencies that have been contacted and results of contact.

Elected officials and/or their representatives: Tina Pickett, Jim Carney, and Roger Madigan Results: None
***PA DEP Air Quality-Williamsport office Results: None *** (October 2010 Turnpike Elementary School lodged a complaint with DEP. Greg Barchey voluntarily pulled off the job immediately)
Cherry Township Supervisors Results: None
White Ash Land Association Results: None

If you have contacted other people or agencies, to no avail, please, list them in the comments section.

Where to go from here? The only place left to go is the Environmental Protection Agency. The FEDS!

Another alternative is to file an injunction in court. This can be done. It doesn't require an attorney to file an injunction. It requires time, cooperation and a few bucks. The inability to breathe malodorous air and the illness brought on due to the poor quality of air is a public nuisance.

According to Sullivan County Commissioners, the citizens can petition the landowner and DEP to cease the biosolids distribution. This too, will take time collecting signatures and filing the petition.

I would expect no cooperation from the directors of White Ash Land Association or DEP. The past three years have proven they could care less what the citizens want, it's all about what they want. What White Ash wants is green grass. What Greg Barchey wants is MONEY! DEP has also proven they don't care about your health or the air you breathe.

The only thing left is to file an injunction.

Help Is On The Way

Today I have some valuable information for all affected by the stench lingering over Mildred. There are people that are interested in your complaints and concerns. These people will keep all information completely confidential. Your name will never be released to anyone. One person complaining is just that, one person, you get little results if any. If you want results, you have to make this call. It is important that you call, lodge your complaint and get it on file. If you want this problem resolved, make the call. It won't take more than a few minutes to pick up your phone and dial.

Call Barb Santonico at 570-327-0549

She is the complaint person for Air Quality with the PA DEP. She will make sure your complaints are handled immediately.

CALL TODAY!

NOW HEAR THIS! People That Complain Are Uneducated

According to our sources, Bruno Najaka is running around allegedly, making comments, such as; "the people complaining are uneducated". Bruno Najaka is a former educator in the Sullivan County school system and he's running around making comments like this? Well Bruno, what does that say about you as an educator? Not much, buddy. Not much at all.

The best piece of information I have received to date is how Bruno Najaka, allegedly told his grandsons, Mike and Bruno, to move out of Mildred before the dumping begins. If this allegation is true, I think it safe to say, Bruno Najaka could care less about your quality of life as long as it doesn't affect him or his family. What a guy!

The residents are SICK and TIRED of being ignored, lied to, having the very air they breathe polluted and their quality of life destroyed. We know the directors and members of White Ash read this blog. We also know that they should do the right thing by their friends, neighbors and family to put an end to the on going situation. We also know, that is not going to happen.

People become empowered when they have a voice that is being heard and their complaints are being looked into and acted upon. People will eventually stand together when they have had enough of the empty promises going unfulfilled. Then these same people will begin to talk to those that can make the change.

You might ask, what do these people have to talk about?

Oh like, how it is alleged that Jerome Pedro's back taxes were paid off.

How it is also alleged that an offer to install all new windows and central air conditioning in Mary Saul's home, after she stopped a truck hauling biosolids after midnight.

How about the alleged deal struck with Ed Fitzgerald? It is alleged he would get all the truck repair work if he didn't complain to PADEP. Ed got screwed on that deal.

What does this tell you? When a company has to go around making deals, paying off debts, remodeling houses, God only knows what else is being alleged they've offered to do, to continue their work. These alleged acts of bribery should raise red flags all over Sullivan County and within PADEP. If everything was done legally, within PADEP and EPA regulations, no deals would have to be made. This is nothing less than BRIBERY.

I knew it wouldn't take long, before people began sending me information regarding the biosolids and their quality of life being destroyed by decisions made, by a few, on behalf of White Ash Land Association.

Keep that information coming, you have a voice here, that will be heard.

A Concerned Citizen Wants to Know

On March 25th a concerned citizen asked the following question. I agree, that list should be published and it will be, immediately following the citizens questions. I apologize for the delay.

Shouldn’t a list of the Directors of the White Ash be posted so the people in the area of the stink know who the person/persons are who are responsible for them not to being able to use there yard or cook out or have any friends over to enjoy a summer day of clean air to breath. And people in the world wonder why, so many bad things are happening all over the world its because of people like the White Ash Director, selfish and couldn’t care less about anyone else and always wanting to put the blame on anyone but there self’s. I would believe that would be public information.

March 25, 2011 8:02 AM


The White Ash Directors on the Mines Committee are:
Bruno Najaka (Chairman) - 570-928-8779 (Dir.)
Larry Hatton - 570-928-7207
Kevin Blasi - 570-928-9469
Russ Bigus - 570-675-0297

It's Spring! Breathe the Air...Nevermind, Don't Breathe The Air

Well here we are, Spring 2011 and we still can't breathe the air. Thank you, White Ash, DEP, Cherry Township, Lewises and of course Greg Barchey of Kyler Environmental. In their tiny little liberal minds, they are doing the politically correct, environmentally correct thing by recycling human waste and having it trucked in all the way from New York. Wow!!! Aren't we the lucky ones, to be surrounded by so much shit we can't even breathe. Complain about the smell and you will answer to the bellowing of Sandy Gulich. After all, she is sick and tired of hearing about the stench the rest of us have to live with on a daily basis. Go ahead, I dare you, to even mention Biosolids or the smell that is making us all sick to Sandy.

Now that you know they are doing the environmentally correct thing, let me tell you about the legally correct thing they are not doing. They are not testing that shit up on the hill. Yeah, I said it, SHIT! That is exactly what it is, plain and simple, it is SHIT. Oh yeah, they tested it back in 2007 over in New York before it left the waste water treatment plants but they never tested it when it arrived on site. If they did, they never submitted a chemical analysis to the township or anywhere else, that can be found. Bruno Najaka touting his own horn about how he tests EVERY load, on site is a crock of SHIT. He might be testing it for PH but that is all he is testing. Any idiot can test for ph, it's not rocket science. Go to any place that sells pool supplies, even Walmart has pool supplies, and pick up a ph test kit, it will cost you about $5 bucks. That's real testing going on up there Bruno...NOT!

Greg Barchey hauled ass like a scared little girl, last October when the Elementary School contacted PADEP. Guess what? His contract ran out in October. That's right, he had a 3 year contract to spread that shit all over the mountain side and now he's gone. The SHIT remains, unspread, stockpiled in a pile about 8 feet high and 8 feet wide, maybe bigger. It's in a heap just waiting to thaw out and run off into Loyalsock Creek. How's that fishing this spring? Are you sure you want to eat anything coming out of the creek this year? Maybe go catch a few and take them over to Bruno and Sandy, let them eat them. Who is going to pay for the cleanup of that shitty water? Who will pay for the cleanup when it reaches the Susquehanna and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay? Well of course it will be White Ash and the Lewises since they are so hell bent on being environmentally friendly. Then there is Greg Barchey/Kyler Environmental that sold this bill of SHIT to them. Of course White Ash board of directors have personal immunity when it comes to being sued but the association itself does not. Hope you all have good insurance policies.

I'd also like to know how many people have been offered to have central air conditioning systems installed, free of charge, so they can breathe in their own homes? What other offers have been made to local residents in exchange for them to not file complaints about smell, trucks running as late as midnight, dumping up on that hill? I do believe this is called extortion, bribery at the very least.

White Ash says "EAT S@!T"!

Did you know, if you can smell something you taste it? The same is true of the opposite. If you can't smell it, you can't taste it. Don't believe me? Hold your nose while you are eating, see if you can taste what you are eating. Remember your mother telling you to hold your nose while taking some god awful cold remedy? It was so the taste wouldn't be as strong. Same thing applies to all of this CRAP being spread up on the hill. The odor is so strong at times, it doesn't matter how much garlic you put on your food, it still tastes like CRAP. Human CRAP. Fecal matter. And that is eating indoors, don't even consider enjoying a meal outdoors on a warm summer afternoon. Food prepared by the chef's on Hell's Kitchen can't change the taste of CRAP, no matter how they dress it up.


How much crap does it take to confine people to their homes? Not much, if you live in Mildred. According to some White Ash members they aren't dumping that much up on the hill. According to these same members it's all the fault of the Lewises because they are spreading it on their land too. Well just how much is not much on White Ash Land? According to Bruno Najaka they had at one time stockpiled 6,000 tons of CRAP up on the hill. Then the piles grew to 14,000 tons to be spread on Lewis's property. (By the way, Lewis's property butts up to White Ash's land up on the hill, just in case you didn't know that.) Now the stockpiles are up to capacity. Do you realize how much CRAP that is? Break it down by truckload. A dump truck has a gvw of 70,000 lbs, tare weight anywhere from 24,000 to 27,000 lbs. So, each truck can haul 43,000 to 46,000 lbs or 21 to 23 tons. You've seen the trucks running in and out, all hours of the day and night. Yes, NIGHT, as late as midnight. What the hell, that's not much CRAP at all...IF YOU LIVE IN LOPEZ and don't have to smell and taste this CRAP, day in and day out.

Originally, they were only going to spread the CRAP to a depth of 7 inches. That has all been changed. They've increased the depth of CRAP to 9 inches or 190 tons per acre. That's a whole lot of CRAP. I appears those people over in New York have so much CRAP running through their sewage systems they need more land to dump it on in PENNSYLVANIA. So they started looking at additional places like Japs Pond and Skeeters. Hasn't anyone bothered to ask WHY??? WHY is New York bringing all their CRAP to Pennsylvania when they have just as much, if not more mountain land. Maybe Hillary Clinton didn't want it in her backyard?

All together, White Ash has approximately 107 acres involved with CRAP aka Bio-Solids. That's 20,330 TONS or 40,660,000 (40 MILLION) pounds of CRAP being spread 9 inches thick. What the hell, it's not in Bruno's back yard or front yard. What is Cherry Township doing with that $20 grand of CRAP money?

All the low ball wanna be politicians have been up to the area (representatives from Tina Pickett, Jim Carney, and Roger Madigan's office) where the CRAP has been spread, lucky for them it was a low humidity day, bad for those who live with that stench everyday, as they politicos didn't find the odor offensive. Of course they didn't find the odor offensive, they're politicians, they're used to being in the cesspool. Typical of politicians they go with the flow, even if it is CRAP flowing into our county, towns, neighborhoods. Complaints lodged by local residents did nothing but afford them a stage to continue their political grandstanding. Days, months, years of complaints fell on deaf ears while the CRAP continued to be stockpiled to capacity and eventually spread over the land. How do you make them stop?

Enter, Turnpike Elementary School. They have had enough, the adults have had enough, the kids have had enough. The school lodges a complaint with DEP and what do you know, Barchey, the contractor, packs up and hauls ass off the job. Leaving all that CRAP up on the hill, in piles. They didn't leave because DEP made them leave. According to Bruno Najaka, they left voluntarily. My guess is they know what is coming down the pike. They got out before the proverbial CRAP hit the fan.

So, now what? The winter snows have come and keep on coming into spring. The contractor pulled out in October or November, leaving all that CRAP up there on the hill. What happens with all that water in the spring melt? All that CRAP water, where will it go?

Keep a sharp eye out, all the drilling for gas, spreading of CRAP and now the prospect of windmills popping up all over the mountainsides of White Ash land, all that you know and love will soon be gone in the name of environmental conservation. Reality is, it's all in the name of the almighty dollar.

There is an old Indian proverb you might want to bear in mind.

"Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can't eat money." - Cree Proverb

Is Cherry Township violating Right To Know Law?

We've been informed a Right to Know request has been made to the Township Supervisors, to which there has been no response from anyone. The request was sent via email to the following address: cherrytwp@epix.net. If this is not the correct email address, someone in the office of Supervisors should contact the State of Pennsylvania and make the necessary corrections.

WHO IS SUBJECT TO THE LAW: Agencies Must Comply
Local Agencies: Any political subdivision, intermediate unit, or charter, public trade or vocational school [or] any local, intergovernmental, regional or municipal agency,
authority, council, board commission or similar governmental entity.

WHAT IS COVERED BY THE LAW: Records, not Questions
A record is defined as “any information regardless of its physical form or character that documents a transaction or activity of an agency AND is created, received, or retained pursuant to law OR in connection with a transaction, business or activity of an agency.” Records can take many forms, including papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, film or sound recordings, information stored or maintained electronically and a data-processed or image-processed documents. Note that e-mails can also be a
form of public records, subject to any exceptions.

EXCEPTIONS: Protects Certain Information From Disclosure
The law contains 30 exceptions, cited in Section 708, that permit an Agency to withhold records. An Agency may deny release of a record if it falls within one of the 30
exceptions designed to protect information that is confidential or may jeopardize safety or investigations. Types of records that can be withheld include records related to personal or public security, DNA/RNA records, autopsy records, social security numbers, personal financial information, personal email addresses, marital status,
identity of a covert law enforcement officer, home address of judges or law enforcement, confidential source records, victim information.

HOW TO FILE A REQUEST
A citizen can file a Right-to-Know request in four ways. You can submit your request
by:
1. Fax
2. Electronic mail
3. In person
4. U.S. Mail

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE AGENCY
An Agency has five business days to respond in writing to: 1) grant the request,
2) deny the request (citing the legal basis for denial/partial denial) or
3) invoke a 30-day extension for certain reasons.

The clock starts the day after the request is received during regular business hours.

PENALITIES
The law provides a civil penalty of up to $1,500 if an Agency denies access to a public record in bad faith and up to $500 per day when an Agency does not promptly comply
with a court order to release records under the act.

Let's Get Something Clear

The intent of this blog is not to point fingers at White Ash Land Association, or anyone affiliated with White Ash Land Association, although reference will be made to Bruno Najaka.   Why?  According to documentation regarding the spreading of biosolids Mr. Najaka sits on the board of directors and is the director of the committee responsible for this project.  It's not personal. 

It doesn't matter to me if Joe Blow is director of this committee, what matters is the foul odor permeating the air.  What matters is, what are they going to do about it.  What matters most is what are the health risks to the residents in close proximity to the dump site. 

It should also be noted the spreading of these biosolids is done with approval of DEP.  Just because the government approves it doesn't mean it should or can be trusted to have the best interest of the citizens at heart.  Can the government be trusted?  Just ask any Indian.

Tell Us Your Experiences

Tell us your experience with the smell hovering over your area.  When is it strongest?  Has it made you sick?  You can relay any and all of your thoughts regarding this dilemma, right here. 

At the bottom of this post click on comments and leave us your thoughts, ideas, suggestions and concerns.  We'll post them for you.  If you fear retribution, fear not.  You can leave  your comments anonymously or you can send it to us in email, we'll never reveal your name or email address.  Send emails to JD3140@gmail.com

Why Blog About This?

In this day and age, blogging is the simplest media format to get information out to others or to simply share your frustrations.  It's a place where others can leave their thoughts and comments without fear of retribution. 

This particular blog will hopefully, open the eyes and ears of people in Sullivan County.  We already know their noses are open. 

Upon visiting Sullivan County recently we were overcome by the most horrid odor imagineable.  As soon as we opened the car doors we were taken aback by the strong odor of sewage.  I honestly don't know how anyone can stand it.  The first thing that came to mind was I am standing in a cesspool, it was that bad.  Of course, we were curious as to the source of this foul smell so we started asking some of the local residents about it.  Only to find that Bruno Najaka and others at White Ash Land Association were having biosolids dumped on their property.  The common answer when asked WHY they were doing this was "he wants to grow grass".  Alrighty then.  My suggestion to Mr. Najaka would be to plant seed in the fall, mulch it good and you'll have grass come spring.  It's far less expensive than this venture.

Another question no one seems to know the answer.  How much is White Ash being paid to accept these biosolids?  We were told Cherry Township is being paid $1 per ton.  This begs another question.  Why is the township being paid for biosolids being dumped on privately owned land?

Answers, anyone???