For the second time, the Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners last Monday tabled a vote on an application by National Plastics Corporation.

The company seeks approval to relocate its Palmer Township operation to an industrial site on Lehigh Avenue. The site includes 40,000 square feet of space at the former Tarkett floor covering plant.

During a three-hour hearing last Monday, several residents living in the neighborhood raised concerns, including noise, air pollution, traffic and the possibility of fire.

A fire took place outside the company's Palmer Township plant in the past.

Commissioners President Linda Snyder said the vote was tabled until owner Munish Suri, his counsel and other experts can provide further information.

The vote was postponed until the Jan. 7 commissioners workshop.

Before testimony was given, Suri presented a seven-minute video which showed every facet of National Plastics operations, from truck delivery of the raw materials to departure of the finished products. The plant would produce up to 1.5 million pounds of plastic flakes and pellets each month. It would be open five days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Shipping hours would be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

George Young, owner of Alert Fire Protection, Chester Springs, Chester County, was one of several experts to testify for Suri. Young said the sprinkler system proposed for the site far exceeds required regulations. In the event of fire, Young said, it would be doused well before the fire company could arrive at the scene.

The state-of-the-art technology would douse the fire and the fire company would respond "only in a mop-up capacity."

Young noted, "We're all thinking about safety here."

Testimony before the board stated there are no odors.

Snyder questioned the particulates being emitted into the atmosphere.

Suri assured the audience that there would be no use of PVC at the plant. PVC produces dioxins that cause cancer and fertility issue.

Heather Hertzog, of Lehigh Avenue, said the company recycles PVC at its other locations.

Commissioner Paul Geissinger said he still has problems with the truth of Suri's testimony based on his previous appearance before the board, when he said he had no knowledge of a fire at the plant in Palmer.

Geissinger also said he was relying more on testimony from the expert witness, which he said was credible.