Whitehall Township is mounting an offense regarding complaints from Fox Hollow residents in North Coplay over dust and grime on their houses and cars as well as an increase in truck traffic in that area.

The issue stems from a 2008 conditional use permission granted by the township board of commissioners for UGI and MCK/Michael Hobel, including authorized subcontractors, to dump clean fill from the opening of streets for repairs and replacements of gas lines throughout the Lehigh Valley into the former Coplay Cement quarry, located east of North Coplay Road and west of the former Conrail/Norfolk Southern Rail Line along the Lehigh River.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) gave its approval. Before material could be placed inside the quarry, according to PADEP, the fill needed to be quarantined on site until positive test results were received.

There were seven conditions for compliance, which included hours of operation, cleaning of the site entrance and exit, material sampling and more.

Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr. reported Oct. 3 several steps are being taken to have these recent complaints resolved, measures that include efforts by PADEP, state police and township police.

The mayor acknowledged since the quarry reclamation project in North Coplay began in 2008, there have been several complaints from Fox Hollow subdivision residents of dust from the project, trucks coming in after hours, the number of trucks in the area and damage to the roadways. Township Engineer Frank Clark handled those issues, Hozza said.

With complaints now on the rise recently, the issues were brought to the Sept. 12 board of commissioners meeting when Fox Hollow resident Christopher Feidler, speaking on behalf of the residents attending, said the dust on their homes, vehicles and outdoor furniture is a health risk. He said white vinegar and water have to be used to clean the surfaces.

In a statement sent to The Press, Hozza mentioned, “Residents who grew up in the Cement Belt know that prior to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) mandatory installation of the scrubbers on the active cement plants, that was the order of the day. We swept the sidewalks and porches every day, washed the windows and the cars with white vinegar and water.”

At the meeting, it also was noted this summer’s dry weather did not help the situation.

Feidler stated the amount of tri-axle trucks coming to the site were not all UGI subcontractors. He installed an outside camera that took pictures of the quarry entrance road and the trucks that traveled to and from the site Sept. 13.

PADEP notified Whitehall Township the morning of Sept. 29 an investigation into the dust complaint has begun and a monitoring device was placed within the area. The agency filed a notice of violation with the property owner, Hobel, who has to respond in writing with a remediation plan.

That same morning, a meeting was held with Hobel, UGI representatives and Whitehall officials at the township building, Hozza said in the statement.

Pictures from Feidler’s camera were shown to UGI representatives and Hobel.

Hobel indicated the trucks not registered as UGI subcontractors were coming in to remove asphalt brought to the site from UGI.

“Mr. Hobel indicated that the asphalt is now being separated from the soil material so that it can be recycled, hence the reason for the new truck names and leaving with material,” Hozza said.

At the meeting, Hobel said until there is an adequate amount of asphalt to be removed, there will not be any trucks seen for awhile.

“[Hobel] and UGI agreed to place an updated sign with the approved hours at the gate, remind all contractors of the approved hours, secure the site and install a camera system,” the statement said, in regards to the Sept. 29 meeting.

Additionally, Hozza mentioned, “The attendees were also told that the township believes that another source of the dust is coming from tri-axles coming over the Cementon Bridge and traveling up Coplay Road to another site located in the township off of West Coplay Road.

“The Whitehall Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police will be monitoring tri-axles crossing the 25-ton-weight-restricted Cementon Bridge ‘illegally’ and traveling up Coplay Road to access the quarry reclamation sites. Reports are that while tarped, the trucks, many from New Jersey, have cement powder coming off the contents,” Hozza continued.