JEFFERSON TWP. - Efforts by residents to use a letter from the Department of Environmental Protection to question a sewer project were turned away at a Jefferson Twp. Sewer Authority meeting Monday.
A plan to switch residents from septic systems to public sewers has been a sore spot with some residents over the past several months. The latest phase of the plan requires residents on Living Waters and Archbald Mountain roads to hook into the system - a move that residents have petitioned against, citing cost and lack of need.
Sewer authority members and residents have disagreed whether about a half-dozen septic systems have failed.
At Monday's meeting, resident Gregory Kapeluck read sections of a letter from DEP that listed issues that needed to be addressed within the plan.
As part of the project, DEP examined revisions to the plan.
"The DEP is pretty much substantiating all of our complaints," Mr. Kapeluck said.
Borough engineer Mary Lou Butler disagreed.
"There is nothing in there saying they disagree," she said of the letter.
The letter, dated Sept. 20 and addressed to the township supervisors, provided a list of 10 questions the department had pertaining to the third phase of the Sanitary Sewer Extension plan.
Issues included a request for the submission of additional needs surveys with more information, an incorrectly listed user fee and a legible soil map. The township will have an additional 60 days to address the items listed.
DEP commented on more issues than it normally does, but Ms. Butler said she believes none of the items is a problem. She also said most items had already been addressed.
"They know people are upset," she said of the letter, noting she was happy to answer all questions. "That protects everybody."
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