Environment, Contaminated
This warehouse complex would generate contamination to our farmland, wetlands, water table, soil as well lead to more trash along our roadways, yards and fields.
Lehigh University is studying lung-level episodic exposure in concert with increased truck traffic in our region. Check out this recent news story from CBS Sunday Morning.
A new Virginia Tech study offers fresh evidence of that warehouses and parking lots add more impervious surfaces, where rainwater cannot penetrate the ground this causes pollutants to wash off more easily in each rainstorm. A review of recent stormwater research shows that sediment runoff is 20-fold higher in urban areas compared with forested lands. Remember, soil is a natural filter, cleaning rain water before it hits a water table or aquifer.
In Cumberland County, PA - warehouse opponents successfully spearheaded a State Law that prohibits large diesel trucks from idling more than five minutes. But County officials and opponents allege it is rarely enforced even with a police force.
How will we here in Maxatawny be able to prevent truck exhaust from polluting our air?
Exhaust from diesel truck engines is one of the main contributors to smog and soot. In Pennsylvania, more than 20% of nitrogen oxide emissions — a precursor of smog and an airborne source of water pollution — comes from diesel engines. Tiny invisible soot particles are also emitted and, when inhaled, can cause respiratory problems. That’s especially a problem for the elderly, those with compromised breathing and heart conditions and young children whose lungs are still forming.
Lehigh and Northampton counties got sub par grades of C and D, respectively, for air quality from the American Lung Association.
And the impact to the richest and most productive farm land in the country: consider this pollution settling atop the crops grown in our township…
Matching Funds Campaign
We are continuing the good fight to keep our residents and other communities safe. We have 3 warehouse projects in Conditional Use Hearings or Zoning Board Hearings with one warehouse on Long Lane Rd waiting in the wings. There are FIVE proposed warehouses totaling over 3.7 MILLION sq. ft. Our fight is NOT over!
PLEASE, consider donating to the Maxatawny Community Coalition (MCC) during our matching funds campaign to help cover legal fees and expert witnesses during the hearings for the Duke warehouses and 23 Max LLC (Hilltop & Long Lane warehouses). Click on the DONATE button below.