BETHLEHEM, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire residents attended a public hearing to voice their objections to a 5.71-acre expansion of a local landfill.
North County Environmental Services is seeking a modification to its permit that could potentially accommodate a million tons of waste.
The parent company behind the landfill, Casella Waste Systems, reached an agreement with the town not purchase additional land in 2012 only to buy additional land a few years later, according to Bethlehem resident Brian Cook.
The current proposal is not what was agreed on in 2012, he said.
Opponents to the expansion outweighed supporters citing issues with noise, odor, contaminates in test wells and insufficient cover, according to The Caledonian-Record.
“A lot of people in this town are struggling to keep up with their taxes and keep their houses,” Bethlehem resident Dick Robie said. “We can all be experts, but we are asking our biggest taxpayer to go away.”
The Department of Environmental Services will review Casella’s operating and closing plans, past performance, the company’s accordance with the state’s solid waste management statute, noise, odors, and vectors including bears and rodents.
The department plans to accept written testimony until Dec. 20 and will issue a decision by Jan. 20.
(Copyright (c) 2024 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)