White Mills foam on hold

By DIANE GLYNN

PALMYRA — An Environmental Impact Study (EIS) has been ordered for the proposed Flexible Foam factory before any final decision will be given to begin construction at the site along Route 6, outside of Hawley.

After hearing testimony from over 15 community members at Monday night’s public hearing, Palmyra supervisors could not reach a unified decision on final approval for the Ohio Decorative Products Company’s plans for the 11-acre site.

Public opposition of the proposed plant ranged from use of hazardous and carcinogenic substances during operation, to pollution of ground water and the lack of emergency plans in the event of accidental chemical spills during rail transportation along the Lackawaxen River.

According to Flexible Foam’s Corporate Environmental Coordinator Kurt Baker, the plant proposed in the Hawley/White Mills area will utilize a carbon-dioxide base in the foam-manufacturing process, rather than the methylene-chloride base. The company plans on building a foam manufacturing plant similar to its 1999 Wisconsin foam manufacturing plant.

Supervisors read a laundry list of conditions set by the Palmyra Planning Commission, and insisted that the conditions must be met before final approval is given. The list include test wells at the site to determine the groundwater condition prior to any construction.

Flexible Foam’s attorney Anthony Waldron agreed that an EIS will be in the hands of the Palmyra supervisors on April 15 and that the township will have time before its April 22  deadline to render a final decision. If the clock runs out without a decision within the 45-day period extended as part of the granted conditional use approval given on March 11, Flexible Foam will have approval by default, without having to meet any conditions. On the other hand, if the clock runs out before a study is complete, the township may summarily reject the application.

“Everything is on hold until April 15 when we have the EIS, and we only have so much time to give a decision, without any exceptions,” said Supervisor Marie Ribiero.

A 30-day extension, usually an option in circumstances such as this, will not be granted to Palmyra supervisors by the applicant, according to Waldron.

A meeting has been set for April 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hawley Fire Hall, when the final decision on Flexible Foam will be announced.