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The Greenridge Reclamation landfill in East Huntingdon Township hasn't been fined by the state Department of Environmental Protection for odor violations since November.

But a local citizens group still has concerns about the 43-year-old facility.

Fred Collins, president of Citizens Action for a Safe Environment-South, or CASE-South, formed the group shortly after the DEP levied its last $9,000 fine three months ago. He said Greenridge continues to emit odors on a daily basis, and he wants the public to stay informed about the activities.

An initial public meeting has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Scottdale Elementary School. On the list of invited guests are area legislators whom CASE-South hopes will take up their cause to stiffen landfill regulations.

"We want legislators to get it cleaned it up," said Collins, of East Huntingdon.

State Sen. Bob Regola, R-Hempfield Township, has expressed an interest in the concerns of the residents, according to his assistant, Tom Hower.

"He is concerned with the anxiety of people in the area," Hower said.

"He would possibly push for more stringent legislation in the future, but there is a process. That process is first a letter to the DEP, followed by a meeting. If the answers are not sufficient, we would then take it to the committee level."

The facility is 1,200 feet from the Southmoreland School District's Alverton campus, which houses the high school, middle school and Alverton Elementary School.

"My grandchildren attend those schools. How is this going to affect their health down the road?" Collins said.

In November, Greenridge dropped plans to dispose of 12,000 cubic meters of uranium-contaminated ash that the Kiski Valley Pollution Control Authority wanted to remove from a wastewater treatment pond in Allegheny Township after the township, school district and residents said they would fight the action.

Helen Humphries, DEP spokeswoman, said Greenridge has come a long way in the past two years. After being slapped with a $205,000 fine for odor emissions in 2004, the landfill has received two $9,000 fines for subsequent violations.

"We have inspectors go to the site several times a month. I wish we had the manpower to do it more often. But since 2004, Greenridge has improved substantially," she said.

David Smith, manager of Greenridge Reclamation, did not return repeated calls to his office.

On Feb. 1, representatives from Greenridge, the school district, DEP, township supervisors and members of the public attended a committee meeting to allow concerns to be heard and solutions discussed.

East Huntingdon Supervisor Howard Keefer said he hoped there would be more meetings to improve communication and keep residents in the mix about activities at the site.

He agrees with Humphries that things have improved at Greenridge.

"It's been better in the past few weeks. The supervisors are willing to meet with CASE, DEP or Greenridge to get it resolved forever," he said.

Keefer pointed out the Valley Landfill, in Penn Township, has new, upscale homes nearby.

"Evidently, a landfill can be a good neighbor," he said.

Keefer said he would attend Friday's meeting, and he hoped it would make a difference in the community. He worries that vocal groups sometimes attack an issue initially but fizzle out before the matter is resolved.

"You have to call in for the long haul," he said.

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