Officials trying to sniff out source of odors

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August 1, 2009

By SUSAN EVANS The Tribune-Democrat Sat Aug 01, 2009, 11:35 PM EDT

EBENSBURG — Is there a smell, or isn’t there?

The borough’s staff, and even state environmental officials, still are not sure.

Last month, Ebensburg council members heard about complaints of odors from the sewage treatment plant.

Residents of nearby S&P; Estates near Route 160 said they thought the recent plant upgrade was to blame.

But staff members don’t smell it, and Department of Environmental Protection inspectors don’t smell it.

Complaints from S&P; Estates have stopped, but complaints from nearby Wilmore Road have heightened.

Borough Manager Dan Penatzer admitted to council members that he is at a loss for answers as to why, and he is arranging a meeting with the local inspector and superiors from the Pittsburgh DEP office.

“It is the staff’s position that every possible step has been taken to reduce odors at the treatment plant. DEP inspectors have visited the plant on several occasions, have never detected the odors and have no advice for improving plant conditions,” he told council.

In an interview, Penatzer was blunt: “I find it incredibly hard to believe that the plant, the way it’s operating now, is emitting odors.

“It is so clean down there, and we’ve gone so far, that I honestly don’t know what to think.”

DEP does not reveal the identities of those complaining, but Penatzer and his staff have done some of their own interviewing.

“Interestingly, the resident along Trout Lane, the entrance to the sewage plant, states he has never detected odors from the plant,” Penatzer said. “He is situated between the plant and Wilmore Road.”

In one DEP report, it was theorized that the odors might occur when the Ebensburg plant is receiving sludge from other sewage treatment plants.

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