What is the goal of the petition?
1) Request Jones Manure Hauling cease spreading FPRs; specifically near residential areas, and in large quantities or high frequency.
2) Request that state entities, the conservation district , and Department of Environmental Protection review the activity in it's entirety to ensure it's safety and compliance.
3) Request Township and State Legislators review the compatibility of spreading residual waste near residential areas, and consider a threshold that allows farmers to benefit from FPRs, without allowing the operation to monetize waste disposal stream. Waste disposal should be regulated as waste disposal, not farming.
Farmers have it tough. We all need food, it doesn't just show up at the grocery store... why don't you recognize that?
We recognize that farmers have it tough, and we love our farmers! Please realize this is not about farming; it's about waste disposal. We are trying to establish a dialog with the right entities and regulators. These discussions should not affect traditional farmers. Please consider the below;
Humans need a few things;
1) Air- We can live only 3 minutes with out air.
2) Water- We can live only 3 days without water.
3) Food- We can live only 3 weeks without food.
The residents believe that this waste spreading activity contaminates the air and water to make the food; and that is a bad trade off.
Farmers were here first--- Just move! OR The residents are being selfish or stupid and hurting the farmers who are just trying to do what they love.
Its true the farms themselves predate the sub-divisions. That doesn't mean that the people or all activities on the farms predate the sub-divisions. Callapatscink, Heritage Valley, and several others were established in the 1990s or earlier. Jones Manure Hauling was established in 2004, and it wasn't until 2016-2017 that the activities reached a scale that impacted most residents. Those impacts have continued to worsen.
We live here too-- it's a community. We love this land too. We cannot 'unbuild' our homes. If we sold them, there are very few people who would be tolerant of this activity. If it wasn't us "complaining", it would be someone else. Further--- more homes are being built every year the problem is only going to get worse.
Please consider this petition has gained several hundred signatures in just a few days. The residents are not profiting from this but they receive all of the negative effects. That is the opposite of selfish.
What are the Setbacks for this activity? I think they spread near a (well/property/creek/watershed) what do I do?
The below setbacks (a.k.a Isolation Distances) are specified on in the PA FPR Manual, Chapter 8, Page 90. FPR spreading is regulated by the Cumberland County Conservation District and the Department of Environmental Protection. You could contact either of those agencies. We will put the information below.
Property line- 50ft
Occupied buildings-300ft
Individual or public water supply well-300ft
Up-gradient of a surface water source-1000ft
Intermittent or perennial streams-100ft
Exceptional value wetlands-100ft
Sinkhole or area draining to a sinkhole-100ft
Perimeter of an undrained depression- 25ft
Bedrock outcrop- 25ft
Where else would the waste go?
The PA FPR Handling manual discusses many places where FPRs can go. We think anywhere away from residential areas and watersheds would be a good start.
Should I test my well?
Private water systems should be tested periodically, regardless of any local health concerns.
There are many ways to test. Consider using the testing program through the Cumberland County Conservation District, through
your well driller, or Plumbing Supply.
Conservation District Testing Program:
https://www.ccpa.net/4651/Water-Testing
The DIY'er can also purchase testing kits at larger Home Improvement retailers.
Contact info for various agencies:
Cumberland County Conservation District: conservation@ccpa.net
DEP Complaint Form: https://www.dep.pa.gov/About/Regional/SouthcentralRegion/Pages/Environmental-Complaints.aspx