Bryn Eyre, the new city to be built in New Morgan borough

[Jim]

Now they plan on starting the commercial and industrial aspects of the project before the residential since the housing market is down.

[Dillian]

Someone had mentioned they are doing a study on cancer in the morgantow area. due to the ground water from the landfill. High ratess of cancer.

[been there]

Dillian wrote:

Someone had mentioned they are doing a study on cancer in the morgantow area. due to the ground water from the landfill. High ratess of cancer.

I haven't heard anything about a study. Are you saying the integrity of the landfill's liner system has been compromised and is impacting the local groundwater quality? I would fine that surprising.

[Dillian]

I would also, I think they are trying to link the cause of the hig rate to something. Have there been any reports of leaks? Is there a way to find out. I'm sure the landfill would not want this information public.

[been there]

I haven't heard anything about elevated cancer rates. All permitted landfills are required to conduct sampling to detect leaks and report to the state their findings. The landfill has no choice and its all public information. You can drive out to PADEP's office and make copies of the reports.

[Dillian]

Has the home values dropped in the Morgantown area.
I know three year ago it was growing quickly

[Rob]

I just finished reading 8 pages of postings. A lot of crap and a lot of people shooting from the hip about things they don't know but think they know.

To those of you promoting development - I would like you to find legitimate research the proves development decreases taxes. Good Luck!!

To everyone bashing each other about rednecks, blacks, hispanics, etc.- get a f'in life! All of you feel more privileged than the other. Your not.

If you actually put your attention to fixing the problems instead of criticizing them, maybe something better would come out of the ordeal.

I am certainly not saying I am better than anyone else here, just that I have found that bitching about this stuff and not doing anything about it is useless.

And, small municipalities/townships have control issues with their leadership (supervisors/councilpersons). If you don't like it, change it. We did!! It is called a referendum on a ballot.

[Rob]

I have a few questions for those of you that may be more familiar with the area.

1. How is the lake polluted? Is it not the water but the sediment? Are there fish in the lake and other wildlife?

2. With this development, how has the drainage been designed? Is it going to run into the lake (since it already exists and cannot be used)?

3. What about the wetlands that appear to surround the lake? Are there any concerns for them? When viewing the lake from Google it appears that the lake is drying up (or draining out). Is this lake man-made or did it already exist?

Disclosure: I am an avid waterskier who has been eying up this lake for several years. Through research, saw that it was contaminated but did not understand what the contamination consisted of (still don't). Over the years, I have seen the impact that people have on our most prized resource, water (including myself). I wish that this lake could be used for recreation, yet having the recreation playing a positive role in curing the lake. So, that means no power boats, PWCs, or similar. Maybe it starts with placing a fountain in the lake to aerate the water. Then, once it is deemed safe, recreation can occur.

I just hate seeing a useful body of water going to waste. I have seen what Bethlehem steel has done to the entire region (Berks, Lehigh, Northampton and other counties). They really screwed things up.

[bikerchick]

I had heard the lake is polluted from the old nickel mines that were once on that site.

And for the development? Will they install sewers or use septic? If it's septic where will that drain...the lake?

I agree it's a pretty lake but I've also heard that you get up close it's dirty....

Only what I've heard...

Wouldn't it be nice not to develop it but to make it a recreational area with trails, clean lake, etc....but the big developers don't want that do they.....

[Robeson Twp]

There were three different lakes on the property. All were man made. I imagine one of them is now gone as that whole area is a landfill. The largest one is east of Rt 10 and appears to be relatively clean. I've seen ospreys in the area. Another smaller one is near the old mine buildings on the west side of Rt10 near the turnpike interchange. It also seems clean enough.. at least the swans geese like it. The larger one drains into the Hay Creek drainage. The other one drains South toward Morgantown.

Now the landfill is a totally different story. The stench spreads for miles downwind on the bad days. I have no idea where their effluent goes, but if they don't control the air quality I can't imagine they care much about the water either.

[kdb]

The largest of the 3 dams is where the mine put the tailings. Always known around town as Tailings dam. The 2 down across from each other near the Turnpike entrance is what the mines used for potable water. All 3 where built by the Bethlehem Steel which mined Iron Ore from the location. Also, when the mine was closed down some of the equipment was left underground (nothing like engines with oil, etc.) and then flooded before sealing the mine shaft.

[Robeson Twp]

I didn't realize the one southeast of Rt 10 was also on the property. The other (4th) one was in the woods between I76 and Rt 10. That's the one that I meant might actually be a part of the landfill now.

[Rob]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I know the large lake, the one really in question, was used for the tailings, however, I do not understand what impact those tailings have which cause the pollution. I see that Robeson Twp. poster has seen osprey on this lake. This is why I asked my question. Is there wildlife using this lake? If so, does that mean that the contamination has cured itself over the last 30+ years? Or, are these animals due for an early life sentence? maybe the water is clean, but the silt is still contaminated. Until something churns up the silt, the water stays clean. Is there an abundance of deer in the area of the lake? That might be a telltale sign.

Has anyone seen the plans for the development? Has the ACT 529 plan (septic plan) for New Morgan been filed with the state and/or county? If so, it might provide answers on what type of septic system the developers of Bryn Eyre will be using. Which brings me to my next question - Has Bryn Eyre provided plans for their septic and water? Has anyone seen them or know where they can be found?

[Berks County PA]

The lake is polluted.
There was a DEP/EPA study.
That is why the developer doesn't want the lake.
New Morgan is a borough. Call them. I think there is what maybe a handful of residents

[been there]

Here's a link that provides some of the info on the proposed water source. Starts on page 70. http://www.srbc.net/about/meetings/minutes/Mi...
The info is a little dated, maybe someone out there knows if there's been changes.
I think the comment regarding the sediment at the bottom of lake is concerning. Unless the lake bottom was dredged.
I'm not familiar with the project but this website gives some general info on at least the conceptional plans.
http://www.countyengineers.org/Template.cfm...

[Rob]

Thanks for the attachments! So the lake isn't really polluted anymore. It appears that they want to use it for the 1,000 Oaks Industrial Park, Robeson Woods, and Joanna Furnace Developments. I don't think they want recreation on the lake because they will now use it as a reservoir for drinking water.

Anyone hear anything else. Ascertained this information from the Minutes120506.pdf that was supplied, starting on page 71.