Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Luzerne County -- Residents continued to voice their opposition regarding the construction of a $6-billion Nacero gasoline plant, to be built on nearly 3,000 acres of both wooded and mine scarred land, at the Newport Township Commissioners meeting on Monday.
They say the plant, which will convert natural gas into gasoline, will become a nuisance when it's built. They're afraid the plant will have adverse effects on the health of residents there, along with the environmental impact to soil, water, trees and other vegetation. Charlotte Santry Sopka says her family has called the area home since 1917. She's opposed to the gas plant and isn't afraid to speak up against it.
"I just hate to see it go back to the way King Cole ran it because that's exactly what's going to happen," she said. "You're going to lose your night sky, the dirt, the filth, the pollution when they bring the construction workers in from out of town, which they will do. Along with that will come all the gambling, drinking, drugs, prostitution, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera."
She spoke at the Newport Township Commissioners meeting saying her family lived through the anthracite coal industry, as well as the environmental after effects once the company declared bankruptcy, eventually leaving town.
In response, Newport Township Commissioners released a statement saying the land has been an environmental concern of theirs for years, citing both acid mine drainage and illegal dumping as the two main factors.
"Nacero is committed to reclaiming the scarred landscape and being a strong environmental partner with Newport Township as we continue our historic work with the Earth Conservancy to reclaim abandon mine lands and preserve pristine forest lands in the Pinchot State Forest," according to a statement released by Newport Township Commissioners regarding the Nacero project. "as Nacero proceeds through a lengthy permitting and construction process, the Newport Township Commissioners will be an active participant in the process to ensure the project meets every environmental safety standard required by federal, state. and local laws. However, it is premature, at-this-time, to weigh-in on an environmental permit process that has yet to begin."
We're told the the construction of the gas plant will employ more than 35-hundred building trade workers, as well as 450 full-time workers once the plant is operational. Newport Township Commissioners say their excited that the company has selected the township for their new facility, which they tout as the largest economic development project in northeast Pennsylvania history. The entire list of Pennsylvania water contaminations from fracking. files.dep.state.pa.us/OilGas/BOGM/BOGMPortalFiles/OilGasReports/Determination_Letters/Regional_Determination_Letters.pdf
Luzerne County -- Residents continued to voice their opposition regarding the construction of a $6-billion Nacero gasoline plant, to be built on nearly 3,000 acres of both wooded and mine scarred land, at the Newport Township Commissioners meeting on Monday.
They say the plant, which will convert natural gas into gasoline, will become a nuisance when it's built. They're afraid the plant will have adverse effects on the health of residents there, along with the environmental impact to soil, water, trees and other vegetation. Charlotte Santry Sopka says her family has called the area home since 1917. She's opposed to the gas plant and isn't afraid to speak up against it.
"I just hate to see it go back to the way King Cole ran it because that's exactly what's going to happen," she said. "You're going to lose your night sky, the dirt, the filth, the pollution when they bring the construction workers in from out of town, which they will do. Along with that will come all the gambling, drinking, drugs, prostitution, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera."
She spoke at the Newport Township Commissioners meeting saying her family lived through the anthracite coal industry, as well as the environmental after effects once the company declared bankruptcy, eventually leaving town.
In response, Newport Township Commissioners released a statement saying the land has been an environmental concern of theirs for years, citing both acid mine drainage and illegal dumping as the two main factors.
"Nacero is committed to reclaiming the scarred landscape and being a strong environmental partner with Newport Township as we continue our historic work with the Earth Conservancy to reclaim abandon mine lands and preserve pristine forest lands in the Pinchot State Forest," according to a statement released by Newport Township Commissioners regarding the Nacero project. "as Nacero proceeds through a lengthy permitting and construction process, the Newport Township Commissioners will be an active participant in the process to ensure the project meets every environmental safety standard required by federal, state. and local laws. However, it is premature, at-this-time, to weigh-in on an environmental permit process that has yet to begin."
We're told the the construction of the gas plant will employ more than 35-hundred building trade workers, as well as 450 full-time workers once the plant is operational. Newport Township Commissioners say their excited that the company has selected the township for their new facility, which they tout as the largest economic development project in northeast Pennsylvania history. The entire list of Pennsylvania water contaminations from fracking. files.dep.state.pa.us/OilGas/BOGM/BOGMPortalFiles/OilGasReports/Determination_Letters/Regional_Determination_Letters.pdf
