The Health of the Community Relies on Doing the Right Thing at the Former Celotex Site in Sunbury PA

The issue of the use of the former Celotex site in Sunbury is a complex one, because it twists environmental issues with political issues in order to address what is ultimately an economic development opportunity.

Our short memories have led us to not only forget the political nonsense, but we have also forgotten that the site is likely a brownfield and its safe use is questionable. An early study that was conducted did not dig or take samples from the soil to test, but only reviewed information already available from previous studies at the site.

The questions arise, though, from use of the land after Celotex use, so other studies may not even begin to hold all the answers. I live on Front Street in Sunbury, and I saw trucks going in and out of that site after the Celotex plant had been taken down. The connection to Moran Industries and fracking is clear, and there is no definitive proof that these trucks were not leaving toxic waste at the site. Someone needs to go in and take samples from the soil and look for any and all possible toxins that might make the site unusable, not only for non-existent future uses, but for the current safety of the soil and water to residents of Sunbury, not to the mention the Susquehanna River which flows just feet away.

Suggestions for use of the land range from baseball fields to hotels to big box stores to restaurants to various industries. None of these can move forward until real studies have taken place. If hazards need to be eliminated, then the plan for any use of the land must include such mitigation.

This is a concern for everyone, because any use of the space would include humans going in and interacting with the soil and water, just to get it ready to be used. It’s also a concern, because any use of the land should be considered for what will benefit the most people and will have the least chance of failure. The current approach doesn’t take this into account, because the county pushed an unscientific survey that was run within small groups of people within the city and county; it did not include an expansive marketing study performed in conjunction with a gap analysis for existing needs. That may sound like a lot of fancy gobbledy-gook, but the bottom line is simple: we need sustainable business and good jobs.

So what we are really talking about is the opportunity the land gives to us as citizens and how being responsible with that land is of benefit to everyone, no matter where we may be on the political spectrum.

In the end, a sensible plan for the land might look something like this:

Determine the best use of the land that employs the most people at the highest earnings.

Make sure this use is a business that is in line with the area resources and other businesses clustered in the area — businesses whose success relies on one another

Do a thorough study of the hazards of the space and come up with a plan to mitigate them.

Enlist the Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Protection to help mitigate the problems.

Work together to recruit the right business across city, county and state departments and offer the business the right inducements to come.

Work with the local workforce board to be sure the right training needed for such an industry is in place.

These factors all seem to point to some type of light industrial use that is already well-established in the area and might be ready for just the right expansion.

In the end, a business solution is one that is safe, and will not further harm the environment, and therefore the health of our citizens. To that end, not one sensible thing has been done.

Robert Roush is a contributing writer for and member of the Susquehanna Valley Progressives.