Letters to the Editor - 6/9/2009

Sandvik response swift, thorough

Editor: A May 30 article regarding the investigation of environmental conditions around Ivy Industrial Park included only selected information from a comprehensive report that details Sandvik's continuing efforts to work with the Pennsylvania DEP to investigate and resolve environmental concerns in the area.

The Times-Tribune' article should therefore be supplemented with a more complete review of the facts.

Sandvik never discharged TCE "out the door and onto the ground." The report noted detections of TCE outside a doorway, but did not find significant levels of the material near this door.

Sandvik also completed a significant investigation and excavation project in 1999 when contamination was found during the construction of a new basement, reporting all its activities to DEP. All contaminated soil was removed, as confirmed by a follow-up sampling program, and groundwater sampling did not identify a concern in that area. Finally, this area was not backfilled and covered with concrete as reported in the May 30 article; it remains a 12-foot basement.

More important to this entire effort is the work Sandvik has done in the community and with the DEP since groundwater contamination was identified in 2005. Sandvik volunteered to install filtration systems in nearby homes immediately following this discovery. Sandvik also retained the engineering firm to design a new waterline to provide homes with water, and has been working extensively with DEP and Pennsylvania American Water Company to get the waterline constructed. These actions are all part of Sandvik's timely and comprehensive response to this issue that will continue in the future.

PETER FROSINI

President,

Sandvik Materials Technology

South Abington Twp.

No ticket to ride

Editor: The Federal Transit Administration just released its "Annual Report on Funding Recommendation for Fiscal Year 2010." This document contains almost 100 recommended projects from all over the country.

It even contains projects that aren't recommended at this time, but may become eligible shortly, so they were included in this printing. New starts, large starts, small starts - every conceivable project imaginable is in this document. There is one project missing - anyone care to guess?

Right, our long-anticipated "Lackawanna Cutoff," the project to restore passenger train service between Scranton and New York, doesn't have any ink - not mentioned anywhere in the 354-page document. This doesn't sound like significant progress to me. It means the FTA still doesn't have a rating for us. We still don't have an environmental clearance, and we're no closer to achieving our goal than we were 10 years ago. In fact, we have moved backward.

The local planners have failed to move this project one inch in a generation. We have to depend on pure political muscle to push the other deserving, rated projects aside and demand the FTA throw us a billion dollars or so to get started. We have to say - hey, we have the vice president, we have a secretary of state, we have two senators, and we have a powerful congressman or two - give us the money.

Let's see how we make out with that approach. Everything else has failed miserably.

JIM FINAN

Roaring Brook Twp.

Budget battle

Editor: The state has a nearly $3 billion shortfall in our annual budget ending the end of this month. Yet, Gov. Ed Rendell has proposed a 2.5 percent increase in spending over last year's disastrous budget. This is insane.

Over the weekend, the front page headline in the Patriot-News read - "Rendell discusses short-term tax hike." Mr. Rendell stated - "If we raise taxes at all, we need them just to get us over first the recession . . . and then we're going to need something when the federal stimulus money goes away. We're going to need something to cushion that blow. So I think if you looked at raising that broad-based tax (presently the 3.07 percent personal income tax), we'd look at sunsetting it after three or four years and having it go away." Now that's hilarious!

To assist the victims in Johnstown, after the flood of March 17, 1936, the state imposed a temporary tax on spirits sold in our state stores. That tax still remains 73 years later. "Temporary" taxes have a way of never going away as planned.

My wife and I will be in the front lines for this Battle of the Budget at the Capitol. The only weapons we have are our presence and our voice. We intend to use both to hold the line on out-of-control government spending. Will you join us?

BILL McINTYRE

Camp Hill

No limit on caring

Editor: In response to Diane Boone's June 5 letter concerning the mentality of some writers objecting more to killing dogs versus killing people: Whoever said they believed in cruel, unjust acts of violence to animals or people?

If we treated "all" creatures with kindness, compassion, empathy and respect, the world would become a better place for those with two or four legs to exist. The only limit to caring is the one we impose on ourselves.

If a person loves animals and people at the same time without thinking of caring as a competition between one creature over another, and values their lives for who and what they are, then this is the lesson worthy of teaching our children.

DAWN BIESECKER

Madison Twp.

Park won't close

Editor: A recent article on the possible closing of state parks stated that the closing of Salt Springs Park in Susquehanna County would save $45,000. In fact, as a member of Friends of Salt Springs Park, I know that the park receives approximately $3,500 in annual support in the form of goods and services from the state park system. It is the only state park managed by a nonprofit organization of volunteers.

In recent years, the state has provided limited, one-time funding for special projects, such as repair of a flood-damaged stream. The Friends have raised their own funds for day-to-day operations and maintenance. Many of the improvements to the grounds and facility have resulted from the great effort of a group of dedicated volunteers, funded by membership and community support.

In short, the potential statewide closings will not affect visitors of Salt Springs Park in any substantial manner. The park grounds and facilities, the staff and volunteers at the park, and the wide selection of outdoor and indoor activities will continue to be available at the park. The Friends have already advertised an exciting schedule for the summer, available on their Web site, http://www.friendsofsalt springspark.org.

Salt Springs Park is attractive to families who want to vacation together in a user-friendly, inexpensive outdoor facility. The park is gearing up for one of its best seasons. The Friends are not closing the park. Come on down, folks.

LILLIAN THEOPHANIS

Choconut,

Susquehanna County

Smoking to blame

Editor: I read with great interest your June 6 article lamenting the new state law which will require the costly installation of sprinklers for all new townhouses and private homes. Although well-intentioned, I agree that this law is misguided.

The fact remains that according to the World Health Organization, the number one cause of worldwide deaths from residential home fires is actually attributable to cigarette smoking.

GERALD A. SOLFANELLI

Dunmore