Vice chair raises resident complaints about food product residual spreading near school

Vice Chairperson Jennifer DeGaetano told the Dickinson Township Board of Supervisors on Jan. 5 that she has received numerous complaints about the spreading of food product residuals (FPRs) in the township. DeGaetano said complaints included tanker-truck traffic, spreading on frozen ground and parents’ concerns about FPR activity near the school; she added at least one renter cited FPR issues as a reason for not purchasing a home in the township.

DeGaetano urged residents to report incidents to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), to reach out to the township office and to contact her directly so reports can be logged in real time. She characterized the issue as ongoing and encouraged continued filing of DEP complaints to create a contemporaneous record.

The minutes do not record responses from county or state regulators, nor do they record specific allegations against named farmers or firms. The transcript notes there is not yet movement in the state legislature on Food Product Residual bills due to the office not being back in session; Vice Chairperson DeGaetano said she has fielded complaints and will continue to encourage residents to document incidents.