Deny the permit.

That was the message 22 of 24 people who testified at a public hearing into a proposal to burn tires at the Panther Creek cogeneration plant in Nesquehoning gave to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection at an almost two-hour proceeding Monday night at Panther Valley High School.

Residents testified that the public will derive no benefit from the plant, since the electricity it produces does not go into the electrical grid. But burning the tires will emit toxic fumes that would cause both health and environmental issues.

Panther Creek Power Operating LLC, which is owned by Stronghold Digital Mining Inc., a bitcoin mining company, has applied to DEP for an air quality permit to burn Tire Derived Fuel - shredded tires mixed with culm or waste coal and then burned at a high temperature to create another fuel - as a supplemental fuel up to 15% by weight on a monthly basis up to approximately 78,000 tons annually. The material would be chipped off-site before being delivered to the plant.

Fred Osman, a board certified engineer in the areas of environmental and air pollution control, testified on behalf of the applicant. He said that burning coal waste is better than allowing it to sit in piles on the ground, which allows harmful toxins to leach into the water table. The piles can also spontaneously combust.

Osman, who previously completed applications that had been approved for both Hercules Cement and Northampton Generator Plant, said burning TDF is approved by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

Last month, Osman told residents at a Nesquehoning Borough Council meeting that there are 123 plants across the country that are using shredded tires as part of a burning fuel; and noted that Panther Creek has taken precautions to install the line elements on its stack to cut down on emissions.

Jacob Smith, a senior student at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre in environmental engineering, said he is majoring in that area because he wants to see streams and rivers in the area cleaned up. He said burning TDF has three to five times the BTU content of burning coal waste, and that the plant burning the coal waste and tires is a way to clean up streams and rivers.

Another man who said he worked in the environmental field said he realizes DEP will approve the permit, because something has to be done to dispose of certain substances.

Robert Strauss of Nesquehoning said that borough council approved an ordinance that strictly prohibits the burning of rubber or other toxic materials that create noxious fumes.

“The burning of over 78,000 shredded tires will emit toxic fumes containing Benzene/hydrocarbons and other related toxins that will have a devastating impact on our environment and cause serious health issues,” Strauss said. “During this process, you will hear from certified environmental experts who say burning tires is perfectly safe as currently performed in other plants.

“If we are to learn anything from our history, we can only recall how we were promised by these experts that the Tonolli battery plant was completely safe. It turned into a federal toxic waste dump resulting in the primary cause of many cancer-related health issues, even deaths. Our residents were recently asked to consider both sides. There is only one side. The safety of our environment and the health of our citizens is non-negotiable. I strongly urge DEP to reject this permit.”

Ben Price, who works with the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund, but was speaking on behalf of Carbon County Monday evening, cautioned the public and DEP.

“Issuing a permit without the consent of the governed ... is simply tyrannical,” Price said.

Linda Christman of Lehighton, president of Save Carbon County, criticized the scheduling of the hearing and comment period so close to the Christmas holiday. She asked the public comment period be extended one month, from Dec. 28 to Jan. 28.

She also asked that additional testing be done that include monitoring for toxic pollutants that are released by tire burning.

“The addition of tire burning to the fuel mix poses a fire hazard as stored tire shreds are known to self-combust and tire fires are very hard to extinguish. The plant is in a rather remote location surrounded by forest, and Nesquehoning has a volunteer fire department. In the interest of community fire safety, we believe this permit should be denied.”

Nesquehoning Fire Chief John McArdle, who is also the borough’s fire marshal and Emergency Management coordinator, said the tires sitting outside pose a threat for fire. He also said tire fires are difficult to put out.

“The only other option is to dig a hole and bury it,” McArdle said.

Two attorneys, Charles McPhedran of Earthjustice, and Emma Bast, of PennFuture, said they each have had trouble getting documentation on the proposal, and also asked that the public comment period be extended one month.

Carol Etheridge of Mahoning Township, said she fears burning tires at the plant will harm the vast outdoor recreational opportunities the area provides.

DEP will continue taking public comment until Dec. 28. Comments can be submitted by emailing Colleen Connolly with the DEP at coconnolly@pa.gov.