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Friday, August 21, 2026

NorCo Council Opposes Hercules Cement's Desire to Release More Nitrogen Oxide and Volatile Organic Compounds Into Our Air

Elected officials will dispute this, but they tend to be a lot more responsive to developers and vendors who give them huge chunks of money, than they are to the unwashed masses. But there are rare occasions when one person can make a difference.

Two weeks ago, Upper Nazareth resident Becky Bartlett asked the county to oppose a proposal by Hercules Cement (these days it's called Buzzi Unicem) that will allow what is now an Italian conglomerate to spew more nitrogen oxide and other volatile organic compounds into the air we breathe. Last night, NorCo Council listened. By a 7-0 vote (Council members Lori Vargo Heffner and Jason Boulette were absent), they adopted a resolution to urge the Pa. DEP "to deny Buzzi Unicem's request and require the facility to retain strong NOx and VOE emission controls."

You can see the resolution yourself here. A similar resolution has already been adopted in Upper Nazareth Township. 

Interestingly, there is no data on NO releases by Hercules' Stockertown plant. But its TRI release for 2024 indicates that it does release a helluva' lot of volatile (and toxic) organic compounds. It spewed 6,000 pounds, with ammonia being the biggest amount. Ammonia is both corrosive and highly irritating to human tissue. It also releases mercury and lead compounds. 

Currently, PennDOT is hard(ly) at work, fixing a Rte 33 bridge near Hercules for the third time. There is little doubt in anyone's mind that work at the quarry causes sinkholes everywhere.  
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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 21, 2026 at 5:47 AM

    Life expectancy in 18064 is approximately 79.3 years. This places it among the higher counties in PA where the state average is a full two years less at 77.3. The US is currently 75.8. Sinkholes are a problem. Emissions in the Nazareth area are not. Trust the science and understand that NorCo council, who can't run a nursing home, is no better at understanding our environment.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousAugust 21, 2026 at 7:13 AM

    Try fixing gracedale or hiring jail guards. The sky is not falling

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 21, 2026 at 7:27 AM

    Becky Bartlett lol.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 21, 2026 at 7:45 AM

    Growing up my friends dad worked for PENNDOT. He was fast. He would leave work at 3 but be home by 2.

    ReplyDelete

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