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DEP to West Penn: Sewage plan was misplaced

West Penn Township supervisors are still waiting to hear about its sewage treatment plan from the state.

On Monday evening, township solicitor Gretchen Stearns updated the supervisors on the status of the township's Act 537 plan for sewage treatment in the township. The township had submitted the plan late in 2013, but the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection had kicked it back as incomplete.Rettew Associates, the engineering firm, which is developing the plan, revised the plan and resubmitted it in November, Stearns said. Typically, DEP responds in about two months, she said.After time elapsed, she contacted DEP and was told that the plan had been misplaced.Rettew resubmitted the plan, and DEP has promised a prompt review, she said.Blue Mountain ZendoIn other matters, township resident Mike Oswald said that the Blue Mountain Zendo is violating the terms of its agreement with the township.Neighbors had complained that the Zendo was operating as a business, which was not allowed in the residential area.The issue was slated to be resolved in a zoning hearing board meeting, but as the meeting began, Stearns said the township had forged an agreement with the Blue Mountain Zendo.Oswald said the Zendo, through its website and Facebook page, has been advertising with an attendance fee, which he said is proof of it operating as a business and a violation of the agreement.He also said the public is being invited to attend via the Facebook page, another violation of the agreement.Stearns asked Oswald to put his complaints in writing and submit the information to zoning officer Bill Enders.Enders will investigate the complaints, she said.