To the Editor,

For environmental and public health reasons, I oppose amending the Special District Zoning for Mauch Chunk Lake to allow development by Ed Kanick of 60 acres of on-site septic properties 1,000 feet from Mauch Chunk Lake, an issue currently under consideration by the Jim Thorpe Borough Council.

Current Jim Thorpe Special District Zoning requires that dwelling units with on-site disposal must be built at least one half mile (2,640 feet) away from Mauch Chunk Lake. The proposed amendment under consideration by Borough Council would allow homes with on-site septic to be built only 1,000 feet away from the lake. This is a huge environmental and public health concern for Jim Thorpe West residents, who obtain their drinking water from Mauch Chunk Lake and Mauch Chunk Creek, per the 2021 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for Jim Thorpe Borough.

A 2002 Source Water Assessment Public Summary by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection listed failing septic systems/on-lot waste disposal as a significant potential source of drinking water contamination, with potential contaminants including pathogens, viruses, and nitrates/nitrites.

Eighty-two percent of voters in Carbon County supported the 2022 Carbon County Water, Farms, and Land referendum, which establishes a conservation program to preserve open land and wildlife habitat.

I urge Borough Council President Greg Strubinger, Vice President Michael Yeastedt, and board members Robert Schaninger, Joanne Klitsch, Jay Miller, Jessica Crowley, and Michael Rivkin to vote no on amending the Special District Zoning. You have the choice now to do the right thing for the future health and well being of the people of Carbon County.

I urge my fellow residents of Jim Thorpe municipality to vote in upcoming local elections to protect Carbon County’s environment and public health and to participate in Borough Council meetings related to this issue, to protect Jim Thorpe water. You can find the Jim Thorpe Borough Council meeting schedule on jtborough.org.

Bethany Bretzik

Penn Forest Township