Bowmanstown officials are concerned about a permit granted for a used tire processing plant.

Borough council announced at Tuesday’s meeting that general permit approval for processing and beneficial use of waste tires was granted to Gabriel Rubber LLC and Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc.

The borough’s zoning hearing board previously granted the permit. Councilman William Ravert said he was at that zoning hearing when they applied, and added the board approved it with several exceptions.

Councilman Rob Moyer said he believes it’s something the borough should probably investigate before it goes any further.

A permit for the used tire processing plant was issued at the former manufacturing business located just off Route 248 at 700 Lehigh St. at the former Prince Manufacturing facility.

The facility previously said it would utilize three existing buildings on the 5-acre plot. The site has been used for plastic recycling, hot air balloon guide and a welding and body shop.

The state Department of Environmental Protection plans to conduct the technical review before taking any final action.

According to an application to DEP last March, the company planned to convert old tires into a commodity by shredding them into three different sizes, which could be used for alternative fuel at a cement or power plant, playground mulch or a rubber powder that could be mixed with asphalt or used to make new tires.

It would create between 20 and 30 jobs.

The project had already been approved by the borough zoning hearing board in November 2020 with the conditions that a separate permit would be required for any renovations and business occupancy before operations beginning; as well as several other conditions regarding operations.

Before the approval, Jacques Torkieh, general manager and president of Gabriel Rubber LLC, said that there would be three to five deliveries per day of tractor-trailer loads of tires. These deliveries would use state routes and not borough streets.

He also testified that during the shredding process, no heat would be used, meaning that no odor, dust or smoke would be produced.

Torkieh operates a similar facility in New Jersey.

Residents at the time voiced their objections to the proposed plans, airing concerns of noise, dust, excessive traffic and byproducts of the shredded tires could become issues.

A local firefighter also spoke about how hard a shredded tire fire would be to extinguish if it occurs, citing that it would take approximately 1,000 gallons of water per minute for at least three hours.