Permit from DEP needed before access road can be built

Carbon County commissioners are still waiting for the state Department of Environmental Protection to issue a stormwater permit that would allow the county to build an access road to its planned $14 million fire training center.

On Feb. 22, they applied for an additional $1,626,138 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant for the project, to be built on the Broad Mountain next to the county Emergency Management Agency building in Nesquehoning.

So far, the project has received $1,260,619 in state grant funding from the Multimodal Transportation Fund, Monroe County Local Share Account Program, and the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

But commissioners are worried the lack of a permit will stall the project so long it may jeopardize the grants.

They first applied for the permit a year ago, but had to resubmit it after DEP failed to act.

The permit is needed to build a road over a small stream, said Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne E. Nothstein.

The facility includes two buildings with a drill tower, live fire training sites, a police training facility and classrooms where first responders can receive instruction and training.

On Thursday, commissioners extended a contract with Delta Development Group.

The agreement dates to Feb. 19, 2015, and was set to expire on March 3. The extension adds an additional year and changes the rate from $2,500 a month to $2,250 a month.

Delta does the grant applications for the project, which involves technical language and timely filing of documents, Nothstein said.