The Ebensburg plant earned the highest score among all such plants in central Pennsylvania, according to a statement from plant manager Bernie Kozlovac of Severn Trent Environmental Services, which operates the plant.
The 2008 Class 1 facility safety award commends the plant operator for following safety procedures. A plaque has been presented to the plant and will remain at the facility until next year.
"Safety is always at the forefront of our operation," Kozlovac said.
Announcement of the award on Thursday came in the wake of complaints about odors supposedly coming from the sewage treatment plant. Borough staff members and state Department of Environmental Protection inspectors have said they did not smell the odor.
Borough Manager Dan Penatzer said he is arranging a meeting with the local inspector and superiors from the Pittsburgh DEP office concerning the odor complaints.
DEP does not reveal the identities of those complaining, but Penatzer and his staff have done some of their own interviewing.
"Interestingly, the resident along Trout Lane, the entrance to the sewage plant, states he has never detected odors from the plant," Penatzer said.
In one DEP report, it was theorized that the odors might occur when the Ebensburg plant receives sludge from other sewage treatment plants.
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