Solebury, DEP differ on Primrose Creek

Solebury wants to ensure the state Department of Environmental Protection implements the township’s recommendations for the Primrose Creek Restoration Project at the former New Hope Crushed Stone quarry on Phillips Mill Road.

Township Solicitor Mark Freed, at Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting, said Solebury wants DEP to restore the 435-foot long Primrose Creek.

The lake — the former quarry pit — is now 96 feet above sea level and is actually in the middle of Primrose Creek.

The township also wants any DEP plans to conform to Solebury zoning regulations. The 210-acre tract is in a residential zone.

DEP wants to create a trench connection from the lake to the creek and lower the water level to 93 feet. The township opposes those measures.

The deadline for submitting the township’s proposals to DEP is Jan. 27.

“It was only back in October 2008 when New Hope Crushed Stone filed a DEP permit requesting to dig their quarry pit deeper to 170 feet below sea level,” Supervisor Kevin Morrissey noted.

“Through the work of private organizations, government entities and individuals this area has vastly improved. We now have a 71-acre lake that is about 90 to 95 feet above sea level.

“Now we are at a point of seeing the DEP construct a natural outflow of the quarry lake to the downstream section of Primrose Creek and then to the Delaware River...

“...However after receiving input from a number of sources, I am very concerned with this version being the final DEP water outflow design. There are a number of updates to this plan that should be made...

“Although the DEP is prepared to start the project very soon, I hope the DEP halts to consider our responses when this next phase of the quarry reclamation and Primrose Creek restoration project moves forward.”

When the former New Hope Crushed Stone defaulted on its bond, the DEP took over the restoration work, but also became the regulator of the project.

If Solebury disagrees with DEP conclusions, it can appeal to the state Environmental Hearing Board, a nine-judge intermediate appellate court. After that, it could be appealed to the state Commonwealth Court.

In other business, the supervisors:

— Agreed to buy two pickup trucks not to exceed a total of $150,000;

— Appointed Louise Levy, Jeanne Litwin and Scott Blank as associate members of the Environmental Advisory Council.

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