BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Spray-drying services company Spray Tek LLC was cited after residents complained to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and to Bethlehem City Council about a sweet odor permeating through northwest city neighborhoods.
Colleen Connolly, DEP community relations coordinator, said the agency received 11 complaints over a three-week period about odors similar to maple syrup or popcorn.
- Spray Tek LLC in northwest Bethlehem was issued a notice of violation over odor emissions by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
- This follows vocal complaints by local residents over the smells on social media, to Bethlehem City Council, and to the DEP
- Spray Tek was also alerted that a spray dryer was installed without approval from the DEP
- Spray Tek is now required to submit a detailed corrective action plan 15 days from the date of the notice — Oct. 4
Connolly said the department underwent multiple odor patrols in the area and, as a result, issued the company a malodor violation on Sept. 22.
The violation states that the emissions were observed off site and confirmed to have originated from Spray Tek’s property. Additionally, a spray dryer was installed and operated on the facility without a plan approval from the DEP.
Spray Tek has not responded to attempts to reach the company for comment by phone or email.
Meg Sayago, who works at a school near Schoenersville Road, close to where many complaints were made, said that in the past few years there have been numerous instances of a sweet, syrup-like smell. But she said its presence has increased over the past year.
"I would say it now is a regular occurrence several times a week that there's a smell outside," Sayago said. "It's kind of overpowering; it's sickening. Maybe for some people, it's not a big deal. I happen to be one of those people that's very sensitive to smell, and in my mind, I always say the best smell is no smell."
The permit conditions the company allegedly violated states that “a person may not permit the emission into the outdoor atmosphere of any malodorous air contaminants from any source in such a manner that the malodors are detectable outside the property of the person on whose land the source is being operated.”
Additionally, code violations listed say that air contamination sources or air-cleaning devices on a contamination source must be approved by the DEP and that the violations constitute unlawful conduct and a public nuisance as defined by the Air Pollution Control Act.
Spray Tek is required to submit a detailed corrective action plan 15 days from the date of the Oct. 4 letter explaining why the violations occurred and how they will be prevented in the future.
"One of the best things about being outside and fresh air, you shouldn't have to feel like you're getting an overpowering smell of anything," Sayago said. "Especially if it is something that should be contained and isn't being contained."
"One of the best things about being outside and fresh air, you shouldn't have to feel like you're getting an overpowering smell of anything, especially if it is something that should be contained and isn't being contained."Meg Sayago, who works at a school near Schoenersville Road, was affected by the odor.
The letter goes on to say that the DEP will inform the company if it determines further enforcement action is appropriate.
Connolly said the company has not yet submitted the action plan, and there is no current indication that the odor is harmful to residents.
Spray Tek's website states that the company works with pharmaceuticals, food ingredients, flavors & fragrances, soft chemicals and cosmetics. The company has a facility in New Jersey and one in Wisconsin, in addition to its Bethlehem location.
About a dozen residents brought attention to the odor complaints at a Sept. 20 city council meeting after a post on the social media app NextDoor encouraged residents to voice concern over the odor and contact the DEP.
"We're having very, very awful smells," resident George Andrews said during public comment at the meeting. "It's all about air quality. We kind of know where it's coming from, we can't get answers if it's cancerous."
Another resident who spoke at the meeting said, "This odor is significant and severe, and it happens frequently. Last Thursday I smelled maple syrup all day long. It was overpowering, giving me a headache."
The Lehigh Valley Planning Commission has listed air quality as one of its concerns in the FutureLV Regional Plan.
Those with environmental complaints can contact the Pennsylvania DEP at 866-255-5158 or online.
See the full notice of violation below:
