DEP orders halt to occupancy of planned federal detention warehouses in Pennsylvania, citing environmental impacts

The Pennsylvania DEP issued orders to the DHS to halt occupation of two federal warehouse sites planned as detention centers until environmental laws are met.

PENNSYLVANIA, USA — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued five administrative orders directing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and several local authorities not to occupy or provide water or sewage service to two recently purchased federal warehouse sites until DHS complies with state and federal environmental laws, the agency announced Saturday.

The orders, issued March 5, apply to planned DHS facilities in Tremont Township, Schuylkill County, and Upper Bern Township, Berks County. The DEP said that DHS plans on turning the warehouses into detention centers intended to hold as many as 9,000 people.

DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley said the department identified “serious concerns about the environmental impacts” of the proposed conversions, including the ability of local systems to provide drinking water and handle wastewater.

“Doubling the populations of these areas could drain drinking water sources and lead to polluted waterways from overwhelmed sewage facilities leaking raw waste into our streets and rivers,” Shirley said in a statement. “Just like anyone else, DHS needs to demonstrate its facilities comply with environmental standards.”

Under the orders, DHS may not use the Upper Bern or Schuylkill County Municipal Authority (SCMA) sewer systems, rely on holding tanks or septic systems without permits, and cannot use SCMA’s Tremont drinking water system or the private well at the Upper Bern Township site until receiving required approvals. The local orders similarly bar the townships and SCMA from providing sewage or water service to the facilities without DEP authorization.

The action follows weeks of pushback from state and county officials who said they were blindsided by DHS’s property purchases. Gov. Josh Shapiro previously said he would use “every tool at my disposal” to stop the facilities, citing concerns about water capacity, local infrastructure and the secrecy surrounding the projects.

Local leaders in both counties, including Republicans and Democrats, have voiced similar concerns. Officials have said the Tremont Township water system, which serves about 700 households, lacks the capacity to support a large federal facility.

The orders remain in effect until DHS demonstrates compliance with all permitting and environmental requirements. DEP said the warehouses cannot be occupied until those conditions are met.