State Department of Environmental Protection orders have effectively blocked<\/a> water and sewage use \u2013 even for security personnel to access drinking water or bathroom facilities \u2013 until ICE provides the agency with detailed plans, including for expanding infrastructure.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe orders unreasonably interfere with and encroach upon a federal law enforcement agency\u2019s ability to fulfill its responsibilities of enforcing the nation\u2019s immigration laws,\u201d ICE\u2019s attorney Daniel Wilmouth wrote.\u00a0<\/p>\n The former Big Lots warehouse at 51 Rausch Creek Road in Tremont Township, Schuylkill County, March 13, 2026. (Photo by Jessica Kourkounis for the Capital-Star)<\/p>\n DEP referred to its letters from late March declining ICE\u2019s request<\/a> to connect to water and sewage systems and declined further comment Thursday, citing litigation.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 7,500-person facility planned for a former Big Lots warehouse in Tremont Township (pop. 300), Schuylkill County, would likely more than triple the 4,000-person population that currently connects to the sewage system, according to the county Municipal Authority.\u00a0<\/p>\n Demand for water also would surge \u2013 and the area already struggles with its water supply<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n A 1,500-person detention center is envisioned for a warehouse in Upper Bern Township, Berks County, which has remained empty since its construction several years ago, according to Spotlight PA<\/a>.<\/p>\n Listen to Emily\u2019s audio recap:\u00a0<\/p>\n https:\/\/penncapital-star.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/09webappeal.mp3<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Pennsylvania officials have evidenced \u201can antipathy toward ICE,\u201d the agency\u2019s appeal claims, pointing to the orders themselves as well as Gov. Josh Shapiro stating he\u2019d use \u201cevery tool at [his] disposal\u201d to prevent the centers from opening.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSpecific plans to develop this concept and implement an increased detention capability are ongoing and not yet finalized,\u201d Wilmouth wrote. \u201cFor [DEP] to preemptively issue excessively broad administrative orders that prevent ICE from using any water at all at one site, even for fire prevention or suppression, and from using any water except for fire prevention at the other site, suggests an antipathy towards ICE.\u201d<\/p>\n ICE also argues in its appeal that the DEP orders compromise public safety.<\/p>\n Community concerns<\/p>\n Both properties have ceased to generate tax revenue since the federal government acquired them in January \u2013 weeks, locals say, after rumors began to speculate about it \u2013 as part of a nationwide buying spree of nearly two dozen possible sites for detention centers<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The 520,000 square feet Upper Bern facility provided about $800,000 each year<\/a> for the county, township and school district, combined: $31,000 for the township plus nearly $200,000 for the county and almost $600,000 for Hamburg Area School District.<\/p>\n Losses total nearly $1 million from taking Tremont\u2019s 1.3 million square feet warehouse off the tax rolls. The township\u2019s $196,000 hit amounts to nearly half its budget, according to Supervisor Larry Bender. <\/p>\n Tremont Township Supervisors Herman Lengle, Scott Bender and Larry Bender at a town hall in the borough of Tremont March 13, 2026. (Jessica Kourkounis for the Capital-Star)<\/p>\n Pine Grove Area School District would be out more than half a million annually, county officials have said, exacerbating the district\u2019s $1.3 million operating deficit<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n ICE floated making a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for \u201cat least\u201d three years during a recent conference call with local officials, County Commissioner Larry Padora said Wednesday.<\/p>\n He said he didn\u2019t know why the offer was pegged to that duration, nor when anything in writing might materialize confirming the PILOT and addressing myriad other concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cThese warehouses that ICE [is] doing \u2026 are completely and 100% another vile stain on the United States conscience,\u201d said Sarah Monger, of Tremont, during a commissioners\u2019 meeting in March moved to the evening from the typical 10 a.m. start to afford more people the chance to engage on the issue.<\/p>\n Monger was among nearly two dozen people who spoke about the detention center \u2014 most, but not all, in opposition \u2014 during the public comment portion of the session,<\/p>\n Even those who do support the Trump administration\u2019s deportation push agree: the rural area can\u2019t accommodate the potential influx in demand on not only water and wastewater infrastructure, but also roads, hospitals and first responders.\u00a0<\/p>\n Neither Tremont Township nor the adjacent borough of Tremont has its own municipal law enforcement. Instead, Pennsylvania State Police provide coverage as well as to Upper Bern.\u00a0<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX<\/a><\/p>\n State Police say they\u2019re working on the Capital-Star\u2019s request for information about planning and coordination thus far with ICE and how that tends to go, in general, ahead of a new facility poised to increase demand.\u00a0<\/p>\n Jefferson Health\u2019s media relations team, which handles requests for the Lehigh Valley Health Network including Lehigh Hospital \u2013 Schuylkill, hasn\u2019t responded to similar requests for planning and coordination information.\u00a0<\/p>\n What\u2019s next<\/p>\n Padora has said he wants a memorandum of understanding addressing not only the PILOT,\u00a0 but also ensuring any infrastructure expansions and their future maintenance don\u2019t increase costs to other ratepayers.\u00a0<\/p>\n The MOU also should provide for tours by local officials including commissioners as well as firefighters, paramedics and others, Padora has said.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/491abfa4980b69c0b4c893c2cc4afbd9.jpeg\"\/)
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