The post Appeal to the Environmental Hearing Board by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement from the Administrative Orders of the DEP appeared first on Upper Bern Township.

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March 12, 2026

During the past month, Upper Bern Township has engaged with various governmental agencies, including the Governor’s Office, elected state and federal representatives, and DHS-ICE representatives, seeking to learn more about the ICE facility proposed along Mountain Road in Upper Bern Township.  Upper Bern Township has engaged with them on behalf of its residents to ensure that the concerns of the Township about the impact on the health, safety and welfare of residents were addressed.  The Township participated along with representatives from Berks and Schuylkill Counties in a call with DHS-ICE where local and regional concerns were raised and DHS-ICE provided few answers.  The Township also attended a meeting with Governor Shapiro and others from his administration to discuss those local and regional concerns and hear directly from the Governor his thoughts about them.

Most recently, the Township received an Administrative Order from the PA Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) prohibiting issuance of permits by the Township for use of the Mountain Road property other than as the approved warehouse. The Township understands that the Administrative Order does not require the Township to affirmatively take any action, including any amendment of its Act 537 plan.  The Township will comply with that Administrative Order and will not interfere with the PA DEP’s enforcement of its Administrative Order.

Upper Bern Township remains open to engage with any County, State and Federal officials to learn more about the plans of the federal government for the proposed ICE facility on Mountain Road and the ways in which the federal government at the federal government’s expense will attend to the infrastructure and emergency services concerns and needs of the Township.

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The post Township Statement March 12, 2026 re: ICE facilities appeared first on Upper Bern Township.

Shapiro Administration to DHS: No Schuylkill or Berks Detention Warehouses Without Complying with State Law | Department of Environmental Protection | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

The post Department of Environmental Protection Admin Order March 5, 2026 appeared first on Upper Bern Township.

The post Letter from Governor Josh Shapiro, Secretary of Health, State Fire Commissioner, Director of Emergency Management and Secretary of Environmental Protection appeared first on Upper Bern Township.

February 12, 2026

Since Upper Bern Township learned about the purchase by the federal government of the warehouse at 3501 Mountain Road, the Township’s Supervisors have focused solely on the health, safety and welfare impact of the facility on the residents of the Township and the Township Supervisors’ ability to address those concerns.

The Township understands that it cannot regulate under the Township’s Zoning Ordinance or Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance any use proposed by the federal government.  Likewise, the State’s Building Code may not regulate the facility.  Sovereign immunity and preemption apply where the federal government is involved.

Yet the federal government may more than double the Township’s population of 1,600 with those brought to that facility.  The Township, therefore, is exploring the extent to which Township, County, State and Federal officials can address with the government the impacts on essential services to the Township’s residents.

Among the concerns of the Supervisors are the adverse impact on the Township’s sanitary sewer system from such sudden and dramatic growth in its population.  The additional load on the sanitary sewer system, estimated to be far above the capacity purchased by the developer of the warehouse, could overwhelm the Township’s wastewater treatment plant.  The possible extraction of potable water from wells for those 1,500 or more people also deserves attention.  The Township has no public water system.

The Supervisors also wonder about the load that could be placed on its excellent volunteer firefighters, and their equipment should they be called upon to protect the lives of so many in addition to their existing service to our small community.  Stress would also be placed upon the EMS companies that service this area.  The Supervisors appreciate all of their ongoing help and recognize their contributions to the Township.

Upper Bern Township looks forward to engaging with County, State and Federal officials to learn more about the plans of the federal government for the Mountain Road facility and the ways in which the federal government at the federal government’s expense will attend to the infrastructure and emergency services concerns and needs of the Township.

The post Press Release 2/12/26 appeared first on Upper Bern Township.

Physical office address:               25 N. 5^th Street, Shartlesville, PA 19554

Mailing address:                          PO Box 185, 25 N. 5^th Street, Shartlesville, PA 19554

Phone:                                         610-488-1191

Information about office hours, meeting / hearing dates and times, and agendas for the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and Zoning Hearing Board can be found on the Township’s website, https://upperberntownship.org.  Copies of Ordinances and various forms for submission to the Township are also available on the Township’s website.

The public is welcome to attend all meetings and hearings.  In the event attendance exceeds the capacity of the Township’s meeting room, a meeting / hearing may be rescheduled to a different date, time, and place.

The Township’s office is handicapped accessible. Any person with a disability requiring special accommodation to attend a meeting or hearing should notify the Township Secretary at 610-488-1191 prior to the meeting. The Township will make an effort to provide reasonable accommodation.

Members of the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, and Zoning Hearing Board may be reached by sending correspondence to the Township’s mailing address or email address.

Thank you for your interest in Upper Bern Township.

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