Residents of municipalities with BASA service can submit comments on sale to Pennsylvania American Water
People who live in a township or borough where Butler Area Sewer Authority provides public sewer service have an opportunity to submit a written comment on the sale of the authority to Pennsylvania American Water.
The sale has been approved by Butler and Butler Township, which own the authority, as well as the authority’s board of directors.
As part of state requirements in such a sale, residents of Butler and East Butler, as well as Butler, Oakland, Summit, Connoquenessing and Center townships have until March 2 to view the sale plan and submit a written comment.
The plan, known as the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act, or Act 537, can be viewed during business hours in the city, township or borough offices of those seven municipalities.
Written comments on the plan can be submitted to officials at those municipal offices.
Gary Lobaugh, Pennsylvania American Water spokesman, said the Act 537 plan is a requirement of the state Department of Environmental Protection and it addresses the acquisition of the sewer plant from the authority.
He said Pennsylvania American Water will work collaboratively with the authority to review the comments and respond to commenters, as necessary.
The comments and responses will become part of the Act 537 plan that will be sent to the DEP for review before the sale can be finalized.
“DEP requires the submittal of an Act 537 plan that shows the acquisition is consistent with the appropriate regulations regarding sewage facility planning,” Lobaugh said.
He said written comments in past transactions have been minimal, at best.
Tom Knights, Butler Township manager, said he has a hard copy of the Act 537 plan for residents to view.
People who want to submit a written comment can do so and leave their comments there or send them to BASA, Knights said.
He said while a few residents of the township have on-lot septic systems, the vast majority receive sewer service from BASA.
Knights said he is happy to answer any questions he is able to answer for any resident who comes in to look at the plan.
BASA and Pennsylvania American Water officials said in September the sale could close as early as this fall.
