Sep 5, 2014 4 min read

LaBELLE – A yearlong investigation into health problems reported by 75 inmates at the State Correctional Institution in Fayette County revealed a “disturbing pattern” of illnesses, according to two advocacy groups.

The report, released this week by the Abolitionist Law Center and the Human Rights Coalition, points to a coal dump containing fly ash – adjacent to the prison – as a likely contributor to the high rates of cancer, skin problems and respiratory and gastrointestinal ailments among inmates.

The 506-acre coal dump, operated by Matt Canestrale Contracting in LaBelle, Luzerne Township, contains “about 40 million tons of waste, two coal slurry ponds, and millions of cubic yards of coal combustion waste,” according to the report. The prison sits on a hill above the Monongahela River, and Fredericktown, in East Bethlehem Township, is across the river from LaBelle.

Ben Fiorillo, a volunteer with the Human Rights Coalition, said the results are preliminary, but the two groups are reaching out to medical professionals and environmental experts in order to conduct more empirical studies.

However, he said the results from the inmate surveys are still alarming because they are consistent with known health effects from fly ash.

“These are people – real people – who are locked up and can’t remove themselves from the situation, and who are very sick,” Fiorillo said.

According to the report, more than 81 percent of prisoners reported having respiratory, throat or sinus conditions, and 68 percent had gastrointestinal problems. Of those surveyed, 52 percent reported having skin conditions – rashes, hives, cysts and abscesses – and 12 percent said they were diagnosed with a thyroid disorder at the prison or experienced worsening symptoms.

Eleven prisoners died from cancer at the prison between January 2010 and December 2013. Another six prisoners reported being diagnosed with cancer at the prison, and eight reported having undiagnosed tumors and lumps.

Marcus Santos, an inmate from Dauphin County, shared his personal experience with the two groups.

“I was given Tums for throat swelling and told that if I start choking there is nothing that he can do for me,” Santos said in the report. “At that point, it became clear to me that I am being left for dead. With no other course to take or relief in sight, I called my brother and told him that I don’t believe I’m going to make it through the rest of my time and to please take care of my son.”

The report alleges that “the patterns of illnesses described in this report, coupled with the prison being geographically enveloped by a toxic coal waste site, point to a hidden health crisis impacting a captive and vulnerable population.”

The Center for Coalfield Justice also took part in the investigation. Eva Westheimer, community organizer with the center, said it teamed up with other groups to illustrate the “injustices” faced by the LaBelle and SCI-Fayette communities.

“Living next to a coal ash impoundment, which was once a coal refuse disposal area, has degraded the quality of life for community members, including those who are incarcerated and work at SCI-Fayette,” Westheimer said in a written statement. “The Center for Coalfield Justice believes that everyone deserves the right to health, wellness and the right to clean air and clean water.”

Paul Battaglini, East Bethlehem Township Council President, said he has not heard any complaints or concerns from residents regarding the coal ash dump.

John Poister, spokesman for the Department of Environmental Protection, said all permits for the facility are up-to-date, but it is not currently operating. The coal dump is permitted to receive coal ash from FirstEnergy Corp.’s Mitchell and Hatfield power plants, which have since closed.

In a FirstEnergy news release from January 2013, the company announced its plans to send scrubber material and coal combustion byproducts from its Bruce Mansfield Plant in Beaver County for “beneficial use at a coal mine reclamation project” in LaBelle starting Jan. 1, 2017.

Poister said FirstEnergy has not yet specified where it wants to ship the coal ash, which would be required before the DEP can consider its permit application.

“At this point, we are awaiting First Energy’s response,” Poister said.

Poister said there have been complaints in the past about the coal dump – mostly pertaining to dust and truck traffic – but all complaints have been closed and the facility is in compliance with state regulations.

Fiorillo said a positive link between the coal dump and health effects could be grounds for a lawsuit.

According to the report, “Situating a prison in the midst of a massive toxic coal waste dump may be impermissible under the Constitution if it is shown that prisoners face a substantial risk of serious harm caused by exposure to pollutants from the dump.”