On January 14, 2025, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) quietly approved a stormwater permit for Core 5’s proposed warehouse on Warner Road in Pocono Township. However, the public was not informed of this decision until February 1, raising concerns that the delay may have been intentional to limit the time available for an appeal.
The PA DEP’s decision has sparked frustration among local residents and environmental advocates who had previously submitted comments or testified at public hearings regarding the project. A "comment response document" detailing public input and the agency’s responses has been made available through a Google Drive link provided by the PA DEP.
Under Pennsylvania law, there is a 30-day window to appeal the permit decision. Due to the delayed public notification, only 14 days remain for residents or organizations to challenge the approval before the decision becomes final. If no appeal is filed, construction on the warehouse is expected to commence soon.
For residents of Warner Road and Stadden Road in Pocono Township, this represents the last opportunity to take action. Those wishing to appeal the decision without an attorney (pro se) can do so by creating an account and filing their appeal through the Environmental Hearing Board’s online portal at: https://efiling.ehb.pa.gov/.
Additional documents and information regarding the Core 5 warehouse project can be found at the following links:
- PA DEP Northeast Regional Office Information on Core 5 Project
- Google Drive Folder with PA DEP’s Comment Response Document
- Facebook Discussion on the Issue
Residents concerned about the warehouse development are urged to review the documents and consider filing an appeal before the deadline expires.