JEANNETTE, Pa. — A hemp facility in Jeannette is being allowed to reopen but only under strict conditions, according to a new agreement with the Department of Environmental Protection.
Patriot Shield Pennsylvania was shut down by the DEP earlier in December after neighbors complained about the smell.
DEP officials said they didn’t even know the facility was operating until they started getting those complaints.
But on Dec. 26, the agency announced Patriot Shield has to pay a $29,000 fine in order to reopen.
Below are the highlights from the agreement:
- Patriot Shield is only allowed to “process and store” hemp
- It still cannot conduct drying activities until the DEP approves
- Company must better monitor their processes
Drying operations won’t begin until summer 2020, so there is time to get under compliance.
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