LANGHORNE, PA – I am pleased to inform Upper Makefield residents that after months of working with officials on the federal, state, and local level, our office has gained traction with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s office who has graciously agreed to assist in limiting the amount of noise pollution coming from the Mercer County Firing Range.

My District Office was notified that Upper Makefield residents along the Delaware River have been exposed to high volumes of noise emanating from the Mercer County Firing Range gun range used by New Jersey law enforcement. Due to its proximity to the Delaware River and the quarry the gun range is located in, the noise of gunfire is significantly amplified and has impacted the residents who live across the river. The run range consists of 24 alleys firing into a quarry. My office wrote to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in July 2019 to express our constituents’ concerns about the noise and the lack of impact studies conducted for the site. We asked the EPA to investigate whether the firing range was appropriate for that location.

While my office received a response that the EPA does not have jurisdiction over the issue, the agency subsequently forwarded the request to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the Mercer County government. After engaging directly with Mercer County, my office connected directly with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office.  The Prosecutor’s Office indicated that Mercer County has hired a Noise Abatement Officer to evaluate the firing range to find a practical solution to limit the volume of noise coming from the range. Noise decibel levels on both sides of the river will be tested to ensure a thorough noise abatement examination. It is anticipated that the construction cost of any noise abatement project will be included in Mercer County’s 2020 Capital Budget. Additionally, the County has purchased 24 noise suppressors for all 24 alleys at the range and will soon mandate that every shooter will be required to attach a suppressor to their firearm.  This policy is anticipated to be implemented in the coming weeks.

My office will continue to communicate with the Prosecutor’s Office and Mercer County to stay informed of the findings of the Noise Abatement Officer and to work towards the best resolution of this issue for all the residents of Upper Makefield Township.

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