DeEtta Antoun, Director, Citizens for a Quality Environment

Citizens for a Quality Environment was incorporated in September 2004 as a grassroots research and educational organization to address Franklin County area environmental, quality of life, and development issues.  

At the urging of local residents my first "project" was to be our local landfill, which creates an odor problem for people living close to it.  There is also a feeling that we should not be a "dumping ground" for New York and New Jersey trash. 

Secondly, a group in Hamilton Township has been trying for years to get a very large tire pile removed because of the hazard posed by the mosquitoes that breed there.  This concern was heightened with the discovery and spread of West Nile Virus.  I was asked to help with that issue. 

Thirdly, residents within several miles have been plagued by malodor (and potential health hazards) from Warrior Roofing's tar paper plant in the Cumberland Valley Business Park directly next to the land for the proposed ethanol distillery. 

The proposed ethanol distillery became our major project by virtue of its potential to negatively impact a very large segment of the community and our group's belief that it needed addressed instantly.

The Army has worked for years and spent millions of dollars to clean the LEAD land for reuse by the Franklin County community.  In fact, the Chambersburg Area School District ’s plans for their property include an environmental center and agricultural education activities.  My research shows that an ethanol distillery at CVBP would bring immediate hazards and a degraded quality of life to local residents; CVBP tenant and military employees, future prison inmates, daycare centers, retirement communities, nearby businesses patrons, churches, and schools.  CVBP would become a destination for hazardous and undesirable industries changing forever the character of Franklin County . 

I have been active in monitoring the environmental cleanup of Letterkenny Army Depot for approximately 17 years, attending Restoration Advisory Board Meetings monthly (Community Co-Chair) after the BRAC 95 and Technical Review Committee meetings before the BRAC 95. 

42004 – present     Director of Citizens for a Quality Environment (C4aQE), Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania

41994 – present     Legal Research Assistant,  Frederic G. Antoun, Jr., Attorney at Law, Chambersburg , PA and Washington , D.C.

42007 – present      Keystone Health Care Network Development Committee, Keystone Rural Health Center, Chambersburg PA.

42007 – present     Greater Chambersburg 21st Century Partnership Growth Management Committee, Chambersburg, PA

42006 – present    Citizens Advisory Council to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Harrisburg, PA

41996 – present     Letterkenny Army Depot BRAC95 Restoration Advisory Board (RAB), Community Co-Chair

41992 – 1994        Assistant Director of Legislative Affairs, Government Printing Office Contractors Coalition, Chambersburg , PA  

41991 – 1992     Graphic Arts Marketing Consultant, Various Printing Companies, Chambersburg , PA and Washington D.C.

41990 – 1991 Substitute Teacher for various School Districts in the Chambersburg Area.

41987 - 1990 Attended Shippensburg University earning a B.S. in Education Summa cum laude with concentrations in Environmental Education and Reading .

41986 - 1987 Attended Wilson College, Chambersburg , PA

4Prior to 1986 Ran a small farm near Chambersburg

Member of the Citizens Advisory Council to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection - 2007-8; Served on Board of Directors – Keystone Rural Health Center 1995 –2000; Director – Citizens for Multi-District Zoning of Letterkenny Army Depot 1997- ; Technical Review Committee – Letterkenny Army Depot, Environmental Restoration Branch, 1994-95; help as a Fundraiser – Chambersburg YMCA; Coordinator for Pennsylvania Lung Association – Franklin County, 1984-87.