HAMPDEN – The Department of Environmental Protection has pushed back its deadline to decide on a public benefit application to increase capacity at the Pine Tree Landfill – twice.

Now the landfill’s owner, Casella Waste Systems Inc., wants to give DEP even more time to make a decision.

Casella sent a one-page letter to the DEP last week, requesting an extension until May 1 for a decision to increase capacity at the landfill by nearly 50 percent, or 2.5 million cubic yards.

“We know that the [DEP] staff has been very busy on other things and busy at other meetings because we’ve been at all the same meetings,” Don Meagher, Casella’s manager of planning and development, said Monday. “This is a very important decision for us, it’s important for the state and we want DEP to have ample time to make a thoughtful decision.”

Casella has another reason for requesting more time.

“Pine Tree Landfill is considering amending the application to include gas to energy as an additional public benefit associated with the Phase IX project,” the request letter stated. Phase IX refers to the landfill’s recent expansion proposal.

A gas-to-energy project would allow Casella to harness waste byproduct gas at Pine Tree Landfill and turn that gas into electricity.

The largest portion of gas generated by the landfill is methane, but other types can also be converted to electricity. A gas-to-energy operation in Hampden would be the first such facility in the area.

“We can’t say for certain if this will happen,” Meagher said. “We’re still working on a gas-extraction system and looking at how much gas is being generated, what the quality of that gas is and what size project would be appropriate.”

If DEP doesn’t approve the extension, “it doesn’t mean [Casella] can’t explore gas to energy later, but if we include the project in Phase IX, it will mean more over a longer period of time,” Meagher said.

Casella had been directed by DEP to prove that a proposed increase in capacity would benefit the public before the department would further consider the project.

The public benefit application serves as a precursor to the facility’s separate application to increase capacity, and if DEP considers Casella’s latest request, the landfill potentially could have another public benefit.

The public benefit application decision was supposed to come down in January, then February. Now the decision is day to day, DEP spokeswoman Cyndi Darling said.

Darling also said her office has not decided on Casella’s request for more time but said DEP would not need until May 1 to decide on the public benefit application.

Bill Lippincott, chairman of the Hampden Citizens Coalition, which has opposed increasing capacity at the landfill, has concerns about gas to energy.

“It seems odd that [Casella] is doing this, they didn’t really mention that in the application,” Lippincott said. “When the landfill starts to focus on gas-to-energy, it’s not going to be as efficient in mitigating odor problems and more methane contaminating the groundwater.”

“I can’t believe how long it’s taken,” he added.

While Casella has been patient with DEP, Meagher, too, said he would like to see the matter move forward.

“I’d certainly like a response to our letter and set a date that everybody can work around,” he said. “Uncertainty is always a little uncomfortable.”