TYRONE — Kunzler & Co. officials had hoped to start on a $4 million expansion project in Snyder Township last May or June, but the project, which could result in 16-20 new jobs, remains on hold.

Kunzler is waiting for the state Department of Envi­ron­mental Protection to approve the National Pollu­tant Discharge Elimination System permit needed for the project, according to Dave Grazier, the plant’s general manager.

“I have never been more frustrated trying to get a permit for a building. You send in the application, they sit on it, then they send it back with comments and you have to resubmit it. It’s been nine months in the process trying to get that permit,” Grazier said.

The project, which is needed for Kunzler’s growing bacon business, calls for a 10,694-square-foot addition and a 3,000-square-foot loading dock.

In addition to the expansion, a gravel parking lot, concrete loading pad area, concrete sidewalks adjacent to the proposed structure, a paved access driveway and stormwater management facilities will be constructed.

Grazier said he has talked to state Rep. Jim Gregory, R-80th District, and Altoona Blair County Development Corp. officials to try to hurry things up.

“It doesn’t seem like hurry is in (DEP’s) dictionary,” Grazier said.

Stephen McKnight, ABCD Corp. Presi­dent/CEO, also is frustrated.

“We have been working with them from the start trying to understand where the bottlenecks are in the permitting process. It has been frustrating. We are trying to find out what the issues are and what is needed,” McKnight said.

DEP officials did not re­turn a call Thursday seeking comment.

Once the permit is re­ceived, Kunzler will need a review by the Blair County Planning Commission and a building permit from the Sny­der Township supervisors.

Leonard S. Fiore Inc. will be the general contractor for the project. Kunzler already has purchased some of the equipment, Grazier said.

The delay is hurting the company’s business.

“We can’t take on any new capacity,” he said. “We are limited. We can only get so much product and raw materials in the building. This will give us the ability to increase production by 5 million to 8 million pounds a year. We are maintaining our business. We have had to work a lot of weekends to keep up.”

McKnight said it is an important project.

“Any expansion of a longtime manufacturing concern in our community is important,” he said. “This means new jobs, more capital in­vestment and better production.”

Grazier said if work begins within the next month or so, the project could be completed by the end of the year.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467.