PADEP Cracks Down on Environmental Compliance Violators

PADEP has recently levied several fines aimed at cracking down on violators of environmental compliance regulations. 

• DEP has fined Beavertown Block Co. Inc. $11,500 as part of a legal agreement that also requires the company to identify and correct a number of environmental violations discovered at its concrete masonry manufacturing plant in Franklin Township, Snyder County. An investigation by DEP in June and July 2007 found that the company had failed to maintain stormwater and erosion and sedimentation controls against site runoff and drainage from raw material storage piles on its property, which led to excessive amounts of silt, sand and gravel being discharged at three locations into an unnamed tributary of Middle Creek. Beavertown Block also used rejected concrete block, without a DEP permit, to fill and elevate an area of its property, part of which is located in the floodway. http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/news/cwp/view.asp?Q=535909&A=3
• After detecting an emerging pattern of violations by Edward T. Sitarik Contracting Inc., DEP has fined the company $180,000 for violating the state’s Clean Streams Law. Independent inspections by the Armstrong and Washington county conservation districts at two Sitarik work sites in 2006 revealed that the company had failed to implement adequate erosion and sediment controls, which was a violation of its NPDES permits. http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/news/cwp/view.asp?Q=535888&A=3 
• DEP has ordered Wayne Township, Lawrence County, to implement a sewage plan that would provide service to approximately 180 homes in the Squaw Run neighborhood. Nearly six out of 10 on-lot septic systems in the area were deemed to be malfunctioning. http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/news/cwp/view.asp?Q=535874&A=3 

F. X. Browne, Inc. can assist municipalities, developers, associations, and individuals to prepare stormwater management plans, erosion and sedimentation control plans, NPDES permits, Act 537 Plans, planning modules, and other environmental compliance permits and documents. For more information, contact info@fxbrowne.com.