DEP Starts Taxpayer-Funded Hazardous Sites Cleanup Process For American Biodiesel Site In Erie County; Hearing Sept. 21

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the August 12 PA Bulletin it has initiated an interim Hazardous Sites Cleanup response at the American Biodiesel Energy, Inc. site at 4680 Iroquois Avenue, Harborcreek Township, Erie County.  (PA Bulletin, page 5052).

The site is located on a 11-acres parcel with one partially demolished, collapsed, and fire-damaged building, abandoned waste including miscellaneous scrap, large numbers of tanks, totes, and drums in various stages of degradation, and bags of powder coating materials. 

The Site poses immediate and potential risks to the public health and the environment including potential direct contact exposures with the following hazardous substances found at the Site: Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Toluene, Sulfuric Acid, Sodium Methylate, Epichloro-hydrin, Methyl Hydroxide, Sodium Methoxide and 1,2- Epoxybutane.

The objectives and scope of the response are: 1) reduce or eliminate the threats to public health, safety, and the environment from the hazardous substances, contaminants, and structurally unsound buildings on the Site; 2) assess buildings on the Site for structural integrity and demolished if required; 3) inventory and characterize all wastes on the Site and properly dispose of these wastes off-Site.; and 4) comply with applicable Federal, State, and local regulations.

Public Hearing

DEP will schedule a public hearing on the proposed interim response for September 21 starting at 6:00 p.m. -- location to be determined.

Any person wishing to present comments must register with Tom Decker before September 1, 2023 by telephone at 814-332-6615, by email at thomadecke@pa.gov.  

Public comments will be accepted until November 10, 2023.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for more information.  (PA Bulletin, page 5052).

Visit the DEP Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program webpage for more on this program.

For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website, Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter, sign up for DEP Connects events, sign up for DEP’s eNotice, visit DEP’s Blog,  Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

NewsClips:

-- Erie Times: DEP Report: Erie Coke [Coal] Plant Site Seen As ‘Potential Threat To Human Health And The Environment’ And To Lake Erie

-- Erie News Now: State Report Details Pollution At Erie Coke [Coal] Plant Site

Related Article:

-- Hold Erie Coke Accountable Calls On EPA, DEP, Erie County & City To Form Erie Coke [Coal] Plant Community Working Group On Site Cleanup, Revitalization  [PaEN]

[Posted: August 11, 2023]  PA Environment Digest