DEP Accepting Comments On Proposed Consent Decree Resolving Outstanding Cleanup Cost Recovery Claims With The Remaining Defendants In Swimming Pool Doctor Hazardous Waste Site In Beaver County

The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 3 PA Bulletin inviting comments on a proposed federal consent decree covering the remaining defendants in the cleanup of the Swimming Pool Doctor hazardous waste site in Rochester Borough, Beaver County.  (PA Bulletin, page 81)

The consent decree includes defendants One Brewery Place, Inc., Harold B. Davidson, James Randy Davidson, and M. Ultra Investment Group, Ltd.

DEP will post a copy of the proposed consent decree on the Pool Doctor - Beaver Alkali Products webpage.

DEP is accepting comments on the consent decree until March 3-- 60 days after this notice.

Comments may be submitted, in writing, to Paul Vogel, Manager, Hazardous Sites Cleanup, PA Department of Environmental Protection, 400 Waterfront Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or by email at RA-EPSW-HSCA@pa.gov. 

Questions should be directed to Paul Vogel at 412-442-4000 or RA-EPSW-HSCA@pa.gov. 

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for more information. (PA Bulletin, page 81)

Background

In approximately 2016, DEP received an anonymous complaint which prompted an investigation and visit to the Pool Doctor – Beaver Alkali Products site in Rochester, Beaver County.

The site originally consisted of many drums of unknown liquids and solids that are corroded and leaking. These drums were associated with chemical businesses and a laboratory that operated out of the buildings located on the property.

The roofs of the two buildings where the drums are located were collapsing. The roof of the larger building was already partially collapsed. The smaller storage building almost completely collapsed the week of June 24, 2019. 

An exothermic chemical reaction occurred within one of the buildings on July 12, 2019  causing a fire and fumes to be released into the air. Another reaction and release occurred the following morning. 

While work had begun to remove materials from the building prior to the fire, work was not active at the time of the reaction and subsequent fire, which DEP believes to have started in an inaccessible portion of the smaller building that almost completely collapsed on June 24, 2019. 

DEP's cleanup of the site was completed in June 2020.

Visit DEP’s Pool Doctor - Beaver Alkali Products webpage for more information on the site.

For more information on this program, visit DEP’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program webpage.

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

Resource Links:

-- DEP Invites Comments On A Proposed $1.3 Million Cost Recovery Action At The Pool Doctor, Beaver Alkali Products Site In Beaver County [PaEN] 

-- DEP Completes Hazardous Sites Cleanup Response At Pool Doctor-Beaver Alkali Products, Beaver County [PaEN]

-- DEP Provides Update On Pool Doctor Hazardous Site Cleanup In Beaver County [PaEN] 

Related Article This Week:

-- EPA To Host Jan. 13 Meeting On Status Of Palmerton Zinc Pile Superfund Site Cleanup In Palmerton, Carbon County  [PaEN] 

[Posted: January 2, 2026]  PA Environment Digest