Tuesday, January 30, 2024

DEP Assesses $73,153 Penalty On 2 Contractors Building A Rutter's Store In Blair County For Water Quality Violations; Exactly The Kind Of Violations A Citizen Group Was Afraid Of

On November 27, 2023, the Department of Environmental Protection
signed a consent assessment with M&G Realty, Inc. and Curry Excavating, Inc. that included a $73,153 penalty for water quality violations and failure to implement erosion and sedimentation controls at the 20-acre construction site for a Rutter's Store in Antis Township, Blair County.

The illegal activities impacted a segment of Sandy Run, a High Quality stream, and Exceptional Value wetlands.

The Blair County Conservation District did multiple inspections of the site in May, June, July and August of 2023 and found the companies failed to implement and/or maintain effective Best Management Places to prevent erosion and sedimentation from the site.

The companies failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the NPDES permit they were issued for the earth disturbance activities.

Blair County will receive $2,883 of the penalty and DEP will deposit $70,270 in the state Clean Water Fund.

Click Here for a copy of the consent assessment.

In August 2022, members of the Little Juniata River Association raised concerns about the potential for construction and operation of the Rutter’s Store negatively impacting Sandy Run, a High Quality trout stream, and adjacent Exceptional Value wetlands.  Read more here.

Construction at the site began after DEP issued its permit in May 2023. Construction did not stop on the site.  The majority of the exterior construction appears complete.

Another Permit

On January 31, 2024, the Department of Environmental Protection issued an individual NPDES Stormwater Permit to M&G Realty, Inc. for the construction of Rutter’s Store #93 in Smithfield Township, Huntingdon County.  Read more here.

NewsClips:

-- Altoona Mirror: Rutter’s Store Contractors Fined $73,000 For Water Quality Violations Discovered Last Year In Blair County

-- WTAJ: Rutter’s Store Proposal In Blair County Draws Concerns

-- WTAJ: Construction Starts For Antis Twp. Rutter’s Despite Runoff Concerns

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- DEP Issues Contractor Permit To Construct Rutter’s Store In Huntingdon County; The Same Contractor Penalized $73,153 By DEP For Failing To Comply With Permit In Blair County  [PaEN] 

-- In Celebration Of The Many Contributions Of John Dawes To Protecting And Restoring PA’s Environment, Foundations Create The R. John Dawes Clean Water Fund  [PaEN]

-- PASA Sustainable Agriculture Honors 2024 Pasabilities Award Recipients  [PaEN]

-- State Conservation Commission Awards $3 Million In Conservation Excellence Grants To 4 Organizations  [PaEN] 

-- National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Now Accepting Proposals For Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program  [PaEN]

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update Newsletter: Request For Engineering Services; PennVEST Funding Outreach Sessions; Much More!  [PaEN] 

-- Still Time To Register! Keystone Coldwater Conference Feb. 23-24 In State College  [PaEN] 

-- Penn State Center For Ag Conservation Assistance Hires Engineering Firm To Help Develop Certification Program For Conservation Professionals; Spring Conference; Seeking New Faculty  [PaEN]  

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Awards $150,000+ Grants To Support 34 Local Watershed Projects  [PaEN]  ​

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-- Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition: 16th Annual Student Symposium On The Environment Draws Over 130  [PaEN] 

-- PA Society Of Professional Engineers Host Feb. 22 Virtual DEP Update On MS4 Stormwater Program, NPDES Water Quality Permitting  [PaEN]  

-- Penn State Extension Hosts Feb. 28 Webinar On Green Stormwater Infrastructure [PaEN] 

-- March 4 Penn State Extension Webinar On Monitoring Soil Moisture: A Climate Smart Ag Practice  [PaEN] 

-- March 11 Streambank Stabilization And Stream Crossings On Farms Webinar  [PaEN]

-- Allegheny County Conservation District Unveils Insights Into County Development And Stormwater Infrastructure  [PaEN]

-- DEP Assesses $73,153 Penalty On 2 Contractors Building A Rutter's Store In Blair County For Water Quality Violations; Exactly The Kind Of Violations A Citizen Group Was Afraid Of   [PaEN]

-- Water At Risk: The History And Mystery Of Lawns, Try A Lower Maintenance, Natural Landscaping Instead - By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN] 

-- Protecting Clean Water Together: Explore The Brodhead Watershed In Monroe County - By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association  [PaEN]

[Posted: January 30, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

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