In addition, DEP notified the Commonwealth Court that J&K Salvage has not complied with a 2024 Court Order and requested that the Court compel compliance by jailing the owner, imposing daily penalties, and imposing a judgment for a previous penalty.
“The actions of J&K Salvage’s ownership over the years have shown that they are not willing or capable of complying with Pennsylvania’s laws and regulations, and DEP will always hold polluters accountable.,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley.
“We will not tolerate flagrant disregard of the laws and regulations that exist to protect public health and Pennsylvania’s air, land, and water.
“DEP has ordered J&K to shut down and clean up their operations, we are going to court to get them to comply with those orders.”
Under the Administrative Order, J&K Salvage must immediately: cease operation of the metal shedder and any other equipment and/or machinery used to separate metal, wood waste and all wastes; cease accepting all solid wastes at the site; remove all solid wastes from the site to a permitted disposal or recycling facility; deliver weekly waste receipts to DEP; and provide an updated Preparedness, Prevention and Contingency plan to DEP addressing, among other things, pollutants that can get in stormwater runoff from the site.
This Administrative Order includes J&K Salvage’s more recent violations of the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law and Solid Waste Management Act at the site.
Court Order
In a separate filing, DEP notified the Commonwealth Court that Harry J. Darrah, Joe Darrah, Inc., J&K Salvage, Darrah Realty, LP, Darrah Management LLC, (collectively "Darrah") have still not complied with the Court's Order directing then to address violations at the automobile salvage and scrap metal operation at the site.
In 2024, the Court found Darrah in contempt for failing to comply with a 2021 Court Order and directed them to perform corrective actions to purge the contempt.
The Commonwealth Court's 2024 Order states it will issue a bench warrant for Harry J. Darrah III to report to the York County Jail System and serve 45 days of incarceration if the DEP certifies Darrah has not complied with its orders.
DEP is also requesting Darrah pay a $40,750 civil penalty and pay stipulated penalties of $250 per day for Darrah’s failure to purge contempt.
The Court’s Order was issued prior to the most recent incident at J&K Salvage, and DEP’s notification is not related to that incident.
Click Here for the DEP announcement.
NewsClip:
-- York Daily Record: DEP Orders J&K Junkyard To Close, Seeks Jail For Owner For Not Complying With 2024 Court Order
[Posted: March 20, 2026] PA Environment Digest
No comments :
Post a Comment