Company Fined for Violating Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Law
The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) fined A&L
Inc., of Belle Vernon, Westmoreland County, $20,000 for violating the
Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law in 2004 and early 2005 during
construction of Interstate 99 in Blair County, DEP Regional Director
Robert Yowell announced on Oct. 2.
"A&L Inc. consistently failed to maintain the proper erosion and
sedimentation controls at different locations along the I-99
construction site in Blair County," Yowell said. "These violations were
documented during inspections made by the Centre County Conservation
District in 2004 from June through November, and in January 2005."
Even though the work sites were in Blair County, the inspections
were done by the Centre County Conservation District because of
interagency agreements covering this portion of the I-99 project.
Violations by A&L included a failure to complete dirty water
ditches and sediment basins, seed and mulch, install rock filters, and
provide inlet protection; leaking sediment basins; and removing a silt
fence before seeding and mulching slopes.
"Because A&L Inc. did not properly perform its duties as
outlined in the company's approved erosion and sedimentation control
plan, water containing excessive sediment was discharged to several
unnamed tributaries of South Bald Eagle Creek, causing water
pollution," Yowell said.
After discussions with A&L Inc. regarding a civil penalty proved
unsuccessful, DEP filed a complaint with the state Environmental
Hearing Board in July 2006. The company agreed to the penalty
assessment just days before the scheduled Environmental Hearing Board
hearing on Sept. 25.
The fine is being paid to the Clean Water Fund in two installments
of $10,000 each. The first installment was paid last week and the
second is due by Dec. 21.