PA DEP Holding Hearing on Closed Scrap Yard

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting and hearing March 28 to give residents the opportunity to comment on the proposed investigation of the former Everglade Iron & Steel Co. site in Hempfield Township, PA.

 “DEP is committed to addressing this environmental problem and fulfilling our mission to keep residents healthy and safe,” DEP Southwest Regional Director Kenneth Bowman said. “We are investigating to determine the source and scope of contamination at the site. By sharing information about the site, residents can help us decide the best course of action to take.”

Everglade Iron & Steel used the site from the 1940s to the 1980s as a transfer station for alloy scrap metals that were eventually shipped elsewhere for reuse, recycling or disposal.

Preliminary analyses of contaminants found at the site indicate that concentrations of PCBs, lead, mercury, dioxin and other compounds exceed statewide health standards for both residential and nonresidential areas under the Pennsylvania Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act. DEP’s proposed investigation would determine the location, types and volume of waste present, and then determine the appropriate response.

People interested in presenting testimony at the hearing should register in advance by calling DEP Community Relations Coordinator Helen Humphreys at 412-442-4183. People who need accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act may also call that number, or they may call the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984.