Pennsylvania DEP Orders Auto Dismantler to Halt Crushing

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection ordered C.J. Ashland Inc. to stop crushing operations and disposing of waste on two Philadelphia properties, according to Regional Director Joseph Feola.

“C.J. Ashland was illegally dumping waste -- antifreeze, waste tires and demolition waste -- on its Ashland Street property and a neighboring Pennsylvania Department of Transportation site, some of which found its way into Frankford Creek,” Feola said. “We cannot allow the mismanagement of this site to continue.

DEP’s order requires C.J.Ashland to stop crushing vehicles at the Ashland St. location. The company must have a DEP-approved operation plan in place demonstrating how future releases to the environment will be prevented before the company can resume operations. Waste and fill removal plans must also be submitted, followed by proof of proper disposal of all material from the Ashland St. and neighboring Penn DOT property. A site assessment would then be completed to determine if further cleanup is needed.  

DEP first discovered problems in 1998. Subsequent visits by the DEP in 1999 and last year turned upother violations, according to a spokeswoman for the DEP.