WILLIAMSPORT – The Department of Environmental Protection has fined Phoenix Resources Inc. $13,000 for groundwater contamination at its construction/demolition waste landfill in Duncan Township, Tioga County.
“The company is properly addressing this problem as required by DEP, but a violation of this nature threatens the environment and requires an appropriate penalty,” DEP Northcentral Regional Director Robert Yowell said.
Landfill monitoring wells first showed elevated levels of total organic halogen in October 2004. Other contaminants later found at elevated levels included several volatile organic compounds and arsenic, a common constituent found naturally in coal-bearing strata.
Phoenix submitted a groundwater assessment plan in November 2004, which was revised in February 2005 to include the drilling of three additional monitoring wells to further identify the aerial extent and depth of the groundwater contamination.
Additional well monitoring has shown that the groundwater contamination has not migrated off the landfill property, and there have been no known impacts to any private or municipal drinking water wells in the area.
Phoenix reported in September that groundwater at the site has been improving and should continue to do so as the landfill is capped.
The $13,000 fine was paid to the Solid Waste Abatement Fund, which finances cleanups across the commonwealth.
