WILLIAMSPORT – The Department of Environmental Protection fined Mid-State Paving LLC of Paxtonville, Snyder County, $8,000 for violating state dam safety and water management regulations during the summer of 2006 while working on a concrete wall repair project in Pine Creek Township, Clinton County.
“The violations DEP discovered last June were blatant and showed a complete disregard for the environment and the water quality of Chatham Run,” DEP Regional Director Robert Yowell said. “Contractors are aware of their responsibilities to obtain permits and to operate with care when working in waterways.”
DEP conducted an inspection of the Chatham Run concrete wall replacement project on June 13 after receiving several complaints from area residents. Inspectors found that Mid-State had excavated a trench into the left side of Chatham Run to construct a concrete footer 98 feet by 8 feet for a new stream retaining wall. The trench was being dewatered with a 6-inch pump discharging sediment directly into Chatham Run.
DEP inspectors also discovered that Chatham Run had been relocated to the right side of the stream channel by a 310-foot long soil and rock cofferdam.
Mid-State had not applied for any DEP permits for these activities, which were a violation of the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law and the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act.
DEP immediately issued a field order to Mid-State Paving requiring it to stop all work until a complete restoration plan was submitted for department approval and a dam safety and encroachment permit was issued.
The construction site was brought into compliance by Mid-State in late October 2006.
The fine is being paid by Mid-State in four $2,000 installments, with the final payment due Jan. 1.