HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale, said that the state Department of Environmental Protection has cracked down on an illegal dump in Jordan Township.
“The DEP has informed me that it has ordered two Cambria County men and a third from Altoona to clean up the illegally disposed waste by June 15,” George said. “A Jordan Township resident living next to the dump also has been fined for illegally burning the waste.”
The DEP’s Williamsport regional office said it determined that Mark Gibson of Portage, Craig Simanski of Patton and Edward Morris Jr. of Altoona used two vehicles to deposit materials from foreclosed and abandoned homes they were cleaning on the Jordan Township property.
According to the DEP, the men paid Frank Hendrickson, “who lived on the adjoining property,” to burn the debris. A DEP official said Hendrickson has since pleaded guilty to illegal burning and fined by a local district judge.
The investigation began Oct. 15 after the DEP received a complaint from a citizen.
George noted that Jan. 22 is the deadline for communities to apply to the DEP for funding to combat illegal dumps. Illegal Dump Cleanup Grants of up to $25,000 are available to provide communities and nonprofits with the resources needed to restore illegal dump sites and prevent future dumping.
More information and grant applications are available online using the key word “Illegal dumping,” or by calling DEP’s Bureau of Waste Management at 717-787-7381. A 50 percent matching investment is required.
Citizens wanting to report an environmental problem may call the DEP Citizen Complaint Line toll free at (1) 866 255-5158. Local residents then should press Option 4 on their phones to reach Northcentral Regional DEP office in Williamsport.