WILLIAMSPORT — The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting and hearing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011 in Lock Haven City Hall, 20 East Church St., to discuss plans to clean up radium contamination at five properties adjacent to the former Karnish Instruments Inc. plant in Lock Haven, Clinton County.
“Staff from DEP’s Environmental Cleanup program and Bureau of Radiation Protection will explain the problem and review the proposed remedial solutions, then answer questions during the meeting,” said DEP North-central Regional Director Nels Taber.
Karnish Instruments Inc. had been repairing and maintaining aircraft instruments, many of which contained radium paint, from 1956 until about 1979. The building was leased in 1982 and became Ron’s Rental, owned by Ronald Myers Sr. He bought the building in 1996.
Myers operated his business there until May 2008 when DEP initiated a remedial response after discovering radium contamination inside and outside the building. The building was eventually demolished and contaminated soil excavated and removed in 2009 using $5.5 million from DEP’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program.
While verifying the cleanup was properly completed, Bureau of Radiation Protection staff discovered residual radium contamination from the Ron’s Rental property at five nearby properties.
DEP has developed five possible alternatives to address the contamination, with the preferred alternative, estimated to cost about $2 million, being to excavate all contaminated soil at all five properties, including from beneath the Lock Haven Court apartment building.
During the public hearing at 7:30 p.m., citizens will have an opportunity to present up to five minutes of oral testimony regarding the proposed remedial actions. Written testimony of any length also will be accepted. The testimony will be recorded by a court reporter and transcribed into a written document. DEP will provide a written response to all relevant testimony provided during the public hearing.
Those who wish to present oral testimony may register that evening prior to the hearing.
Individuals in need of an ADA accommodation should contact Daniel Spadoni at 570-327-3659 or through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how DEP may accommodate your needs.
For more information, call 570-327-3659 or visit www.depweb.state.pa.us.