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By JOHN DECKER jdecker@leader.net
Tuesday, February 08, 2000 Page: 8B
JACKSON TWP. – Supervisors voted unanimously Monday night to hire a
consulting firm to be the township’s eyes and ears during the ongoing cleanup
of last month’s gasoline spill near Chase Corners.
The supervisors said they do not have the technical background to
completely understand all the information that the Department of Environmental
Protection and Sun Co., Inc., are providing to them.
Supervisor John Wilkes Jr. said Integrated Environmental Compliance, Inc.,
a Wilkes-Barre firm, will work with DEP and Sun and then interpret the
information for supervisors.
The supervisors characterized the firm as a “township advocate,” hired to
ensure that Sun is following proper procedures during the cleanup. Integrated
will start reviewing the incident today.
There is no guarantee that Sun, responsible for the Jan. 19 pipeline leak
that caused roughly 5,500 gallons of gasoline to spill into the earth, will
pick up the firm’s $60-per-hour bill. However, Sun has told the supervisors to
compile any expenses the township incurs and forward them to the company,
according to Wilkes.
“Because of this incident, the township should not have to absorb the cost
of this cleanup,” Wilkes said following the regular monthly meeting.
A second public meeting with Sun officials is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday
at the township fire hall.
Besides the gas spill, several residents expressed concerns about private
wells that DEP believes might be contaminated by a chemical coming from
American Asphalt Paving Company on Chase Road. Six homes were first thought to
be contaminated, but that number recently rose to 15, according to DEP.
Private wells are showing low levels of the chemical, trichloroethane
(TCA), a manmade, organic chemical commonly used as a solvent or degreaser to
clean metal parts. All 15 homes are near the entrance to American Asphalt. DEP
has been evaluating on-site contamination of the plant’s main production well
with low levels of TCA for the last two years.
The consulting firm is not dealing with DEP’s investigation of American
Asphalt.
Resident Ed Chesnovitch insinuated that DEP would have never detected the
TCA contamination if it hadn’t been for the Sun leak.
Call Decker at 829-7222.