for violations related to off-site gas, odor and operational problems at its Imperial Landfill facility in Findlay Township, Allegheny County.

%u201CThe department began investigating Imperial after receiving numerous complaints from residents around the landfill and from teachers and staff at nearby Wilson Elementary School,%u201D said DEP Southwest Regional Director George Jugovic Jr. %u201CWhile management at the landfill has taken some steps toward improvement, they have not yet effectively controlled off-site odors.%u201D

Last spring, following DEP inspections, Allied Waste repaired or replaced dozens of landfill gas collection wells that were defective or poorly maintained.
 
%u201CAlong with the Allegheny County Health Department, we will continue our inspections at the facility until the source of the odors is determined and the problem is resolved,%u201D Jugovic said.

The consent assessment of civil penalty that brought the fine addresses violations from December 2005 to November 2009, with the majority of the violations occurring since January 2009.

During the past two months, the department received new complaints about a resurgence of the gas odors.

Because of these renewed complaints and recent detection of off-site odors, DEP%u2019s mobile analytical lab will conduct air sampling in the vicinity of the landfill from Monday, March 15, to Thursday, March 18. The lab will sample for 17 compounds. If one or more specific compounds prove to be of issue, DEP will work with the county health department to determine a course of action.

In responding to odor complaints from around Imperial Landfill, DEP sends inspectors to the site of the complaints at different times throughout the day and night. The department will continue to work with the county, Findlay Township and the West Allegheny School District, of which Wilson Elementary is a part, and will offer new information as it becomes available.

The $650,000 fine is required to be paid within 10 days and will be deposited to the Solid Waste Abatement Fund, which is used to help finance cleanups across the state.

For more information, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us or call 412-442-4000

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