Salvage Yard Center of Storm Water Debate

A automobile salvage yard in Blair, Pa., is the center of a storm water dispute, but according to a state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) spokeswoman, the yard is causing no environmental issues for angry neighboring property owners.

A Pennsylvania DEP inspector visited Burchfield Auto Salvage off Old Rte. 220 South recently and found no need for environmental cleanup work, said spokeswoman Sandy Roderick. Aware of the potential for petroleum product to enter storm water, the inspector took samples, but they came back negative. The inspector did ask David Burchfield Jr. to remove aged auto parts from the yard site, and Rockerick said Burchfield complied.

The storm water debate began Sept. 19 at a Blair Township supervisors meeting, where Supervisor Palmer Brown asked for action on his complaint. Brown's property flooded during a storm event in August, when storm water from the salvage yard, owned by Supervisors Chairman Burchfield, flowed across Old Rte. 220 and onto his land. Brown's property borders Burchfield's 10.8-acre site, and Brown said he saw evidence in March of petroleum products in the storm water coming from the salvage yard site.

Solicitor Frederick Gieg answered Brown's complaint by hiring an independent investigator to look into the matter. Brown and Supervisor Arlene Bush supported Gieg's decision, but Burchfield called it a waste of taxpayers' money and suggested the DEP and Blair County Conservation District address it.

Roderick said the DEP considers its inspection work complete. The conservation district ordered that the auto salvage yard secure a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit before more dirt is moved on site.

Source: Altoona Mirror