OLD LANDFILL HAUNTING EMPORIUM BOROUGH
By Alex Davis Endeavor News

A few community members aired concern over the former waste dump located in Emporium at Monday's Borough Council meeting.

Council wanted input about banning the use of groundwater on Barton, Carson and Taylor streets because small traces of trichloroethane (TCE) have been discovered in the 5.5-acre former landfill located adjacent to those streets.

GTE Sylvania project engineer Andy Vitolins pointed out that about one to two parts per billion of the chemical had been found on east Carson Street. Those levels are not considered a public health risk by the Pa. Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Carson Street resident and real estate professional Margie Smith and Dave Reed, both of whom own a house on that street, questioned whether banning wells might diminish property values.

"The acres that they don't want anybody disturbing causes me some alarm," Smith added, referencing the possibility of chemical run-off in future years. She purchased her home two years ago.

Had he known about the solvent, resident Ronald Catalone said he would not have purchased his house on Carson Street.

Catalone also questioned why it took a long time to inform borough residents about the chemical.

Borough Solicitor Tommy Tompkins said council members were just informed last month that the area would include an additional 36 acres. Originally, it was thought the TCE had been confined to the former landfill.

Tompkins also pointed out that residents still have service through use of an approved public water system .

GTE Sylvania used the land to dump the chemical used for degreasing parts between 1940 and 1969.

Officials discovered the presence of the chemicals in the soil and ground water some 16 years ago after considering an expansion by GKN.

Cleanup efforts got underway in 1993 with removal of waste materials and placement of soil cover over the residue. DEP has been monitoring 15 wells at the site. Almost $1 million has been spent on the project.

Borough Manager Don Reed said the plan is to keep the land undisturbed and place more gates at the former landfill to stop vehicles from disturbing the vegetation and topsoil. Borough officials will continue to monitor the site annually and report findings back to DEP.

"The problem is not going away," said Councilwoman LuAnn Reed. "At least we are dealing with it."

Council is expected to advertise an ordinance on the ban before its July or August meeting. Two reports on the project will soon be made available at the Borough Office.

"There is a positive side to this story," Borough Manager Reed said. "The problem has been identified and -- because GTE and the borough agreed to voluntarily participate in this with DEP -- the situation has been dealt with in accordance with DEP's regulations. Also, in the unlikely event that in the future TCE levels were to increase, GTE and the borough would still be responsible to address the problems."