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    Southcentral Community Information

    ​Newberry Township PFC Site

    Last updated on January 14, 2025

    For more information on PFAS contaminants, what Pennsylvania is doing on a state level, the PFAS Action Team, and more, please visit: dep.pa.gov/pfas

    Site Facts

    Municipality/County: Newberry and Fairview Townships, York County

    HSCA site since: 2019

    Primary Contaminants of Concern: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) & perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFOA and PFOS are part of a larger class of chemicals known as perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

    Why is DEP Investigating?

    • In April 2019, two public supply wells servicing the township were found to contain combined concentrations of PFOA and PFOS that exceeded EPA's 70 parts per-trillion (ppt) Health Advisory Level (HAL), DEP took steps to begin a thorough investigation of the surrounding area.
    • On January 14, 2023 Pennsylvania’s Environmental Quality Board established a State Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 14 nanograms per liter (ng/L) for PFOA and 18 ng/L for PFOS. DEP’s HSCA section has identified water above the MCLs within the Site area.
    • DEP is investigating groundwater in the area to determine the extent of PFOA and PFOS in the aquifer underlying the area.

    Public and Private Well Water and Surface Water Investigation and DEP’s Response

    • In 2019, DEP collected samples from nine public supply-wells, 21 private potable wells, five monitor wells, and 4 surface-water sites. Results of this sampling ranged (combined for PFOA/PFOS) from < 1.8 to 168.1 ppt in the public wells; from < 3.3 to 50.9 ppt in the private wells; and 10.1 to 15.5 ppt in Fishing Creek and its tributaries.
    • DEP has not yet identified the source of the PFOA/PFOS contamination in Newberry Township.
    • On April 5, 2019 Suez requested an emergency permit to treat for PFOA/PFAS in the public supply wells, which was approved by DEP on April 8th.
    • Figure 1999 report sample locations
    • 2019 - No private wells in Newberry Township have tested above the HAL
    • 2019 Site Investigation Report
    • DEP's responsibility under HSCA is to select a remedy that is protective of human health and the environment and complies with all statutory and regulatory requirements.
    • State Representative Dawn Keefer with DEP held two public meetings on June 13, 2019 and on December 12, 2019
    • June 2019 meeting presentations
    • December 2019 meeting presentation
    • The public water supply system now operates DEP permitted treatment systems specifically installed to remove PFAS from the water supply.
    • DEP actively monitors the public supply wells to ensure they are effectively removing PFOA/PFOS from the water supplies. A construction permit for permanent PFOA/PFOS treatment was issued January 10, 2020.
    • Public-supply wells are meeting the new MCLs through their DEP permitted treatment systems.
    • HSCA continues its investigation as to the source(s) and extent of PFAS contamination. As of December 2022, HSCA has sampled approximately 100 wells, springs, and streams. PFAS has been found at almost every site sampled. HSCA has also identified multiple residences / commercial businesses that are consuming water that exceeds the MCLs. HSCA is preparing a Prompt Interim Response to bring potable water to these residents.

    Source Investigation

    • DEP is looking into all Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs). If you have any information related to any potential sources of PFAS contamination, please feel free to provide that information to DEP using the contact information at the bottom of this page.
    • To date, DEP continues to actively sample private potable wells, streams, springs and selected monitoring wells DEP has recently contracted with HDR to provide technical assistance in the study. This contracted work will include: (1) private potable well sampling, (2) stream and soil sampling, (3) drilling of monitor wells, (4) historical and current land-use, releases, and remediation, (5) commercial and industrial manufacturing. Additional work may include groundwater flow modeling to better identify potential pathways and sources of PFAS contamination.

    Prompt Interim Response-Administrative Record

    The February 13, 2024 hearing in this matter was rescheduled and held on April 17, 2024.

    The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), under the authority of the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) (35 P.S. §§6020.101-6020.1305) has proposed a prompt interim response at the Newberry Township PFC site (Site). This prompt interim response will be initiated pursuant to HSCA Sections 501(a) and 505(b), (35 P.S. §§6020.501(a) and 6020-505(b)).

    The Administrative Record for this Prompt-Interim Response was opened to the public for review and comment on December 30, 2023. A public hearing was scheduled for February 13, 2024. Due to inclement weather, the public hearing was rescheduled and the public comment period extended an additional 90 days. The public hearing was held on April 17, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at Cross Roads Middle School Auditorium, 535 Fishing Creek Road, Lewisberry, PA. An informational presentation of DEP’s activities at this site was presented prior to the public hearing. Oral comments were accepted.

    DEP’s selected prompt-interim response presented at the April 17, 2024 meeting was that POET systems will be offered to those utilizing private water-supplies determined to have PFAS contamination levels greater than DEP MSCs [18 µg/L for Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and 14 µg/L for Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)].

    On October 30, 2024 DEP issued its Statement of Decision (SOD) and Response to Public Comments Document. This SOD differs from the proposed response of the Analysis of Alternatives presented on April 17, 2024 in that it accounts for EPA’s lower and more expansive Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFAS. Utilizing the newer PFAS MCLs, will allow DEP to address additional private water-supplies under this response.

    The October 30, 2024 SOD and Response to Public Comments Document have been included in the Administrative Record for this Prompt-Interim Response.

    A full copy of the notice published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin contains additional information and can be viewed here.

    The Analysis of Alternatives and Proposed Response document, which outlines DEP’s decision-making process, can be viewed here.

    The Administrative Record which contains information about this Site and which supports DEP’s decision can be viewed here.

    Contacting DEP

    Please direct correspondence or inquiries to one of the following:
    Site Information: Dennis Low, Site Project Officer, at 717-705-4853 or delow@pa.gov
    Community and Media Relations: John Repetz, Community Relations Coordinator, at 717-705-4904 or jrepetz@pa.gov
    Legislative Inquiries: Noah Fatzinger, Local Government Liaison at 717-425-7390 or nfatzinger@pa.gov

    Municipality Information

    Newberry Township
    1915 Old Trail Road, Etters, York County, PA 17319
    (717) 938-6992
    Office Hours: M – F 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
    admin@newberrytwp.com

    Fairview Township
    599 Lewisberry Road
    New Cumberland, PA 17070
    (717) 901-5200
    Office Hours: M – F 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
    admin@twp.fairview.pa.us

    State Legislator Information

    Hon. Marc S. Anderson – PA House District 92
    Capitol
    422 Irvis Office Building
    PO Box 202092
    Harrisburg, PA 17120-2092
    (717) 783-8783
    Fax: (717) 782-2920

    Senator Dawn W. Keefer – PA Senate District 31
    12 N. Baltimore Street
    Dillsburg, PA 17019
    (717) 432-0792
    Fax: (717) 432-0795

    Capitol
    Senate Box 203031
    Harrisburg, PA 17120-3031
    Room: 168 Main Capital
    (717) 787-8524
    Fax (717) 782-2920