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    Southwest Community Information

    Tub Mill and Clearview Farms HSCA Response

    This page was last updated on January 7, 2025

    Site Facts

    Municipality: Elk Lick Township, Somerset County

    Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) site since: 2024

    Primary Contaminants of Concern: chromated arsenical, creosote, and pentachlorophenol
     

    Background

    Under the authority of the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA), DEP is proposing an interim response at Tub Mill Farms and Clearview Farms, Elk Lick Township, Somerset County.

    The Tub Mill Farms and Clearview Farms are located off Spring Rd (State Route 669) and Oak Dale Rd, respectively. The Site consists of two parcels containing, among other waste, thousands of chemically treated utility poles and railroad ties. Utility poles and railroad ties have historically been treated with one of three main types of heavy-duty wood preservatives: chromated arsenical, creosote, and pentachlorophenol. Direct contact with and the leaching of these chemicals pose a human health and environmental risk. Additionally, the potential for aerosolized particles also poses a human health risk if the piles were to catch fire.

    What's New

    DEP will hold a virtual public hearing on January 22, 2024, to take testimony from interested parties on DEP’s response.

    Interim Response

    DEP determined the threat to human health, safety, and the environment warrants an interim response to remove the utility poles and railroad ties.

    DEP will remove and properly dispose of the utility poles and railroad ties existing at the site because it complies with the applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements [Sections 504 of HSCA (35 P.S. §6020.504], and it will address the potential human and environmental threats. The interim response will also include sampling of the soil directly below where the utility poles and railroad ties were stored to assess any additional impacts from the site. DEP will pursue cost recovery as warranted.

    Administrative Record

    The administrative record which contains the information that forms the basis and documents the selection of this response action is available for public review and comment. The administrative record is linked below in digital form.

    Administrative Record Docket (PDF)

    Administrative Record

    Public Participation

    Public Notice:

    DEP published notice of its interim response under HSCA site in the December 21, 2024 edition of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. This notice includes information on DEP’s virtual public hearing and public comment period.

    Notice of Interim Response (begins on page 8346)

    An identical notice was published in the legal notices section of the Somerset Daily American on December 21, 2024.

    Public Comment Period on Administrative Record:

    The administrative record will be open for comment from December 21, 2024 until March 21, 2025. Persons may submit written comments into the record during this time only, by emailing the DEP at RA-EPSW-HSCA@pa.gov.

    Public Hearing:

    DEP will hold a virtual public hearing to receive oral comments for inclusion in the administrative record on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 6:00 PM. Those wishing to register to provide comment or observe the virtual public hearing must contact Lauren Camarda, Regional Communications Manager, by email at lcamarda@pa.gov or phone at 412-442-4203 at least 24 hours before the hearing.
     

    More Information on the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) Program

    Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program page