• Company's plant had 20 violations from September to November 2008
WILLIAMSPORT, PA Feb. 11, 2009 -- The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has fined Del Monte Corp. nearly $3,500 for industrial wastewater violations last fall at its plant in South Centre Township, Columbia County.
"Del Monte took its 8 million gallon wastewater lagoon out of service last September to replace a torn liner," said DEP Northcentral Regional Director Robert Yowell. "The company's interim treatment plan was approved by DEP, but the process resulted in 20 exceedances of their discharge permit limits."
Del Monte's treatment plan involved treating wastewater through its dissolved air flotation unit and clarifier treatment units while bypassing the lagoon aeration process and then discharging the treated wastewater to the Susquehanna River.
The 20 exceedances, which included those for oil and grease, biochemical oxygen demand and ammonia, were also violations of the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law. That law prohibits unauthorized discharges of industrial wastewater to the waters of the commonwealth.
Del Monte was issued a new water quality management permit by DEP on Jan. 27 to modify and repair the wastewater treatment lagoon. The company has 60 days to submit a revised preparedness, prevention and contingency plan that incorporates the newly modified wastewater treatment facilities.
The $3,498 fine was paid to the Clean Water Fund, which is used to help pay for cleanups across the state.
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