Dear Friend, Clean Earth of Philadelphia (CEP) operates a contaminated soil incinerator at 3201 N 61st St. in Southwest Philadelphia and Clean Air Council has serious concerns about the water pollution that this facility could be dumping into the Schuylkill River, and eventually the Delaware. CEP is currently applying to renew its stormwater discharge permit with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Clean Air Council urges you to tell DEP to deny this permit renewal application because stormwater management guidelines are clearly not being followed at this facility. CEP claims that two of its stormwater outfalls stopped discharging stormwater to the Schuylkill River in the summer of 2020 and have not discharged since. CEP even claims that the third outfall to the Schuylkill River has not discharged stormwater since 2016. Yet, CEP has provided no justification for how this is possible. CEP admits that the vast majority of stormwater that enters the site flows in the direction of the Schuylkill River and into the three stormwater outfalls, and additionally claims that 79% of the site (347,302 square feet) is comprised of impervious area that does not absorb water. It is physically impossible for this site to not discharge stormwater into the Delaware River during rain events. Before CEP claimed that the outfalls stopped discharging stormwater, their own testing of discharged stormwater confirmed high levels of lead which is extremely toxic to aquatic life. This facility is less than three miles from the Delaware River and this facility’s water pollution must be reduced in order to protect the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers. In March 2023, during an inspection, DEP discovered standing water at the facility that it deemed a public nuisance. Clearly, stormwater controls are not functioning at this facility and DEP must not grant this permit renewal before these issues are fully resolved. Please tell the DEP to reject this application for a stormwater discharge permit renewal. Comments are due today, May 22. | |
Joseph Otis Minott, Esq.
Executive Director and Chief Counsel | |
