DEP closes N. Eagle dump site

By ERIC SEIVERLING

eseiverling@yourmvi.com

New Eagle received a surprise this week when the state Department of Environmental Protection told borough officials to close a popular dump site due to illegal dumping.

The dump site behind the public works garage on Howard Street is closed indefinitely as a result of an unannounced investigation by the DEP, the borough announced. The locks to the gates of the site have been changed to restrict access to the area.

According to council President Jack Fine, the area has been used as a dump site for the past 20 years. He said the site was approved for dumping items such as concrete without paint and shrubbery and brush.

“Some people have snuck in there and dumped what they shouldn’t,” he said. “It was garbage for the most part.”

Fine said it’s difficult to monitor who dumps at the site because there are two access points: the public works garage and at Tubby Hall Park.

“We have no control over Tubby Hall Park because that’s a community-sponsored park and it’s not under (council’s) authority,” he said. “Somebody could’ve gone in from there.”

DEP officials refused to comment, citing an ongoing investigation.

“DEP recently received complaints of illegal dumping, burning and spilled oil at various locations in the New Eagle Borough area,” DEP Community Relations Coordinator Lauren Fraley said in a statement. “DEP staff have been in communication with complainants and, on Monday, March 22, 2021, began inspecting sites alleged in the complaints. DEP’s complaint response and investigation is currently ongoing.

“While DEP cannot comment on the specifics of ongoing complaint responses and investigations, it is DEP practice to verbally advise parties of observations staff make during inspections, including applicable state regulations, necessary permitting, potential violations, and recommended corrective actions. DEP will continue to monitor the sites to ensure that compliance is achieved and maintained and will pursue enforcement as necessary to resolve any non-compliance.”

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