The Department of Environmental Protection will hold a public meeting and hearing on May 21 to outline its plan to clean up contamination in an unnamed tributary flowing through Conestoga Pines Park in the City of Lancaster, Lancaster County.

The 7 p.m. meeting will be at the Lancaster City Council Chambers at Southern Market Center, 100 S. Queen St., in Lancaster.

“This meeting provides an opportunity for the public to ask questions and voice any concerns about our proposed cleanup plan,” DEP Southcentral Regional Director Lynn Langer said. “The Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act authorizes DEP to take action and create a plan to return this tributary to a sound environmental state.”

From 1930 to 1970, there was a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Conestoga Park. As part of an unrelated site investigation the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandated, two groundwater monitoring wells drilled in 1991 and 1992 in the park showed elevated levels of volatile organic compounds. Among the contaminants found was TCE, an industrial solvent commonly used as a metal de-greaser.

After several more rounds of DEP sampling from 1999 to 2000, it was determined that the contamination was highest in the spring that forms the headwaters of the unnamed tributary. DEP also conducted a soil vapor investigation at a nearby residential development and swimming pool building to determine if vapor intrusion was a threat and determined that it was not.

The agency’s proposed response is to treat the TCE contamination in the tributary by installing and maintaining an aerator, which will bubble air through the spring headwaters. In addition, DEP will install several small rock dams to further reduce the volatile organic compound in the stream water.

DEP will also plant a buffer of thick vegetation or trees to discourage park users from entering the contaminated upper portion of the stream and will regularly test the stream to monitor the cleanup process, sharing test results with the city of Lancaster.

Once the stream consistently meets DEP cleanup standards, the agency will remove the aerator with the city’s agreement. The city of Lancaster will pay any electricity costs for the aerator.

During the hearing portion of the evening, the public will have an opportunity to present up to five minutes of oral testimony about the agency’s proposal. Those who wish to present oral testimony can register by calling Dave Hrobuchak at 717-705-4843 or by signing up the night of the hearing.

Individuals in need of an accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact Dave Hrobuchak at the above number or make accommodations through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 1-800-654-5984 (TDD).

For anyone unable to attend, written comment should be submitted by July 12, when the administrative record will close, to Dave Hrobuchak, DEP Southcentral Regional Office, 909 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg, PA 17110.

DEP staff will provide a written response to all significant testimony provided during the public hearing and public comment period.

As required under HSCA, the administrative record will be open for review and comment until July 12. It can be reviewed, by appointment, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at DEP’s Southcentral Regional Office at the address above. Call 717-705-4843 to make an appointment.

The administrative record may also be reviewed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays at the Lancaster City Hall by calling 717-291-4722 to make an appointment.

NewsClip: 21 Years Later, DEP Has A Plan To Cleanup Lancaster Stream

5/13/2013