On September 27, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced it has issued a consent order to Max Environmental Technologies, Inc. to bring its waste treatment and disposal facility in Yukon, Westmoreland County into compliance with the federal Clean Water Act.

The joint agreement addresses the discharge of pollutants and structural and operational failures that EPA officials identified at the Yukon facility during a 2023 inspection.

The EPA worked closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on the case.

EPA officials inspected the facility in March 2023 to determine whether MAX was meeting the requirements of its industrial wastewater and stormwater discharge permits.

According to the EPA, its inspectors documented numerous failures to properly maintain and operate the facility, including, but not limited to, holes in the wastewater treatment system, inadequate reporting of wastewater sample results, and that pollution prevention training was not provided to employees.

Metals and other pollutants were found in landfill discharge and stormwater runoff at the facility from January 2022 to July 2023, EPA said.

In the Consent Order announced today, MAX has agreed to take action to eliminate the potential release of hazardous wastewater into the environment and to ensure that operations do not cause or contribute to unauthorized discharges from the Yukon facility.

The consent order requirements include, but are not limited to, retaining technical professionals to conduct wastewater sampling and evaluate certain operations and facilities, and developing a plan and schedule for correcting issues identified at the facility related to the permit violations.

MAX conducts industrial wastewater treatment activities under the Pennsylvania National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) issued by the PA DEP in keeping with the federal Clean Water Act (CWA).

In April 2024, the EPA announced an agreement with MAX that would address the facility’s compliance with state and federal hazardous waste management regulations.

Treated industrial wastewater from the MAX’s Yukon facility is discharged to the Sewickley Creek. The Sewickley Creek connects to the Youghiogheny River, which eventually joins the Monongahela River.

The 160-acre waste facility is surrounded by agricultural and residential properties and is located about 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, PA, in Westmoreland County.

Oct. 9 Virtual Listening Session

The EPA would like to hear from the surrounding community about the MAX facility.

A virtual listening session will be held on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm EDT.

The purpose of the meeting is to better understand past, current, and future community concerns related to the site.

Click Here to access the virtual meeting link.

Resource Links:

-- EPA Issues Consent Order To MAX Environmental Technologies To Ensure Compliance With Hazardous Waste Rules At Westmoreland County Facility [PaEN]

-- Mountain Watershed Assn. Will Install Warning Signs Around Wastewater Outfall Of MAX Environmental Technologies Yukon Facility In Sewickley Creek, Westmoreland County [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: 75% Of Hazardous Waste Accepted At MAX Environmental Yukon Facility In Westmoreland County Comes From Shale Gas Industry; Sludge Proposed To Be Delisted As Hazardous Waste  [PaEN]

[Posted: September 27, 2024] 

9/30/2024