William & Barbara Summerville for Galvin Pond in Ridgebury Township, Bradford County; Valley View Lake Association for Valley View in Greenwood Township, Columbia County; George T. Schmidt for Beaver Pond in Delaware Township, Pike County; Maple Creek Mining Inc. for Slurry Pond #2 Dam A and Treated Water Pond, both in Fallowfield Township, Washington County; and Elmer Reese for Perrins Marsh in Northmoreland Township, Wyoming County now all face legal action by Pennsylvania’s department of environmental protection (DEP).
Under the state’s Dam Safety and Encroachment Act, Pennsylvania dam owners have an obligation to draw up emergency action plans in the event that any of their facilities fail. Of the dam owners the DEP served with notices of violation in April this year, the five have yet to respond to the department’s orders.
They now face penalties of up to US$10,000 plus US$500 for every day they fail to act.
