MAX Environmental, formerly Mill Service, has a history of violations of under the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (hazardous waste regulations), and has continuously been out of compliance for the past two years.[1],[2],[3]
Only recently has the USEPA undertaken any substantive enforcement action.[4],[5] On April 29th, USEPA issued a Consent Order[6] based a 50-page inspection report prepared by the National Environmental Inspection Center (NEIC).[7]
But for current and former residents of Yukon, it is too little, too late and provides them with no protections going forward.[8] USEPA’s Consent Order does not go far enough to hold MAX Environmental and its owners to account.
Between 1985 and 1990, the most active years of Concerned Residents of Youghiogheny, the people of Yukon called attention to adverse health effects on the community.[9],[10] Neither the state nor the federal government acted based on a flawed Environmental Indicators report prepared by the state that said contaminants from MAX Environmental did not reach residences or impact nearby wells.[11]
Yukon is downwind of Max Environmental and windblown dusts and smoke from fires at the disposal facility are carried to residents homes and property.[12],[13] Vapor from volatile contaminants can migrate from the disposal site and enter the basement of citizen’s homes. Groundwater is contaminated by historic operations and improperly closed earthen surface impoundments.[14],[15],[16]
Despite resident’s decade long concerns, off-site soil and groundwater testing has been limited. USEPA and the PA Department of Environmental Protection failed to address resident’s legitimate concerns.
Current and former resident suffer the health consequences of improper operations by MAX Environmental and its predecessor company, and decades of neglect by USEPA and the PA Department of Environmental Protection.[17],[18]
At a minimum, medical monitoring should be available to current and former residents of Yukon. A registry of health outcomes should be developed by the Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry. The Agency should concurrently conduct a cancer cluster assessment in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
MAX Environmental must be held accountable for the adverse health impacts to Yukon residents due to current and historic operations. USEPA and the state have an obligation to assure justice is served for the Yukon community. They deserve nothing less.
[2] Letter dated May 5, 1982, from PA Department of Environmental Resources to Mill Service, Inc. Re: Report of Site Conditions and Groundwater Monitoring Program for Hazardous Waste Facility, Yukon Plant, South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County
[3] PA Department of Environmental Resources, Internal Memo dated May 21, 1982, Scott McDougal (Bureau of Solid Waste Management), Re: Summary of Problems and Compilation of Former Department Comments Regarding the Yukon Disposal Facility
[4] https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-issues-consent-order-max-environmental-technologies-ensure-compliance-hazardous
[5]https://yosemite.epa.gov/OA/RHC/EPAAdmin.nsf/Filings/4580652BFB7C0B3A85258B080057F17B/%24File/Max%20Environmental%20Technologies%20Inc_Yukon_RCRA%20AOC_April%2019%202024.pdf
[6]https://yosemite.epa.gov/OA/RHC/EPAAdmin.nsf/Filings/4580652BFB7C0B3A85258B080057F17B/$File/Max%20Environmental%20Technologies%20Inc_Yukon_RCRA%20AOC_April%2019%202024.pdf
[7] https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24164888-max-epa-neic-civil-investigation-report_march-2023
[9] https://digital.library.pitt.edu/islandora/object/pitt%3AUS-PPiU-ais200414/viewer#aspace_ref252_ht7
[10] Final Report on Yukon, PA, Marc Lappe, Ph.D. (October 5, 1992)
[14] https://www.epa.gov/hwcorrectiveactioncleanups/hazardous-waste-cleanup-max-environmental-technologies-incorporated
[15] https://www.dep.pa.gov/About/Regional/SouthwestRegion/Community%20Information/Pages/MAX-Yukon-Haz.-Waste-Landfill-No.-7-.aspx
[16] https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/hwcorrectiveactionsites/hazardous-waste-cleanup-max-environmental-technologies-incorporated-0_.html
[17] Letter dated May 5, 1982, from PA Department of Environmental Resources to Mill Service, Inc. Re: Report of Site Conditions and Groundwater Monitoring Program for Hazardous Waste Facility, Yukon Plant, South Huntingdon Township, Westmoreland County
[18] PA Department of Environmental Resources, Internal Memo dated May 21, 1982, Scott McDougal (Bureau of Solid Waste Management), Re: Summary of Problems and Compilation of Former Department Comments Regarding the Yukon Disposal Facility
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