20250208-246690

PUBLIC NOTICE Hazardous Sites Cleanup Under the Act of October 18, 1988 Notice of Prompt-Interim Response North Centre Township PFAS Investigation: North Centre Township, Columbia County The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), under the authority of the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) (35 P.S. 6020.101-6020.1305), has initiated a Prompt-Interim Response at the North Centre Township PFAS Investigation Site. This response has been initiated pursuant to Sections 501(a) and 505(b) of HSCA (35 P.S. 6020.501(a) and 6020- 505(b)). The site is located at: North Centre Township, Columbia County, PA. The North Centre Township PFAS Investigation is located in an area within a radial distance of .5 mile around a public water supply well located at the Brookside Village Mobile Home Park (Brookside). Upon detection of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above federal drinking water standards in the public drinking water supply at Brookside, DEP initiated a sampling program to determine whether private supply wells within the investigation area are impacted. Sampling of private properties in the area have indicated impacts at varying levels to residential supply wells. The North Centre Township PFAS Investigation to date consists of the testing of private supply wells within the study area to identify those having PFAS concentrations above federal drinking water standards. The objectives of the investigation are to identify impacted private wells, provide an immediate alternative source of drinking water, evaluate alternatives for interim mitigation, identify the extent of contamination, and trace potential sources of the contamination. PFAS compounds have been associated with negative impacts to human health and present a danger to public health and the environment. PFAS has been found to be present in groundwater utilized as a drinking water source at the site and is potentially present in soils on properties where historic permitted biosolids application has occurred. Interim mitigation response alternatives to be evaluated by DEP include 1) no action, 2) informing the property owners of the contamination and providing information on in-home treatment options, 3) providing bottled water as an alternative drinking water source, and 4) providing in-home treatment systems. The proposed prompt interim alternative is a combination of 3 and 4, with the provision of bottled water as an immediate mitigation followed by installation of an in-home treatment system. This combination is the interim option that is most protective of human health that is currently both available and implementable. Additional alternatives may be considered when evaluating a final remedy. Upon receipt of laboratory analytical data showing concentrations of regulated PFAS compounds above federal drinking water standards, DEP has been arranging the delivery of bottled drinking water as an immediate alternative drinking water source. A General Technical Assistance Contractor has been requisitioned to assist DEP with sampling, treatment system design and installation, and investigation of potential sources. This notice is being provided pursuant to Section 506(b) of HSCA. The Administrative Record which contains the information that forms the basis and documents the selection of this response action is available electronically for public review and comment by clicking on the North Centre Township PFAS Investigation tile at Northcentral Community Information | Department of Environmental Protection | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Administrative Record will be open for comment from February 22, 2025 until May 23, 2025. Any person may submit written comments into the record during this time only by sending them electronically to RA-EPNCECCOMMENTS@pa.gov, by mail to Cheryl Sinclair at DEP, 208 W. 3rd St, Suite 101, Williamsport, PA 17701, or by delivering them to this office in person. In addition, any person may present oral comments of up to three minutes for inclusion in the Administrative Record at a public hearing on March 19, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Lime Ridge Community Center, corner of 4th St and Hughes St, Bloomsburg, PA 17815. Any person wishing to present comments must register with Megan Lehman at meglehman@pa.gov or 570-327-3659. Onsite registration to speak at the hearing will also be accepted if time allows. Persons with a disability who wish to attend the hearing and require accommodation should contact Megan Lehman, Regional Communications Manager, at 570-327-3659 or meglehman@pa.gov, or the Pennsylvania Hamilton Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TDD) to discuss how the Department can meet their needs.