Pennsylvania DEP Cites Company for Air Quality Violation

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has levied a $14,300 fine against Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc. of Bellefonte, Centre County, for state air quality violations at plants it owns in three counties, DEP Regional Director Robert Yowell announced.

“The company had numerous air quality violations at four plants, and our penalty reflects both the number and nature of these violations,” Yowell said.

DEP inspections conducted in July 2003 and August 2003 revealed that Hawbaker was not taking appropriate measures to control dust at its sand and gravel processing plant in Canton Township, Bradford County, resulting in air pollution caused by particulate matter. Particulate matter is tiny bits of solid matter or liquid drops from smoke, dust, fly ash or vapors that can be suspended in the air for long periods of time.

An inspection in August 2003 by DEP staff at a quarry in Rush Township found that Hawbaker had violated its DEP air quality permit by emitting excessive amounts of particulate matter to the atmosphere.

A September 2003 inspection by DEP at a Hawbaker asphalt plant in Spring Township determined that the company had burned reprocessed oil that contained excessive amounts of halides, resulting in multiple violations of its air quality plan approval previously issued by DEP. Halides include chlorine and fluorine, commonly used on solvents and plastics. When burned, they may combine with organics to form dioxin-like compounds.

Finally, in fall 2003 the company burned reprocessed oil at its asphalt plant in Loyalsock Township before receiving DEP air quality plan approval to do so.