Latest news with #MountainWatershedAssociation
CBS News
18-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
High lead levels found were found in Blue Hole Creek. Officials believe they found the source.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says it has learned where the lead in Blue Hole Creek is coming from. In May, water testing by the Mountain Watershed Association revealed Blue Hole Creek, which runs through Forbes State Forest in Saltlick Township, had high lead levels. In a three-page notice of violation letter, sent on July 11th, the DEP cites Highlands Sporting Clays shooting range as the source for all the lead showing up in the nearby creek. In this letter, the DEP said, "The Department has observed significant quantities of lead shot on Highland Sporting Clays' property, and that the best management practices … have not been implemented to prevent runoff contamination from the lead shot to Blue Hole Creek." The letter goes on to describe the violations against Highland Sporting Clays, as well as outline what the organization needs to address going forward, including: Recent water testing at the popular swimming and fishing spot in Somerset County revealed there was 425 parts per billion lead content in the water, up from 370 parts per billion in May. The acceptable amount of lead in water is zero parts per billion. KDKA reached out to Highlands Sporting Clays about this letter several times on Thursday and Friday, but did not hear back. KDKA did connect with Eric Harder, a Youghiogheny riverkeeper with the Mountain Watershed Association. He said there are several things Highlands Sporting Clays can do, along with their cleanup effort. "The next step would be to have Highlands switch over from a lead shot to a steel shot. And there have been comments like 'oh, that's more expensive' or 'that's harder on the firearm,'" Harder said. "And that all comes back to a monetary problem. It's hard to put a value on clean water." Harder says that the Mountain Water Shed is still testing and monitoring the waters of Blue Hole Creek biweekly. And he says his organization has been in close contact with the DEP on this issue and that the DEP tells them that Highland Sporting Clays has responded in a positive manner. "We do feel that it's a good thing to point out who this polluter is and hold them accountable," said Harder. "But again, we also think it is great that Highland Sporting Clays is already acknowledging that problem." When KDKA was last at Blue Hole Creek in May, there were signs all over this area warning people about the danger of the lead in the water. The signs, posted by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, seem to be gone. The important thing to know is that if you find yourself by Blue Hole Creek, do not drink or let your pets drink the water, and if you find yourself in the water, exercise extreme caution.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
New signs posted at Blue Hole Creek warn of high lead levels
After recent water testing by the Mountain Watershed Association revealed that parts of Blue Hole Creek had lead levels exceeding 370 parts per billion, signs along the creek from the Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources have gone up in popular spots to warn people of the danger. To put that 370 parts per billion number into perspective, the Mountain Watershed Association says that Flint, Michigan's water had just 12 parts per billion at the height of their crisis; even 12 parts per billion, however, is still dangerous. The federal government says no amount of lead in water is safe for humans or animals in any way. Stuart Thompson, an avid hiker, former trail volunteer, and ridge runner with the Department of Natural Resources, says he knows the trails around that creek well and is worried about the environment. "I am shocked, appalled, and sickened," Thompson said. "This place… It's as wild as you can get, pretty much in this part of the county. And for that to happen, that (water) is now fouled, probably permanently." Both the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and DCNR say that this lead is not naturally occurring; there is an open investigation into how this water was contaminated. Many in the surrounding Middlecreek and Saltlick townships wonder if the lead contamination could be coming from points on the top of the mountain, such as lead-lined gas tanks at an old airfield or even lead from shells at a local shooting range. Thompson says whoever is causing this needs to be held accountable. "This needs to be investigated thoroughly by science and by people who know their stuff," said Thompson. "Do soil samples. I would think soil samples up the mountain, to measure the density of how much lead is here and here and here, you could probably pretty well funnel where it is coming from." If you find yourself near Blue Hole Creek, especially during Memorial Day weekend, observe the signs and heed the warnings. Be very cautious if you are swimming, and as the state says, under no circumstances should you be trying to drink this water.
CBS News
12-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
High lead levels found in parts of Blue Hole Creek
Recent water testing by the Mountain Watershed Association has revealed that Blue Hole Creek, which runs through Forbes State Forest in Saltlick Township, has a lot of lead in the water. "First round of sampling was 370 ug/l (micrograms per liter) of water," said Eric Harder, a Youghiogheny riverkeeper with the Mountain Watershed Association. "In the drinking water world, you use parts per billion. If people were to have that in their drinking water or lead in their drinking water over one part per billion, the EPA says that's intentionally harmful to your health. And in this situation, leaves were at 370 ppb." To put that 370 ppb number into perspective, Flint, Michigan's water had just 12 ppb at its worst. Normally, this creek is considered an exceptional value waterway, a designation reserved for streams that have the best water quality, but now the water keepers and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources say that the public needs to know the danger this water poses. "At this time, our recommendation is to avoid using that stream for consumption of fish," said Harder. "Avoid drinking (the water) and even be wary of jumping in and using it as a swimming hole." Right now, the Mountain Watershed Association and the DCNR are working to find the source of this pollution and bring it under control. The hope is that soon there will be signs posted around the stream to alert people that the water is contaminated.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Investigators uncover hidden source of long-term community health crisis: 'There have been so many violations over the years'
Normally, the average landfill is not supposed to accept hazardous waste and radioactive material. But exceptions are made for waste from oil and gas fracking. One facility in Pennsylvania has been polluting local waterways and damaging the surrounding community since it opened in 1964 due to heavy metals and radioactive material from fracking and other industrial waste, Inside Climate News reported. As recently as 2024, signage was added to the bank of Sewickley Creek near Yukon, Pennsylvania. It stands across the water from a slowly seeping pipe and reads, "Warning! Hazardous Waste Discharge Point. Arsenic, lead, cyanide, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and more are permitted substances for discharge at this site." The pipe leads from the Max Environmental Technologies landfill, a waste disposal site that accepts wastewater and other materials from fracking operations, as well as a range of industrial waste. The water being discharged into the creek has, in theory, been treated, but Max Environmental's Yukon landfill is known to be out of compliance with regulations regarding hazardous waste disposal. Testing reveals that the radioactive content of the water downstream from it is 1.4 times higher than the content upstream. Stacey Magda, managing community organizer at the Mountain Watershed Association, told Inside Climate News, "It's not maintained properly. It's in really bad shape, and that's really the norm for the whole facility." The people of Yukon have been exposed to this toxic pollution for decades without warning or precaution. There used to be no signs at the Sewickley Creek site, and the drain pipe is normally submerged underwater, invisible to visitors. The spot has been popular for kayaking and fishing, meaning people have been exposed to the contaminated water. Beyond this one creek, the contamination from Max Environmental affects the surrounding area, including the Youghiogheny River and the Monongahela River, which Sewickley Creek flows into. The result has been a heightened rate of cancers, miscarriages, respiratory distress, and neurological diseases throughout the community compared to state and national averages. More broadly, the lack of regulation on this type of waste and the lax enforcement of what regulation does exist means that any community could be exposed to improperly treated water or other contamination from a dumping site. Do you worry about having toxic forever chemicals in your home? Majorly Sometimes Not really I don't know enough about them Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Regulators from the EPA and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection have taken some steps against the facility, issuing citations and temporarily stopping waste disposal there. However, it hasn't been enough. "There have been so many violations over the years," said longtime Yukon resident Debbie Franzetta, according to Inside Climate News. "And what they do is they pay the fines, and they continue to operate." More decisive legal action will be needed to protect Pennsylvania residents from this ongoing pollution. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
