Document XzL3Nj3GnaEjxvn0kEny2gjjB
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION 3
Four Penn Center 1600 JFK Blvd.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-2029
Report Title: Inspection Date(s): Regulatory Program(s): Type of Activity: Site/Facility Name: Permittee(s): Site/Facility Operator: Site/Facility Address:
Latitude: County/Parish: Permit Number: NAICS Code: Unique Project #:
Clean Water Act Compliance Inspection Report
12/12/2023
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Industrial Stormwater
Old Forge Power Equipment, Inc.
N/A
Old Forge Power Equipment, Inc.
5 Brookside Rd
Carbondale, PA 18407
4133'30"N
Longitude: 7531'35"W
Lackawanna County
Unpermitted
423140
SIC: 5015
ECAD-5485
Site/Facility Representative(s):
AJ (Anthony) Cimino
Phone: (570) 614-3552 EPA Inspectors:
Edward Simas, 3ED32 Phone: (215) 814-2120 Chuck Schadel Phone: (215) 814-5761 State/Local Inspectors: Paul Grella Phone: (570) 241-4249
Email:
Point of Contact
sales@oldforgepower.com
Email: Simas.Edward@epa.gov Email: Schadel.Chuck@epa.gov
Email: pgrella@pa.gov
Report Preparer Signature/Date
Supervisor Signature/Date
Simas, Edward
Digitally signed by Simas, Edward Date: 2024.06.17 10:29:01 -04'00'
Edward Simas, Inspector
NPDES Enforcement Section 1 (3ED32)
MICHAEL
Digitally signed by MICHAEL GREENWALD
GREENWALD 13:27:02 -04'00' Date: 2024.06.17
Michael Greenwald, Acting Section Chief NPDES Enforcement Section 1 (3ED32)
Unique Project#: ECAD-5485
Old Forge Power Equipment, Inc. 12/12/2023
Section
Table of Contents
Page
I Introduction............................................................................ 3 A Inspection Opening Conference...................................................................... 3 B Weather and Precipitation Conditions............................................................. 4 C Summary of the Facility.................................................................................. 4
II Facility Activity.............................................................................................. 4
III Observations.................................................................................................... 5
IV Records Review............................................................................................... 5
V Closing Conference......................................................................................... 5
VI List of Attachments.......................................................................................... 6
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Old Forge Power Equipment, Inc. 12/12/2023
I. Introduction
On December 12th 2023, an inspection team composed of staff from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") Region III (hereinafter, "EPA Inspection Team") conducted an industrial stormwater inspection of Old Forge Power Equipment, Inc. (hereinafter, "the facility"). The purpose of the inspection was to determine compliance with the Clean Water Act ("CWA").
As part of the inspection, the EPA Inspection Team reviewed areas and operations related to industrial activity and stormwater runoff. The EPA Inspection Team did not perform a full facility inspection. However, the inspection team did walk the Facility's perimeter, maintenance garage, and a stormwater pond.
A. Inspection Opening Conference
The EPA Inspection Team arrived at the facility at est. 3:30PM for the inspection. Inspectors met with the following facility representatives:
Name Edward Simas Chuck Schadel
AJ Cimino
Paul Grella Colin Hill
Table 1: Inspection Attendee List
Affiliation
Telephone
Email
EPA Region III Inspectors and Contractors
Lead Inspector
(215) 814-2120
Simas.Edward@epa.gov
Secondary Inspector (215) 344-1560
Schadel.Chuck@epa.gov
Site/Facility Representatives
Old Forge Power (570) 614-3552
sales@oldforgepower.com
Equipment, Inc.
State or County Representatives
PADEP
(570) 241-4249
pgrella@pa.gov
PADEP
(570) 218-2206
colhill@pa.gov
Edward Simas and Chuck Schadel displayed their credentials to Mr. Cimino at the outset of the inspection, and explained the purpose of the inspection was to determine compliance with the industrial storwmater requirements of the Clean Water Act. The EPA Inspection Team informed Mr. Cimino that any information that the Facility deemed to be confidential business information ("CBI") should be identified to EPA representatives during the inspection and it would be handled as CBI according to EPA's CBI procedures.
B. Weather and Precipitation Conditions
During the inspection, weather was cool and sunny. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service precipitation data for the date of the inspection and 5 days prior are provided in Table 2 below:
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Table 2. Precipitation Data
Station Name
Date
Richmond 0.1 NE, PA US US1PALC0027 Richmond 0.1 NE, PA US US1PALC0027 Richmond 0.1 NE, PA US US1PALC0027 Richmond 0.1 NE, PA US US1PALC0027 Richmond 0.1 NE, PA US US1PALC0027 Richmond 0.1 NE, PA US US1PALC0027
12/07/2023 12/08/2023 12/09/2023 12/10/2023 12/11/2023 12/12/2023
Precipitation Amount (inches)1 T 0.03 0.00 0.00 1.29
0.00
C. Summary of Facility
Old Forge Power Equipment, Inc. specializes in buying and selling used heavy equipment and supporting parts such as engines, water pumps, and compressors. The facility's website states that the heavy equipment inventory is broad and consists of backhoes, excavators, forklifts, etc. In the past, Mr. Cimino stated that the facility's land was owned by a small drilling company that processed decorative blue stone for building walkways and ledges. Mr. Cimino stated the facility has been operating for about eight years on a Monday - Friday, 8AM - 5PM schedule. The facility has a total of six employees. He also stated that maintenance such as oil changes are performed on site. Mr. Cimino led the group to his maintenance garage for oil changes and service on his heavy equipment. The garage was observed to have a trench drain inside in the east section, and Mr. Cimino stated it was plugged. Mr. Cimino stated that he has never had an NPDES permit or any other PADEP permit. He stated that he has only documented a variance from the city when first opening the facility. Mr. Cimino also stated that there appears to be a stormwater retention pond on his neighbor's property.
II. Facility Activity
During the inspection, the EPA Inspection Team walked approximately 500 feet on Brookside Road towards Main Street following Meredith Creek (Lackawanna River tributary). Meredith Creek and the Lackawanna River connect about 1,160 feet away from the facility (see Attachment 2, an aerial photograph of the facility from ArcGIS). The EPA Inspection Team walked about 160 feet north away from the corner of Brookside Road and Surface Drive to observe potential stormwater conveyance areas. The EPA Inspection Team then walked north through the west perimeter of the facility yard towards the maintenance garage. On the way, the EPA Inspection Team observed a stormwater retention pond that Mr. Cimino stated was on his neighbor's property. The EPA Inspection Team then toured the inside of the maintenance garage. The observations from the inspection are described in detail below in the Observations section.
1 Source: NOAA National Climatic Data Center (http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/).
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Photographs were taken during the inspection by Chuck Schadel, and are provided in Attachment 1 below.
III. Observations
Debris and Erosion
Observation 1: The EPA Inspection Team observed debris and erosion in several different areas around the facility. Erosion and a dumped tire were observed on the banks of a culvert approximately 20 feet from the facility entrance (DSCN4059). The EPA Inspection Team then observed erosion (DSCN4062) and debris (DSCN4063) on the east section of the facility to the north of the corner of Surface Drive and Brookside Road. The contours of the Facility appear to direct stormwater discharges towards Meredith Creek, which discharges into the Lackawanna River.
Staining
Observation 2: Dark staining was observed in multiple areas surrounding engine parts scattered around facility yard (DSCN4067 - DSCN4068).
Large exposed storage piles
Observation 3: There was a large pile of scrap metal at the northeast corner of the Facility (DSCN4068). The large pile of scrap metal did not appear to have any stormwater management controls surrounding it.
IV. Records Review
A records review was not conducted for this inspection.
V. Closing Conference
After the inspection, the EPA Inspection Team met with the Facility representatives for a closing conference and shared preliminary observations. The EPA Inspection Team reiterated to the facility representatives that all preliminary observations discussed were not compliance determinations. Any and all preliminary observations shared were subject to further investigation by EPA upon the additional review of records and documentation. Additional observations may be contained in this inspection report that were not identified at the time of the closing conference after EPA reviewed additional materials following the inspection. The inspection concluded at approximately 4:15PM.
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VI. List of Attachments
Old Forge Power Equipment, Inc. 12/12/2023
Attachment 1: Photo Log Attachment 2: Old Forge Power Equipment, Inc. Topographic Map
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Attachment 1: Photo Log
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DSCN4059 Meredith Creek - About 40 ft south, across from the entrance to facility yard (Note tire displaced (red box) into stream and erosion on banks upstream westwards surrounding pipe (red arrow)
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DSCN4060 Driveway of facility - Note various cars and heavy equipment approximately 30ft to the north of road
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DSCN4065 Meredith Creek (tributary of Lackawanna River) running
eastwards through a culvert towards Main Street
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DSCN4066 Meredith Creek Culvert (approximately 100 ft
east downslope of driveway)
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DSCN4063 Edge of east boundary of facility approximately 50ft west of Main street and 20ft north of driveway - Note debris
scattering downslope.
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DSCN4062 Edge of east boundary of facility - note erosion and scattered debris about 550ft west of the Lackawanna River
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DSCN4068 Facility yard - note staining (red arrow) and pile of scrap metal parts in northeast (boxed)
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DSCN4067 Pumps and engine parts in facility yard - note dark staining
surrounding parts (red box)
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Meredith Creek Lackawanna River
DSCN4064 Note Erosion and pooled water (Facility is uphill to the west, brookside road is 300ft south in photo)
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DSCN 4069 Trench drain (red box) in maintenance garage - drain was plugged at time of inspection.
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Attachment 2: Old Forge Power Equipment, Inc. Topographic Map
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