EPA Settlement With Lancaster Meat Processor Protects Local Waters

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced a settlement with the owner of a meat processing plant in Lancaster, Pa., for allegedly failing to properly pre-treat its industrial waste before discharging it to the City’s wastewater treatment plant. EPA’s settlement with Kunzler & Company Inc. includes a $40,000 penalty and seeks to protect the Conestoga River and local streams from unpermitted and excessive discharges of waste.

Kunzler & Company’s Clean Water Act permit requires the pretreatment of wastewater produced at its meat processing plant at 652 Manor Street before it can be discharged to Lancaster’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Bypassing pretreatment or improperly pretreating can interfere with a wastewater plant’s ability to effectively treat sewage and waste, causing inadequately treated wastewater to be discharged to local waters.

EPA alleged Kunzler violated pretreatment permit limits on pH, necessary for limiting the acidity and alkalinity of wastewater discharges to the treatment plant. The company did not admit liability for the alleged violations, but has stated it is now complying with requirements of the permit.

For more information on EPA’s National Pretreatment Program, visit http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=3.