PA Fines Trucking Company Over $140,000 for Waste Violations

March 12, 2002
The Kephart Trucking Co. got swept up in Pennsylvania's efforts to improve environmental enforcement efforts, a move that could cost the company as much as $143,600.

The Kephart Trucking Co. got swept up in Pennsylvania''s efforts to improve environmental enforcement efforts, a move that could cost the company as much as $143,600.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) cited Kephart, of Bigler, Pa., for 113 waste transportation violations discovered last May during "Operation Clean Sweep," a week-long program emphasizing highway safety. In that one week alone, the state found a total of over 11,000 violations, and issued some $2 million in fines to waste haulers and truck drivers.

"Through Operation Clean Sweep, Pennsylvania has sent a powerful message that we will not tolerate unsafe trucks on our highways," says DEP Secretary David E. Hess. "This penalty underscores our resolve to make Pennsylvania highways a safer place and to continue our tough enforcement efforts against waste haulers."

From May 21 to May 29, 2001, 500 inspectors from DEP, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Department of Transportation conducted Operation Clean Sweep, the state''s largest-ever environmental enforcement effort. It involved surprise inspections of trash trucks at 63 sites, including every landfill. In all, DEP inspected more than 31,000 trucks.

The Kephart trucks were found to have 49 violations for leaking waste; 37 violations for improperly covered or enclosed waste; 20 violations for overweight vehicles; three violations for failure to have a municipal waste log; two violations for improper waste identification signs; and two violations for failure to have a fire extinguisher.

The violations were discovered at the Conestoga Landfill in Berks County; Alliance Landfill in Lackawanna County; CBF Landfill in Fayette County; Greenridge Landfill in Westmoreland County; Greentree Landfill in Elk County; and Shade Landfill in Somerset County.

The $143,604 civil penalty will become final following a 30-day public comment period that ends on April 8.

On Jan. 23, Gov. Schweiker unveiled a list of substantial legislative, policy and educational initiatives to combat dangerous driving in order to make Pennsylvania''s highways and work zones safer. Some of the initiatives targeted environmental concerns. The initiatives include:

Holding more frequent and random heavy-truck and waste-hauler inspections;

  • Targeting aggressive drivers;
  • Exploring ways to improve driver education for both heavy truck and automobile drivers;
  • Promoting more education and public awareness campaigns to ensure heavy-truck drivers, automobile drivers and work-zone employees share responsibility in making roadways safe;
  • Requiring all commercial drivers to take a knowledge test before obtaining a commercial driver permit for Class A or B; and
  • Examining how points and fines are given to all drivers committing violations in work zones.

For more information on solid waste issues, visit www.state.pa.us, keyword: "targeting trash."

by Sandy Smith ([email protected])

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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