May 8, 2003 By Steve Ostrosky 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – The recent discovery of chemical tanks on a rural township farm forced one Greene County planning official to ask residents Wednesday to be careful when handling tanks that may have been deposited on their property without their knowledge. Mary Jane Kent, solid waste and recycling coordinator, told the county commissioners that tanks with two dangerous chemicals were found on a Springhill Township farm last month, and the chemicals were sickening the property owners and the animals they raised.

Both the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Agriculture have become involved in the tank removal, and officials from both departments are attempting to find out who owned the tanks and why they were tossed on to the farmland.

Kent said it took weeks to find a company with the expertise to properly remove the chemicals, used in home insulation, from the property, and she said the ownership issue is still in question.

“That’s now in the hands of DEP and the agriculture department,” she said. “This may have been used for insulation, but the fact is it is still a poison.”

Kent encouraged residents who find tanks on their property to leave them at their location and contact her or the county 911 center for further instructions.

Kent also updated the commissioners on the success of the recycling program and the PA CleanWays effort within the county. So far this year, she said, crews have removed more than 9,000 tires from illegal dumpsites, cleaned six sites and adopted seven roads.

During the brief meeting Wednesday, the commissioners placed several items on the agenda for their meeting today, including a motion to award a contract for a tractor and to appoint two people to the county’s Local Emergency Planning Commission.