TodayA partial compliance alliance with Flying J, Petro
Flying J to work with township to fix storm water system, Petro less forthcoming.
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Article RatingMiddlesex Township is making progress toward cleaning up its truck stops – on one front, anyway.
The supervisors hosted Flying J Waste Resource Manager Rex Ausburn at Wednesday’s meeting, and board Chairman Victor Stabile said Ausburn committed to working with the township to clean up the facility.
Stabile said he is also happy with Flying J’s response to past Middlesex concerns.
“The few times we’ve had problems with Flying J, the headquarters has been very responsive,” he said. Petro is another matter. “We haven’t had any similar entrée from Petro yet.”
Previously, that location and a nearby Petro were cited for non-compliance with the township’s ordinance on storm water management because the water coming off the property was contaminated.
Visiting the board from Flying J’s Utah headquarters, Ausburn told the supervisors that contracts are out to repair curbing and make other improvements to the facility, Stabile said.
Flying J opened in 1995 and has parking spaces for 300 trucks and has 21 showers, Ausburn told supervisors. A staff of four handles maintenance at the facility.
“Basically what he was telling us, I think, is the place gets used hard 24/7,” Stabile said.
Ausburn also explained to supervisors the Middlesex Flying J’s “peat system” for filtering runoff, Stabile said. It works like a septic system, except it filters wastewater through 2 to 3 feet of peat before discharging the water to the soil for final disposal.
“Apparently it works pretty well if it’s properly maintained,” Stabile said. “The peat has to be recharged or maintained every so often.”
Township Zoning Officer Mark Carpenter and Middlesex Engineer Bud Grove met with Flying J representatives at the municipal building Thursday to discuss the company’s steps toward fixing the problem.
“Flying J has prepared a plan of action in order to have maintenance conducted on their storm water management system in order to bring it into compliance,” Carpenter said.
The company is working with the township and has hired contractors to complete the needed work, he said.
“There could have been a fine, but there’s no reason to pursue a fine as long as they’re cooperating to get the work done,” Carpenter said.
A representative from Petro’s corporate office in Ohio could not be reached Friday.
With that company being less involved in the township’s cleanup efforts, the state Department of Environmental Protection sent a letter to the local station describing an oily pond in the back.
“Letort Springs Run, a High Quality Cold Water Fishes stream, is a short distance behind the pond and receives overflow from the pond,” according to the letter.
It also called on Petro to work with Middlesex officials to clean up the area and comply with the township’s pollution limits.
