More than 11,000 violations were found during Operation Clean Sweep

On behalf of Gov. Tom Ridge, Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary David E. Hess today announced that trash-truck inspections during Operation Clean Sweep resulted in haulers being cited for 11,082 safety and environmental violations.

In addition, 12 trucking firms were cited for 2,073 violations, accounting for nearly one-fifth of all violations issued by DEP, Pennsylvania State Police and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) during Pennsylvania's largest-ever environmental enforcement effort from May 21 to May 29.

"This should be a wake-up call for these trucking companies," Secretary Hess said. "These are some of the largest waste haulers that do business in Pennsylvania, and they should be able to afford to maintain their trucks and keep them operating safely. So far, DEP has collected more than $34,000 in penalties for violations during Operation Clean Sweep, and more are expected as district justices hold hearings statewide.

"In addition to citations, DEP is sending each of the hauling companies notices of violation that will result in additional penalties from these firms. Pennsylvanians want safe vehicles on their roads, and these companies need to be responsible and stop operating unsafe trucks in the Commonwealth."

During Operation Clean Sweep, inspectors from DEP, State Police and PennDOT fanned out across the state to conduct surprise inspections of trash trucks at every landfill. They inspected more than 40,000 trucks.

DEP inspectors checked trucks for environmental violations, including leaking loads and improper tarps. State Police and PennDOT conducted safety inspections, looking for violations such as bad brakes and bald tires. All agencies checked for overweight trucks. In addition, PennDOT and State Police made sure drivers were licensed and had the proper paperwork.

A list of haulers with at least 10 violations during Operation Clean Sweep is attached and available on the PA PowerPort at www.state.pa.us or on DEP's website, www.dep.state.pa.us (directLINK "Clean Sweep violations").

11,000 violations were found by Operation Clean Sweep

· Waste Management Inc., 1001 Fannin St., Houston, Texas, 339 environmental, 554 safety;
· Kephart Trucking Co., P.O. Box 386, Bigler, Pa., 107 environmental, 338 safety;
· BFI, 757 N. Eldridge Parkway, Houston, Texas, 88 environmental, 65 safety;
· Leticia Inc., 2500 83rd St., North Bergen, N.J., 12 environmental, 99 safety;
· York Waste Disposal Inc., 1110 E. Princess St., York, Pa., 61 environmental, 17 safety;
· Wills Trucking Inc., 3185 Columbia Road, Richfield, Ohio, 50 environmental, 22 safety;
· Stratus Enterprises Inc., 8 Industrial Drive, Sharon, Pa., 15 environmental, 50 safety;
· Solid Waste Services Inc., 320 Godshall Drive, Harleysville, Pa., 22 environmental, 38 safety;
· Miners Fuel Co. Inc., P.O. Box 86, Tremont, Pa., 20 environmental, 37 safety;
· Dilex Trucking Inc., 1503 Astor St., South Plainfield, N.J., 21 environmental, 27 safety;
· LU Transport Inc., 2648 West 50th St., Chicago, Ill., 32 environmental, 14 safety;
· Vision Transport, 2 Fishhouse Road, South Kerney, N.J., 10 environmental, 35 safety;
· Republic Services, 110 SE 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 27 environmental, 10 safety;
· Iron City Express, 1260 Stoors Ferry Road, Coraopolis, Pa., four environmental, 29 safety;
· Chambers of Pennsylvania, 310 Leger Road, Irwin, Pa., 25 environmental, seven safety;
· Onyx Waste Services Inc., 178 River St., Patterson, N.J., 24 environmental;
· Odyssey Waste Service LLC, 1722 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa., 22 environmental;
· JP Mascaro & Sons, 320 Godshall Drive, Harleysville, Pa., 21 environmental;
· M & I Transport Inc., 400 Sipe Ave., Jersey City, N.J., 11 environmental, 10 safety;
· SMA Raza, Ledgewood, N.J., five environmental, 13 safety;
· Superior Waste Services Inc., 125 South 8th St., Milwaukee, Wis., 15 environmental;
· Waste Automation Corp., 2505 Old Rogers Road, Bristol, Pa., 15 environmental;
· Raritan Valley Disposal, 14 Hollandbrook Road, Whitehouse Station, N.J., 11 environmental, four safety;
· D & M Leasing Inc., 2 Fishhouse Road, South Kerney, N.J., 13 environmental;
· Gladiators Trucking Corp., 69-01 Polk St., West New York, N.J., seven environmental, six safety;
· Lebanon Farms Disposal Inc., 486 Obie Road, Newmanstown, Pa., 12 environmental;
· Speedy Services Inc., 124 Richey Avenue, Collingswood, N.J., 12 environmental; and
· East Coast Resources LLC, 6811 Kennilworth Avenue, Riverdale, Md., eight environmental, three safety

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

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