Ferguson Township will discuss impacts, response to last month’s oil spill in public forum
Following a heating oil spill in Ferguson Township last month, a public forum will be held to focus on the impact of the spill, the communications response and guidance on who to contact in future situations.
The township will hold a public forum at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Baileyville Community Hall, 210 Deibler Road, Pennsylvania Furnace.
During a recent “coffee and conversation” — an event the township regularly holds to give residents the opportunity to engage with township staff and some elected officials — some of the township’s agriculture community said they were concerned about the oil spill, according to a release from the township. Those in attendance suggested the township review the way emergency events are communicated with residents.
“While the investigation and clean-up efforts fall under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, it is with the best interests of safety and care that the Township seeks to inform and strengthen communication efforts among those impacted by the spill,” the release states.
Representatives attending the public forum include Ferguson Township’s manager, Centrice Martin, police chief, John Petrick and stormwater engineer, Aaron Jolin. During the forum, they’ll focus on the impact of the oil spill and the communications response, and provide residents with guidance on who to contact during an environmental emergency.
The township also plans to address concerns about unintended environmental impacts to residents, livestock and the agricultural community.
Centre Region acting fire director and emergency management coordinator Shawn Kauffman and State College Borough Water Authority executive director Brian Heiser will also be there. They’ll discuss their role in environmental crises and the maintenance of safe drinking water, the release states.
In mid-January, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection began a remedial response and investigation into a report of “a sheen on the surface of a small stream and pools of red-dyed oil” in Ferguson Township, according to a release from the township.
The oil came from a residential home that no longer uses heating oil but “erroneously received a delivery of heating oil,” the release states. The oil was discharged into the basement where a sump pump then pumped some of the heating oil into an unnamed tributary to Beaver Branch, according to the release.
In an email Thursday, Jamar Thrasher, press secretary for the state DEP, said approximately 300 gallons were delivered.
“Approximately 200 gallons was recovered in the basement, and approximately 100 gallons was released to Beaver Branch via the sump pump,” Thrasher wrote.
There are no “significant surface water concerns” at this time, he said, and the cleanup was considered complete about a week ago.
This story was originally published February 9, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
