A sign on Monday, Sept. 19, asks canoeists and kayakers to “please be patient” while an oil spill is cleaned up from the Connoquenesing Creek at the Renfrew Canoe and Kayak Launch in Renfrew. Multiple booms have been placed in the stream for clean up of the spill. Cary Shaffer/Butler Eagle

The company working to revamp the former Armco Plant 2 site has been issued a notice of violation by the state Department of Environmental Protection as a result of the Sept. 8 oil spill into the Connoquenessing Creek and Sullivan Run.

Sean Singer, water quality specialist supervisor for the DEP’s Clean Water Program sent the letter Friday notifying CERTA of the violation.

Within 10 days of receiving the letter, CERTA officials are required, in writing, to:

* Provide DEP with a timeline of events “that led to the discharge of hydraulic fluid from the CERTA Butler 2 property to the waters of the Commonwealth.”

* Provide an estimation on the amount of hydraulic fluid that was discharged into the creeks

* Describe in detail how and where the hydraulic fluid has been or is being removed from the creek by CERTA.

Singer said the hydraulic fluid was pumped at times onto wooden blocks from a 6-foot to 8-foot supply line. The line was broken during the removal of an old underground tank at the site.

The blocks, stacked on a cement foundation, were meant to soak up the oily substance.

“The department’s representative observed oil staining on the pavement from this same cement foundation area to a stormwater drain; observed hydraulic fluid within this same stormwater drain; and observed hydraulic fluid within a string of downstream stormwater drains from this same stormwater drain,” the letter states.

It goes on to say a slight sheen was observed in an area of Sullivan Run where the stormwater drain empties.

Sullivan Run empties into the Connoquenessing Creek near the site.

The letter states that hydraulic fluid is defined as industrial waste according the the state’s Clean Streams law.

According to the letter, CERTA could face civil penalties as a result of the discharge.

A report by the DEP agent who was notified Sept. 8 of oil in the Connoquenessing Creek by the county Hazardous Materials team states that two Canada geese could be seen walking near the creek off Hicks Road in Penn Township.

The agent said the geese "appeared to be covered in an oily substance,“ and that their feathers appeared clumped with a dark substance along their necks and white underbelly.

The report states that once the agent was informed of the location where the spill originated, he met with CERTA co-owner Kris Bamberger, who walked with him to Sullivan Run. A sheen could be seen in the run from a railroad bridge near Negley Avenue.

The agent then observed multiple areas of the Connoquenessing Creek and determined that oil could be detected in Sullivan Run from the CERTA property to an area just downstream of the bridge that carries Reibold Road over the creek in Forward Township.

The agent described various pools of dark fluid, algae mixed with the fluid, and a streak of hydraulic fluid in the middle of the creek that could be seen from the bridge carrying Meridian Road over the creek in the Renfrew area of Penn Township.

The agent said in the report that Bamberger immediately hired Professional Enterprises of Karns City to place booms across the creek in various locations to trap and remove the oil.

John Myers, owner of Professional Enterprises, said Monday that 10 booms are now in the creek between the CERTA property and Reibold Road to catch any hydraulic fluid that may remain in the creek.

Myers said the majority of the oily substance has been removed, but the booms will remain for about a month to ensure the creek is as free of oil as possible.

Myers said state and DEP officials were on site at the CERTA property on Monday, and took samples for study.

He said they were very pleased with the cleanup effort.

Myers said one of his employees floated in a kayak from the site of the spill to Eckstein Road in Forward Township, and found traces of oil only on piles of leaves near fallen trees in the creek.

He said the booms are checked by his crews every other day, but are showing minimal oil.

Jake Bamberger, co-owner of CERTA, could not be reached on Monday afternoon for comment on the report and notice of violation.

This sheen was detected in the Connoquenessing Creek as it passes under Reibold Road Bridge following an oil spill Sept. 8. A notice of violation because of the spill was issued to CERTA by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Submitted photo

Oil that overflowed from the former Armco Plant 2 on Sept. 8 can be seen coming from the building’s base into a storm drain. A notice of violation because of the spill was issued to CERTA by the state Department of Environmental Protection. Submitted photo