N E W S R E L E A S E COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Betsy Mallison
442-4182
Rita Zettelmayer
(412) 442-4183
TERMINIX PAYS $225,000 PENALTY FOR SEVERE FISH KILL
Company
to implement pollution-prevention practices statewide
HARRISBURG (Aug. 18) – Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary James M. Seif today announced an agreement with Terminix International Co. for the company to change its termite-treatment procedures statewide and to pay penalties of $225,000 as a result of a severe fish kill in December 1997 on Little Ten Mile Creek and Ten Mile Creek in Amwell Township, Washington County.
"Over the past few years, termite treatments by Terminix and its competitors have caused several major fish kills in Commonwealth waterways," Seif said. "This penalty, the largest ever assessed for a termiticide-related fish kill in Pennsylvania, reminds the pest-control industry of the extra care required around streams, ponds, lakes and wells."
Under the agreement, Terminix will pay $137,500 to the Pennsylvania Clean Water Fund and $87,500 to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The company also will implement pollution-prevention practices that go beyond the pesticide label requirements, the minimum safeguards required by law.
"Through this legal agreement worked out as the result of the fish kill, Terminix will implement changes in its treatment procedures that will lead the way for other businesses in the pest-control industry to help prevent environmental problems," Seif said. "We appreciate Terminix's commitment to use safer practices in the future and hope that the rest of the pest-control industry will voluntarily adopt similar standards."
Because liquid pesticides can flow along buried piping, which the homeowner may not know about, Terminix will not use conventional liquid-treatment methods at any structure within 200 feet of a stream, pond or lake; any structure where foundation drains from the structure end within 150 feet of a waterway; or for any structure within 100 feet of a well.
Other treatment options, such as dry bait, can be used at structures near waterways. Seif said these are minimum treatment precautions and would have prevented the Amwell Township fish kill if used in 1997.
Terminix technicians also must conduct detailed inspections and complete extensive checklists for every prospective treatment site to assess potential pathways for termiticides to pollute waterways. Terminix is required to store and transport pesticides using procedures that will reduce the chance of accidental spills and releases, and to upgrade its spill-response procedures.
Terminix applied pesticides on Dec. 4, 1997, to a private residence 75 feet from Brush Run, a stream that flows into Little Ten Mile and Ten Mile Creek. By the next day, thousands of fish and aquatic invertebrates died, as the termiticide continued downstream for approximately eight miles.
Terminix used conventional treatment methods, drilling holes into the basement concrete floor and injecting chemicals into the soil beneath the floor. The termiticide traveled to Brush Run through gray water pipes beneath and around the house.
"Many homes have French drains, stormwater drains, and underground piping which form pathways for pollutants to enter streams and wells," Seif said. "In this case, Terminix did not evaluate the house and its water pathways thoroughly enough to avoid contamination."
During the incident, DEP issued a compliance order to Terminix to find and remove all pathways to the streams.
Marianna’s public water supply system ceased the intake of water from Ten Mile Creek for two days as a precaution.
For more information about water management, visit DEP through the Pennsylvania homepage at www.state.pa.us or directly at www.dep.state.pa.us (choose Subjects/Water Management).
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1999