DEP Fines Dear Mobile Home Park Owner $10,000 for Illegal Waste Dumping, Burning in Tioga County

WILLIAMSPORT — The Department of Environmental Protection announced today that it has fined George Dear, owner of the Dear Mobile Home Park in Lawrence Township, Tioga County, $10,000 for illegally dumping and burning solid waste on his property in May 2010.

It was Dear’s third violation of the Solid Waste Management Act for the same illegal activities since November 1996.

“Mr. Dear committed these same violations in 1996 and 2002, but he apparently did not learn from his mistakes,” said DEP North-central Regional Director Nels Taber. “All residents of Pennsylvania must understand that you cannot simply dump solid waste on the ground and burn it.”

The DEP conducted a complaint investigation at Dear’s property in early May 2010 and discovered waste being dumped and burned there. The burn area contained remnants of tires, construction and demolition waste, microwaves, paint cans, styrofoam, waste from trailers, and ash residue.

The department issued a notice of violation to Dear requiring the waste to be removed and properly disposed. A follow-up inspection by DEP in early June 2010 determined that Dear had complied.

Following an initial payment of $1,000, the remainder of the fine is being paid in 12 monthly installments to the Solid Waste Abatement Fund, which helps to finance cleanups across the state.

For more information, call 570-327-3659 or visit www.depweb.state.pa.us.