The state Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have fined a mobile home park owner more than $1.3 million for drinking and waste water issues at numerous mobile home parks - including two in Lycoming County and two in Northumberland County.
Frank T. Perano, of GSP Management Co. and all related companies, has signed a consent decree with the two agencies. It will allow Perano and his companies to avoid litigation but require him to clean up the water issues in his 73 mobile home parks - 70 of which are in Pennsylvania.
Both agencies have monitored various water problems in the parks for the last five years. Violations include illegal discharge of partially treated sewage into nearby streams and improperly maintained wastewater treatment facilities. Tested drinking water was found to contain excessive pollutants, according to federal drinking water standards.
In Lycoming County, Tiadaghton View and Twin Hills Village, both in Montoursville, were found to have polluted drinking water.
In Northumberland County, D&H Court was cited for polluted drinking water, while Bucknell View was found to have both drinking water and sanitation issues. Both sites are in Milton.
The residents of the parks were not notified about the danger, according to DEP.
The consent decree addresses specific violations at 32 Pennsylvania mobile home parks and necessitates that Perano take action to ensure that the water drinking standards are met.
DEP Secretary Mike Krancer said the consent decree should serve as a warning to other mobile home park owners who may have "disregard for our environmental protection laws."
