Sauder Schelkopf is monitoring and investigating reported PFAS contamination in and around the Boyertown Landfill area in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, based on recent government disclosures and media reporting.
According to information released by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and local reporting, the Boyertown Sanitary Landfill is listed as a Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act (HSCA) site, with testing identifying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other contaminants in soil and groundwater near the site.
Recent reporting indicates that:
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PFAS were detected in the water supply of Gilbertsville Elementary School, which is located approximately 3,000 feet from the landfill
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Testing reportedly showed PFAS levels that fall below current Pennsylvania standards but would exceed federal drinking water limits scheduled to take effect in the coming years if not reduced
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DEP sampling in the surrounding area has identified PFAS in private wells, and point-of-entry treatment systems have reportedly been installed at some residences
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State and federal agencies are evaluating whether the landfill should be considered for inclusion on the EPA’s National Priorities (Superfund) List
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Montco school in shadow of toxic landfill finds PFAS in its water
PFAS, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” are synthetic compounds that can persist in the environment and drinking water for long periods. Health authorities have linked certain PFAS exposures to potential health risks, although the full scope of effects continues to be studied.
Who May Wish to Contact Us
You may wish to speak with an attorney if you:
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Live, work, or attend school near the Boyertown Landfill
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Rely on private well water or local water systems in the area
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Have received PFAS test results for your water supply
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Have incurred costs related to water testing, filtration, or remediation
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Have health or property concerns you believe may be related to environmental contamination
Contact Sauder Schelkopf
If you believe you or your family may have been impacted by similar PFAS or environmental contamination, we encourage you to contact Sauder Schelkopf for a confidential consultation to discuss your situation and potential legal options.
Sauder Schelkopf and co-counsel reached a $10.3 million settlement on behalf of businesses impacted by a massive power outage and evacuation caused by a bridge builder on the Outer Banks. Joe Sauder also has a history of environmental litigation where he assisted with the trial of the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant in Colorado, which ultimately resulted in a $375 million settlement.
Experience Matters
Sauder Schelkopf has a nationally recognized litigation practice. The firm currently serves as court-appointed lead counsel in courts across the country. The attorneys at Sauder Schelkopf have recovered over $500 million on behalf of their clients and class members. Our firm was recognized by the Legal Intelligencer’s 2022 Professional Excellence Awards. The Legal Intelligencer’s Professional Excellence Awards honor Pennsylvania law firms and attorneys who have made a significant, positive impact on the legal profession. Our firm was named in the Litigation Departments of the Year (Specialty Area category; runner-up), an award that honors the best litigation practice in a small or mid-sized firm in Pennsylvania. This recognition was based on the firm’s 2021 litigation work and its important ongoing cases. LawDragon has recognized our attorneys in its list of the “500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers” for 2022. This list notes: “From the opioid epidemic to toxic substances and defective products, truck accidents to wildfires and sexual abuse, these are the lawyers who stand on the front line in individual lawsuits and class actions seeking justice.” Mr. Schelkopf was named to Pennsylvania’s Best Lawyers® 2022 for Class Actions/Mass Tort Litigation. The American Lawyer named Mr. Sauder to its 2021 Northeast Trailblazers. The honor recognizes 60 lawyers who are “truly agents of change.” It “recognizes professionals in the Northeast who have moved the needle in the legal industry.” The Legal Intelligencer named Mr. Sauder and Mr. Schelkopf in its 2020 Pennsylvania Trailblazers list recognizing 31 lawyers who “have taken extra measures to contribute to positive outcomes . . . and who are truly agents of change.” The Legal highlighted the firm’s innovative work on advocacy as class counsel in large institutional sex abuse cover-ups, women’s, and children’s rights. Our attorneys have also consistently been recognized by their peers being named to Pennsylvania SuperLawyer, a distinction held by the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania. Our attorneys have also been selected by the National Trial Lawyers Association as the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania.
We Want to Hear from You
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