Dive Brief:

• The owners of the Chrin Brothers Sanitary landfill in Williams Township, PA released the findings of a report to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The study was the company’s final requirement in a series of directives issued by the state.
• The report contains findings regarding a March 2013 cap slip that prompted acres of waste, about 12 miles, to slide onto a road; the road was closed for over nine months as crews worked to remove the debris.
• According to an expert, the cap slip was caused by an earthquake that occurred in central Virginia on August 23, 2011. According to the company, the findings compiled by a different expert stated that the other areas of the landfill are stable, and would remain stable under similar conditions caused by a 5.8 magnitude earthquake.

Dive Insight:

A spokesperson for the Chrin Brothers said the company plans to "pursue claims against those responsible" for the mudslide. The Easton, PA based company behind the landfill has been involved in numerous legal altercations throughout the years. One involved allegations of non-payment of $32 million in taxes, while another was a lawsuit spearheaded against the company by the EPA, in response to toxic waste pollution at its Williams Township landfill.