On Monday, June 8, 2015 a fire occurred at the Miller Chemical Company in Hanover, PA. Miller blends materials to produce a variety of fertilizers for the agricultural industry. Almost 4 million gallons of water were used to put out the fire, resulting in a significant amount of runoff which left the site and flowed through a drainage swale to Slagles Run, which leads to Conewago Creek. The runoff contained high levels of total organic carbon, nitrates, nitrites, iron, manganese, as well as elevated levels of arsenic and lead. The runoff was very discolored due to the presence of dyes used in the fertilizers.
The Pennsylvania Department of the Environment responded to the site early on the morning of the fire, and has been onsite overseeing the investigation and cleanup. EPA has been providing assistance.
