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Ferguson Township to Hold Public Forum at Baileyville Community Hall Following January 14 Oil Spill

Posted on: February 8, 2023 - 9:29am
public forum

Pennsylvania Furnace, PA – Ferguson Township welcomes residents to join Township staff and key regional stakeholders in an open, public forum at Baileyville Community Hall, located at 210 Deibler Road, Pennsylvania Furnace, PA 16865 at 7pm on Thursday, February 16.  This event is in response to a heating oil spill which originated from Minnesota Street in Ferguson Township on January 14, 2023.  

Ferguson Township’s agricultural community expressed ongoing concern at the Coffee and Conversation event held on January 21, 2023, and brought forth a need for the Township to review the way in which emergency events are communicated with residents. While the investigation and clean-up efforts fall under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, it is with the best interests of safety and care that the Township seeks to inform and strengthen communication efforts among those impacted by the spill.

The forum will focus on the impact of the oil spill incident, the communications response, and provide guidance for residents on who to contact during an environmental emergency. Additionally, the Township hopes to address concerns over unintended environmental impacts to residents, livestock, and the agricultural community as a whole. Centre Region Emergency Management and State College Borough Water Authority will be on hand to provide insight into their role in environmental crises and the maintenance of safe drinking water.

Representatives attending include, but are not limited to: 

  • Ferguson Township Manager – Centrice Martin 
  • Ferguson Township Chief of Police – John Petrick 
  • Ferguson Township Stormwater Engineer – Aaron Jolin 
  • Centre Region Acting Fire Director & Emergency Management Coordinator – Shawn Kauffman 
  • State College Borough Water Authority Executive Director – Brian Heiser 

Residents with questions and concerns regarding the Minnesota Street spill are urged to contact the PaDEP at (570) 327-3636.