YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Investigators and a legal team were at J&K Salvage on Thursday, February 26, 2026, collecting water samples and assessing the salvage yard’s stormwater management systems as part of ongoing litigation with the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, according to local reports.
The legal dispute centers on allegations that J&K Salvage has been discharging pollutants into tributaries of the Susquehanna River without a required permit since November 30, 2024. Court documents indicate the runoff contains elevated levels of metals including aluminum, boron, arsenic, and nickel. The Riverkeeper Association filed a notice of intent to sue J&K Salvage on March 31, 2025, citing violations of the federal Clean Water Act and Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law.
The investigation at J&K Salvage follows a large fire at the facility last week, where oil from 300-gallon containers seeped into nearby waterways. Crews are currently using a vacuum truck to remove contaminated water, and containment booms have been deployed to mitigate further spread, according to a release from unified command.
Ted Evgeniadis, the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, described the salvage yard as “a dirty site” that has been problematic for a long time. Environmental attorney Patrick Dearmey, involved in the case, stated that the yard’s stormwater controls “are lacking” and do not meet EPA standards. Legal filings from the Riverkeeper Association describe observing “a black, liquor-like substance” flowing from the salvage yard into Codorus Creek.
The Riverkeeper Association alleges that the runoff from J&K Salvage may contain hazardous materials, including heavy metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals.” According to Dearmey, these pollutants pose risks to both human and environmental health.
The lawsuit, initially filed in the U.S. Middle District Court of Pennsylvania in July 2025, claims J&K Salvage has been releasing unauthorized pollutants and contaminating wetlands adjacent to the facility for over three years. The Chesapeake Legal Alliance is representing the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association in the case.
J&K Salvage denies the allegations, according to court documents. CBS 21 News reported reaching out to J&K Salvage for comment but did not receive a response.
The docket for Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association v. J&K Salvage, Inc. was last retrieved on January 6, 2026, and remains active.
