Donovan Salvage Works in Georgetown has been issued 45 environmental violations related to spilled oil and industrial chemicals, failure to monitor pollutants and general trash and debris, among other things.
The 20262 Donovans Road business is owned by Herbert Holdings LLC and Michael Herbert, who could not be reached for comment Thursday. Employees at the business declined to comment when reached by phone.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has been documenting environmental violations at Donovan’s since 2016.
That year, Donovan’s was issued two notices of violation. Follow-up inspections in 2017, 2020 and earlier this year found Donovan’s had not made sufficient efforts to correct the issues and, on multiple occasions, new violations were discovered.
GEORGETOWN:What you need to know about polluted groundwater in downtown Georgetown, cleanup efforts
During the most recent inspection, in April 2022, “the evidence of spills was pervasive” across the 70-acre site, the notice of violation states. Stormwater was being exposed to industrial chemicals and, in multiple places, not monitored for pollution, according to the notice.
No fines were issued. The department “reserves the right to pursue enforcement action” in the future, according to the letter.
The April inspection also found 15 large piles of trash mixed with soil and eight unpermitted piles of scrap tires throughout the property, the letter said, which Donovan’s had no plans to mitigate.
In addition, an aluminum smelter furnace was “in poor disrepair,” making it likely to be unsafe and emitting excessive pollutants, the letter said.
The department detailed about 40 tasks Donovan’s must complete, most within 30 days, to bring them into compliance with environmental regulations. The company is not allowed to operate the furnace until it has passed inspection.
