Bradford Sanitary Authority remains in regulatory limbo as it awaits renewal of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The delay includes unresolved issues from the 2018 permit cycle, when a required local limits evaluation — measuring pollutants from industrial sources — was postponed pending plant upgrades. The evaluation must be completed during each permit cycle, which is supposed to be every five years but DEP has been considerably behind schedule on renewing permits.

While DEP has not yet renewed BSA’s NPDES permit, in July the authority received a request for updated environmental data, including sampling for total silver, phenols, free cyanide and 2,6-dinitrotoluene, which are often tied to industrial discharge. BSA received its sample results and forwarded to DEP prior to the Aug. 20 deadline for the department’s use in formulating a new permit.

Several other ongoing projects and issues were addressed during the meeting, including the sanitary authority’s portion of the meter replacement project. Of the Bradford City Water Authority’s total 5,900 customers, 3,066 are also billed by BSA. Disney said installations began Monday, when 1,322 customers had scheduled their changeout appointments. To do so, contact Keystone Utility Systems by phone from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays at (877) 587-2279, via email at office@keystoneutilities.com or online at keystoneutilities.com/schedule.

Regarding the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation’s major West Washington Street corridor upgrade planned for 2026, Bankson Engineers intends to submit preliminary designs by Nov. 15 showing plans to relocate and replace the authority’s buried assets in the area.

Engineers at Gannett Fleming are working with authority personnel and Mazza to troubleshoot a problem with the wastewater plant’s heaters, while FirstEnergy notified the authority that crews will install equipment on the authority’s southern property line to support electrical service to portions of Bolivar Drive, as needed.

Additionally, an Amrize warranty claims investigator is coordinating with Peterson Roofing the replacement of several affected areas on the wastewater treatment plant. Disney said this work should be scheduled during September.

The board also, upon review by authority engineers, approved two new residential connections to the authority’s system, one at 14 Cannon Heights Drive and one at 185 Songbird Road.

In the field, crews have continued work across the city to remediate nuisance manholes that are below the pavement surface. Numerous stormwater catch basins have also been rehabilitated, while crews clean and assess Sanitary Subsystem No. 1 — the Interstate Parkway area near the high school and the hospital.

Regarding a logging project above Petrolia Street, the company has provided the authority with a map of its intended compost filter sock locations to help prevent erosion by slowing runoff and trapping sediment. Authority engineering firm Gannett Fleming reviewed and approved the company’s plan. Further, the authority requested the logging company provide locations for deployment of filter inlet bags at any potentially affected catch basins.

Disney further reported delinquencies were steady in July, while the authority is pursuing past-due payment on Ken Marsh’s property at 11 Edwards St. and has placed municipal liens against the OYO Hotel at 153 Main St. and a property owned by Rasheed Deeb at 23 Glenwood Ave.

At the August safety meeting, crews focused on staying alert and aware of school buses and children as they return to classes. Due to a scheduling conflict, the board approved moving the September meeting back one week, from Sept. 16 to Sept. 23.