[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Norristown 6-6-1989 as Ord. No. 89-15. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention — See Ch. 159.
Gas- and oil-burning equipment — See Ch. 172.
Kerosene heating units — See Ch. 198.
Sewers and sewage disposal — See Ch. 258.
Solid waste — See Ch. 274.
The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter:
ABATE
To clean up or remove such hazardous substances as may be deposited in the Borough of Norristown, including such action as may be necessary to monitor, assess and evaluate the threat of hazardous substances to the public health, safety and welfare as well as action required to prevent, minimize and mitigate damage to the public health and to dispose of removed materials.
BOROUGH OFFICIAL
The Borough Administrator, Director of Public Safety, Director of Public Works, Fire Chief, Chief of Police, Fire Marshal or Deputy Fire Marshals of the Borough of Norristown.
DEPOSIT
To spill, leak, pump, pour, empty, discharge, inject, leach, dump or otherwise dispose of hazardous substances within the Borough of Norristown.
HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE
Includes all the substances now or hereafter listed as "hazardous substances" by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry or the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
PERSON
An individual, firm, corporation, association, partnership, joint venture or other private or commercial entity.
PERSON RESPONSIBLE
The transporter of a hazardous substance at the time the substance is deposited in the Borough of Norristown or the person who deposited or who caused a hazardous substance to be deposited in the Borough of Norristown, or both.
The depositing of hazardous substances improperly and illegally upon public roadways, public lands or private property within the Borough of Norristown is hereby declared a public nuisance, creating a threat to the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the Borough of Norristown.
Whenever any person, firm or corporation is issued a citation for a violation of this chapter and upon conviction thereof, such person shall be ordered to pay a fine of not less than two hundred dollars ($200.) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.) for such violation, plus costs. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation of this chapter, punishable as provided herein.
A. 
The Borough of Norristown, by its officials, agents and/or employees, shall serve notice upon the person responsible for the public nuisance resulting from the deposit of hazardous substances within the borough in violation of this chapter. The notice shall sufficiently describe the condition complained of and shall require that the nuisance be abated within seventy-two (72) hours of service of the notice of said violation. Service of notice shall be deemed to have been made upon the posting of written notice upon the property, delivery of a telephone or oral communication of the notice to the person responsible and any other actual notice of said violation to the person responsible for said violation.
B. 
If the person or persons responsible for the public nuisance, as described herein, fail, refuse or neglect to abate the condition to the satisfaction of the borough officials within seventy-two (72) hours as described in the preceding Subsection A and the borough officials determine that the condition constitutes an immediate threat to the public health, safety and welfare, the borough may elect to abate the public nuisance. In the event that the borough is required to abate the public nuisance as provided herein, the cost of such abatement shall be paid by the person responsible for the deposit of the hazardous substance in the borough.