So sad!

Fifteen years later, the property that housed Trinity Industries, the property that provided so many jobs for the people in Greenville...that property sits vacant, an eyesore with an ugly, rusty fence around the property. Is all of the hazardous waste gone? If it is, why doesn't Trinity do something with the property? Or why don't they sell it?

WOW...Response from Trinity Industries

Front Page News

Click on the articles to read them.

Trinity vs. East Elementary

Bob Williams, a Greenville native, took this aerial photo to show how close Trinity is to our school.

Project S.C.A.T. Video

Judge denies adding defendant to Trinity suit

Published in the Sharon Herald
Date: March 7, 2008
Written by: Monica Pryts
Summary by: Halie


The U.S district Judge Arthur J. Schwab, Pittburgh, on Tuesday, denied Trinity's request to file a second amended complaint that added the parent company of former Greenville Steel Car Co. to the lawsuit. The amendments to the lawsuit were due by Nov. 30, but the Trinity attorney, Leonard Ambrose of Erie did not return a message on Tuesday.

Steel Car changed their name to Greenlease Holding Co. in 1986 when Trinity bought the property according to court documents filed Feb. 15 by Trinity. Trinity claims that they should not be the only company to clean up all the hazardous waste at the site of its former railcar plant. Steel Car was at the north plant from 1922 until 1986.

Trinity believes that Steel Car used products and chemicals that included hazardous substances that may continue to contaminate the site. So they should have to help clean up the site. In early 2006, Trinity was charged by the state Attorney General's office for illegally dumping at the railcar site.

An agreement was reached December 2006 which ordered Trinity to CLEAN UP THE SITE and have to pay $254,502 in fines. And they also had to pay a $50,000 contribution to nonprofit organizations. All of it is paid off.

On June 28, Trinity sued Commerce Park and its director William E. Marsteller which bought Trinity's north plant in 2004. Commerce Park says Trinity put all the cemicals in the ground so Commerce Park should not be responsible for helping Trinity with the clean up.

Link to the article: http://www.sharon-herald.com/local/local_story_057224735.html

History

History of Greenville with Wes

Interview with Richard (Former Employee)

Interview with Larry - Former Trinity Employee

Trinity Pays Fines

Amanda and Michaela podcast about an article written by Martha Pryt in the Sharon Herald in January 2007
Article Link: http://www.sharonherald.com/archivesearch/local_story_029000053.html

Greenville Steel Car Company

By: Garrett & Tony

Greenville Steel Car Company made railroad cars. Below are some pictures of some of the railroad cars they made. The railroad cars were built to haul different types of things. For example one of them hauled big logs. Trinity eventually bought the land Greenville Steel Car Co. built the railroad cars on.

Project S.C.A.T. Flyers

Trinity Allowed to Inspect Plant Site

Article By: Monica Pryts
Date: January 22, 2008
Name of Newspaper: Sharon Herald
Link: http://www.sharon-herald.com/local/local_story_022204525.html
Summary By: Kristen L. & Destiny W.

Commerce Park of Greenville has been ordered to allow Trinity Industries to enter & inspect the former railcar site for hazardous waste. Judge Arthur J. Schwab of U.S. District Court of Pittsburgh. On Jan. 3, he granted Trinity’s motion to access the property which Commerce Park bought in 2004. Commerce Park is being sued by Trinity. They refused to give Trinity permission to enter the property. The Park asked the court to deny Trinity’s request. The court order said (quote) no later than Feb. 1st Commerce Park should allow Trinity’s environmental consultants to enter the property at 60 Union St.

Trinity Deal Spreads Money Around Town

The Herald Newspaper
Trinity deal spreads money around town
By: Monica Pryts
Published: February 21, 2007
Summary by Paige
Website: http://www.sharonherald.com/archivesearch/local_story_052225545.html
This article states that the state Attorney General’s Office handed out more than $50,000 to local organizations. This was part of the settlement with Trinity. Trinity and the state Attorney General’s Office reached a plea agreement on Dec. 21. Trinity pleaded no contest (no contest pleas in Pennsylvania are considered guilty pleas.) to five misdemeanor charges. Trinity was also ordered to pay a $200,000 fine. Trinity paid this fine to Pennsylvania Solid Waste Abatement fund. They also had to pay $52,502 to the state Department of Environmental Protection. To find out more go to… http://www.sharonherald.com/archivesearch/local_story_052225545.html

Trinity Sues New Owner of Plant Site

Newspaper: The Sharon Herald
Date Written: 1/18/08
Author: Monica Pryts
Website found at: http://www.sharonherald.com/archivesearch/local_story_220200428.html

Commerce Park is being sued by Trinity for help in the clean up of its former plant. Commerce Park bought the north plant in 2004 planning to transform the plant for multi-tenant use. In 2006, Trinity was charged by the state Attorney General’s office for illegally dumping waste at the site. Trinity was ordered to clean up and pay a fine of $254,502 and contribute $50,000 to nonprofit organizations. Trinity claims that Commerce Park is also responsible for releasing asbestos by destroying the buildings on the property. William E. Marsteller was the defendant of which Trinity claimed had affairs that have been intertwined with Commerce Park. Go to the website at the top of the page to find out more.

PROPERTY CLEANUP

PART OF TRINITY INDUSTRIES CRIMINAL CASE SETTLEMENT IN MERCER COUNTY
N E W S R E L E A S E by the COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Written by: Freda Tarbell on 12/21/06
Summarized by: By: Garrett & Colton

Trinity was sent to court. They lost because they dumped hazardous illegal chemicals behind the south plant on the baseball field. They had to pay 50,000 dollars to the state’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, and they had to pay 300,000 dollars in fines. Trinity went into a plea agreement with the state Attorney General’s Office. For more info go to: http://www.ahs.dep.state.pa.us/newsreleases/default.asp?ID=4359&varQueryType=Detail

Trinity Employee Pleads Guilty to Allowing the Dumping of Hazardous Waste

Published in the Sharon Herald on October 31, 2006
Written by: Monica Pryts
Summarized by: Dakota and Nick W.

Trinity employee pleads guilty to allowing the dumping of hazardous waste. A former maintenance supervisor for Trinity Industries Inc. pleaded no contest Tuesday to allowing illegal dumping of hazardous waste at the company’s former Greenville rail car plant. John H. Bindas is charged on March 31 by the state Attorney General’s office with three felony counts. Bindas pleaded no contest to one count of unlawful management during a plea hearing with Mercer County. The rest of the charges against Bindas were dismissed by the Attorney General’s office. The Attorney General’s office recommended Bindas to pay $1,000 fine and be one sentenced to one year of probation. To read the whole article go to: http://www.sharonherald.com/archivesearch/local_story_304185428.html

Trinity Industries Wants to Inspect Site for Hazardous Waste

Published in the The Herald on January 4, 2008
Written by: Monica Pryts
Summarized by: Tony and Dylan
Trinity Industries Inc. wants to inspect for hazardous materials but the current property owner refused to give them permission. Commerce Park of Greenville Inc. owns the land and has been sued by Trinity. In early 2006 Trinity was charged by the state attorney general’s office for dumping hazardous waste at 60 Union Street. In 2004 Commerce Park bought Trinity’s North Plant and they have been demolishing buildings and structures on the property. To read the entire article go to: http://www.sharonherald.com/local/local_story_004214454.html/resources_printstory

Greenville Mayor Wants Hefty Fines Imposed for Mess

Published in The Herald Newspaper on January 2, 2008
Written By: Monica Pryts
Summarized by: Casey and Taylor

Mayor Richard Miller wants Greenville Commerce Park to pay hefty fines for cleaning up the Trinity site. Greenville Commerce Park bought the property in 2004. They have been since demolishing buildings and structures. They have been leaving scrapes of junk lying around. The fine for violating is $600. Miller proposed raising the price to $1000.00. Joe Joseph, the borough’s solicitor said Pangas would have to tell Commerce Park he will be investigating property for possible violations. Greenville Commerce Park will then have 30 days to remedy the situation if it doesn’t comply, Pangas could issue citations. It would be up to court to see if a fine should be assessed and if the fine should be increased. Council will vote on Tuesday.
For more information on this, go to http://www.sharonherald.com/archivesearch/local_story_221215701.html