Sep. 3--CHESTER -- The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is investigating alleged illegal dumping at the local airport. 

Whelen Engineering leases some land from the airport, but the facility is not owned or managed by Whelen Engineering, according to a company spokesperson. The Chester Airport property is adjacent to the Whelan facility on Winthrop Road.

The state agency has opened a case that will look into possible unpermitted fill associated with an extension of the airstrip at Chester Airport, according to Tony Russell, director of the DEEP Office of Communications.

"A notice of violation was issued and the property owner has retained an environmental consultant to evaluate the site conditions for possible contamination," he said, adding "DEEP will assess the findings and determine if/what remediation may be required."

In the past, Chester Airport used organic matter, such as stumps, as fill, however, the practice stopped some years ago, the Whelan spokesperson said. None of the material came from land owned by Whelen Engineering, the company spokesperson said.

Chester online tax records show Whelen Aviation LLC, in c/o Whelen Engineering Co. at 51 Winthrop Road owns 61 Winthrop Road, which includes an airplane hangar among seven buildings.

A manager at the airport declined comment when reached Wednesday, including on ownership of the airport.

In 2017, the company hired an environmental consultant to oversee mitigation efforts.

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