EPA v. Hanover Foods Corporation

Case summary

On January 21, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of PA approved and entered the Consent Decree among EPA, PADEP, the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, and Hanover Foods Corporation, settling a CWA enforcement action against the company. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will pay a $1.15 million civil penalty and take a series of actions to address alleged Clean Water Act violations at its wastewater treatment facility at 1486 York St. in Hanover, Pennsylvania associated with its vegetable processing and canning operations. EPA alleged that Hanover failed to comply with a state-issued NPDES permit before discharging wastewater into Oil Creek, a tributary of Codorus Creek that feeds into the Susquehanna River in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Environmental inspections identified over 600 violations at the facility. Under the terms of the Consent Decree, Hanover will upgrade its wastewater treatment system, closely monitor compliance with its discharge permit, report any violations, identify their root causes, and take corrective action to address them.

Defendants (2)

• Hanover Foods CorporationNamed in complaintNamed in settlement
• Hanover Foods Corporation

Facilities (12)

• HANOVER FOODS CORP

  1486 YORK ST, HANOVER, PA, 17331-0334

  Registry ID: 110010974320

• HANOVER FOODS CORP WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY (WWTF)

  1486 YORK ST, HANOVER, PA, 17331

  Registry ID: 110010974320

• HANOVER FOODS CORP WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY (WWTF)

  1486 YORK ST, HANOVER, PA, 17331

  Registry ID: 110010974320

• HANOVER FOODS CORP

  1486 YORK ST, HANOVER, PA, 17331-0334

  Registry ID: 110010974320

• HANOVER FOODS CORP WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY (WWTF)

  1486 YORK ST, HANOVER, PA, 17331

  Registry ID: 110010974320

• HANOVER FOODS CORP WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY (WWTF)

  1486 YORK ST, HANOVER, PA, 17331

  Registry ID: 110010974320

• HANOVER FOODS CORP WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY (WWTF)

  1486 YORK ST, HANOVER, PA, 17331

  Registry ID: 110010974320

• HANOVER FOODS CORP

  1486 YORK ST, HANOVER, PA, 17331-0334

  Registry ID: 110010974320

• HANOVER FOODS CORP

  1486 YORK ST, HANOVER, PA, 17331-0334

  Registry ID: 110010974320

• HANOVER FOODS CORP WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY (WWTF)

  1486 YORK ST, HANOVER, PA, 17331

  Registry ID: 110010974320

• HANOVER FOODS CORP

  1486 YORK ST, HANOVER, PA, 17331-0334

  Registry ID: 110010974320

• HANOVER FOODS CORP

  1486 YORK ST, HANOVER, PA, 17331-0334

  Registry ID: 110010974320

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations
• CWA 309 — Violation of Existing AO

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Hanover Foods Corporationentered 2026-01-21

  Primary law: CWA

  Federal penalty: $575,000 · State/local: $575,000

Timeline (6 milestones)

• 2022-01-25Referred To Dept Of Justice
• 2022-01-28Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2026-01-21Complaint Filed With Court
• 2026-01-21Final Order Lodged
• 2026-01-21Final Order Entered
• 2026-02-24Concluded