Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection has put the developer of Center’s Township’s Veterans Affairs clinic on notice for allegedly violating environmental protection laws with the facility’s stormwater system.

Late Tuesday afternoon, the DEP sent a certified letter to Cambridge Healthcare Solutions notifying the company that it needs to address problems with its stormwater system at the Abie Abraham VA Health Care Clinic. Three of the facility’s four stormwater basins, the letter states, are “not operating effectively to control run-off from the site.” The letter also explains that the realities of the site do not match what was approved in site plans.

The problems violate the state’s Clean Streams law, the letter alleges. Such infractions, if left unaddressed, could eventually be punished by up to $10,000 in summary criminal penalties per day and $25,000 in misdemeanor criminal penalties per day for each violation.

As Lori Boughton, a DEP employee who worked on the investigation, put it: “It is an expensive proposition should you go down this road.”

Boughton doubts the group will choose that path. She said it had been cooperative with the DEP so far.

Cambridge has 10 days upon receiving the letter to respond to the DEP and start developing a plan to mitigate the problems.

The letter is addressed to Cambridge President Michael Scott.

Scott provided a written statement Wednesday, in response to a request for comment:

“We have yet to receive the letter you referenced, so we cannot comment on it at this time, except to say that our engineering and design team has worked diligently on the pond design and operation, which was based upon a site plan approved by all required governmental authorities.

“As of this date, it is our understanding that the ponds are working as intended at this stage in the process. The summer has allowed the designed plantings to grow and we look forward to completing the process.

“We believe we have delivered a quality product to the community and to the veterans of Western PA, and remain committed to ensuring this continues.”

Boughton confirmed that a notice of Cambridge receiving the letter had not yet been returned to the DEP, and the 10 days allowed for a response had therefore not begun.

The “plantings” referenced in Scott’s statement are plants employed in the stormwater system as a means to control stormwater.

In recent months, Center Township supervisors have discussed withholding bond money from Cambridge until the stormwater issues have been resolved. Neighboring property owners have complained that the structure’s construction simply rerouted runoff onto their land as its drainage solution.

Wednesday marked the VA clinic’s one year anniversary since its ribbon cutting last August.

Ron Flatt, supervisor chairman, said he thinks the township’s efforts to curb the run-off problem will be aided by the letter.

“Cambridge will have to react to this letter,” Flatt said.

The facility’s alleged violations of Clean Streams law include failing to implement stormwater management best practices and creating an ongoing potential for pollution to enter public waters.