3/2/2026 Illicit Discharge Update: A Statement From Our President, Michael Dunn

As President of the Goose Creek Alliance, I want to begin by thanking the rapid responders from West Chester Borough, West Goshen Township, PA Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Chester County Hazardous Materials Response Team for their quick and coordinated response to Saturday’s illicit discharge into Goose Creek.

The reports of a “milky white” pollutant entering the creek—along with early signs of fish kills and degraded water quality—are deeply troubling. While the responsible source has been identified and the discharge physically stopped, the real work now begins: determining what was released, in what concentration, and what short-term and long-term impacts this event will have on aquatic life, soils, the watershed corridor, and downstream communities.

We fully support PADEP’s ongoing investigation and expect complete transparency from the responsible business as well as from all involved regulatory bodies. Illicit discharges into a living waterway are not mere technical violations—they are direct harms to ecological health and to the communities who rely on the creek.

Environmental Justice & Accountability

As President of the Goose Creek Alliance, I want to be unequivocal:

We will be aggressively pursuing environmental justice from the perpetrators of this discharge.

That includes advocating for full accountability, meaningful penalties, and a legally enforceable restoration plan that ensures this type of incident does not occur again. Our watershed and our community deserve nothing less.

Public Advisory

Until more information is available, we strongly echo the Borough’s guidance:

Please keep yourself, your children, and your pets out of Goose Creek until testing results and health assessments are released.

The Goose Creek Alliance will begin independent field observations and coordinate with our partners to track ecological impacts, support restoration activities, and ensure that the public is kept informed.

We remain fully committed to protecting and restoring this watershed, and we will provide updates as soon as additional verified information becomes available.

Michael B. Dunn

President, Goose Creek Alliance