Community Meeting to Address Chemical Exposure Concerns in Olyphant
The ongoing concerns regarding chemical exposure in Olyphant will be the focal point of a town hall meeting organized by a local community group. This gathering aims to provide essential updates about health concerns linked to a former manufacturing site.
The Lackawanna Citizens Overwatch Project (LCOP) has scheduled the meeting for Saturday, between 6-8 p.m. at the Throop Civic Center, located at 500 Sanderson St. The event is intended to be an informative session for former employees, their families, residents, and anyone interested in the ongoing investigation.
In 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of Health acknowledged that it was evaluating cancer rates in the vicinity of the former Olyphant factory. This plant, which once operated under names such as Specialty Records, WEA Manufacturing, and Cinram, ceased operations in 2018 and was demolished in 2020.
Despite inquiries made this week, the Department of Health has yet to provide an update on the status of the assessment, according to a department spokesperson.
LCOP’s release highlights that TozLaw, a legal firm based in Archbald, is collaborating with toxicology specialists and a renowned chemical exposure law firm to review available data and explore potential claims. During the town hall, attendees will receive updates from TozLaw and toxicologists, along with a report on the victim count and LCOP’s efforts since the initial meeting last year, which saw over 100 former employees in attendance.
The plant was previously owned by Technicolor, a Paris-based company, until it closed. In 2022, the division responsible for the factory was spun off to form a new company, Vantiva, while Technicolor ceased operations in 2025. An email inquiry sent to Vantiva’s corporate website remained unanswered as of Thursday.
Aline Browning, founder and president of LCOP, has been driven by personal tragedy to lead these efforts. Her father, Charles Browning, who worked at the plant for 26 years, passed away in November 2023 due to an aggressive form of lung cancer that metastasized to his brain, as she recounted to WVIA News last year.
“This effort started because families wanted answers. We encourage anyone who has been affected, has information, or simply wants to understand what is happening to attend,” Browning expressed.
