United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5502G)
EPA520-F-94-014
Summer 1994
v> EPA
Superfund At Work
Hazardous Waste Cleanup Efforts Nationwide
Ambler Asbestos
Site Profile
Site Description:
Former asbestos manufacturing
facility
Site Size: 23 acres
Primary Contaminants: Asbestos
Potential Range of Health Risks:
Respiratory disorders and
lung cancer
Nearby Population:
6,000 people within a half mile
Ecological Concerns:
Birds, animals, and aquatic species
in Wissahickon Creek
Year Listed on the NPL: 1986
EPA Region: III
State: Pennsylvania
Congressional District: 13
Success in Brief
Cooperative Efforts Abate
Asbestos Hazards
In the 1930s, without realizing the potential hazard,a pharmaceu-
tical company started dumping asbestos manufacturing wastes on
its property in Ambler, Pennsylvania. Subsequent landowners
continued in a similar fashion until more than 1.5 million cubic
yards of contaminated waste towered above the community in three
huge piles, one as high as 70 feet.
When asked for help by the state, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) faced a serious dilemma: removing that
much asbestos would send an enormous amount of dangerous
fibers airborne to be spread by the wind in all directions. A solution
was reached to immobilize and cover the asbestos, minimizing the
threat of exposure.
Following emergency actions to stabilize the site, EPA located the
parties responsible for the site and negotiated two agreements to
conduct the cleanup. Cooperative efforts ensured community input
and steady construction progress. Trees and other vegetation now
cover Ambler's three steep "mountains" which stand out in other-
wise flat surroundings. Birds and small animals come and go freely
to the site from an adjacent nature preserve.
An abandoned playground on Locust Street next to the "white mountains" of asbestos wastes.
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Superfund At Work Ambler Asbestos Site, Ambler, PA
Summer 1994
A Site Snapshot
This 23-acre waste site is in
Ambler, Pennsylvania. Asbes-
tos manufacturing facilities
operated there for almost a
century. Improper asbestos
waste disposal most likely
commenced on the property
in the 1930s.
About 6,000 people live
within a half mile of the site
but the closest residence is
only 200 feet from the
property's perimeter. A
public playground was on the
site but closed in 1984. The
site is surrounded by a mix of
residential, industrial, and
undeveloped areas.
Until the 1970s, asbestos
was considered non-toxic and
manufacturing wastes were
simply dumped outside, ex-
posed to the elements. A total of
1.5 million cubic yards of asbes-
tos-contaminated wastes were
abandoned on the site in three
hugh piles still remembered by
some local residents as, "the
white mountains".
Notable levels of asbestos
also were also found in
Wissahickon Creek which
borders the property. Although
the creek does not supply
drinking water, the Four Hills
Nature Preserve is directly
adjacent to the site and supports
birds, small animals, and
aquatic species (see page 5).
For a discussion of the health
effects, see "Asbestos in America"
on page 6.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5, Library (PL-12J)
77 West Jackson Boulevard, 12th Floor
Chicago, It §0604-3590 .
Ambler Asbestos
Timeline
White Asbestos
Asbestos Wastes Mount
As an extension of a pharma-
ceutical business, the Keasby and
Mattison Company began manu-
facturing asbestos products at
Ambler in 1897. During the
1930s, the company dumped the
contaminated manufacturing
wastes in ever-growing, unpro-
tected piles on the property.
In 1962, two corporations,
Nicolet and CertainTeed, pur-
chased portions of the site and
divided the land between them.
The companies continued mak-
ing asbestos products and dump-
ing waste materials on the prop-
erty. Employees from Nicolet
took asbestos wastes to two areas
now known as the Locust Street
Waste Pile and the Plant Waste
Pile. The company also pumped
> Congress enacts Superfund
CertainTeed covers Pipe Plant Dump, relocates
1 EPA regulates asbestos manufacturing and
Improper asbestos
waste disposal
manufactures asbestos
1879
1930s
1962 1970
1971
1973-1974 1976
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Superfund At Work Ambler Asbestos Site, Ambler, PA Summer 1994
mtains Turned to Green Hills
contaminated wastewater into
settling ponds and lagoons built
on the site. CertainTeed disposed
of asbestos trash in another area
of the site known as the Pipe
Plant Dump.
In 1970, Congress enacted the
Clean Air Act establishing EPA's
first asbestos abatement program.
The Act required EPA to set
National Emission Standards for
Hazardous Pollutants
(NESHAPs). In 1971, EPA deter-
mined asbestos to be a hazardous
air pollutant because of the fibers'
ability to cause serious respiratory
disorders, lung cancer, and even
death. In 1973, EPA issued regu-
lations to control asbestos emis-
sions from manufacturing, mill-
ing, roadway surfacing, and
demolition projects.
Ambler 1 ?
Asbestos Site LV,
Ambler, PA pg| _
Complaints about visible
emissions and dust from the site
had been registered by area
residents with the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental
Resources (PADER) since 1971.
Both Nicolet and CertainTeed
were operating without permits
until PADER ordered both com-
panies in 1973 and 1974 to stop
dumping wastes and take action
to control emissions. CertainTeed
complied, covering the Pipe Plant
Dump with soil and seeding for
grass, and then relocated opera-
tions. Nicolet appealed the order
and continued dumping asbestos
wastes on the uncovered piles
until at least 1976.
EPA Addresses Threats
In 1980, Congress established
the Superfund program within
EPA with a primary goal of
cleaning up the nation's hazard-
ous waste sites. Whenever pos-
sible, EPA locates those respon-
sible for the site contamination
and tries to negotiate the use of
private resources for cleanup.
At the state's request, EPA
began a preliminary assessment
of the site shortly thereafter. With
help from the Centers for Disease
r
sĞe added to NPL
Public meeting and comment period
>
1983 1984
Stout Farm Creek erosion
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992
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Superfund At Work Ambler Asbestos Site, Ambler, PA
Summer 1994
Control and Prevention (CDC),
EPA sampled the Ambler site and
surrounding area to determine
the extent of contamination. After
scientists detected asbestos fibers
on playground equipment in
November 1983, EPA warned the
community that the area was
unsafe and the playground
equipment was dismantled.
Scientists detected
asbestos fibers on
playground equipment
EPA then undertook emer-
gency actions to minimize expo-
sure by covering the Locust Street
Pile with topsoil and seeding for
grass. Nicolet cooperated by
covering over the Plant Waste
Pile. EPA then installed a drain-
age system to prevent contami-
nated rainwater from running off
the site.
In 1984, EPA proposed to add
the site to the National Priorities
List (NPL) of serious uncontrolled
or abandoned hazardous waste
sites eligible for cleanup under
the Superfund program. Follow-
ing a period of public comment,
the site was officially added to the
NPL in June 1986.
Responsible Parties Agree to
Settlement Terms
With separate parties respon-
sible for distinct areas of contami-
nation, EPA divided the Ambler
site into two areas, one including
the Locust Street Pile, the Plant
Waste Pile, and the waste la-
goons; the other the Pipe Plant
Dump. Negotiations with past
and present owners and operators
of the site to conduct the cleanup
began in July 1988.
A search of company records
led EPA to the T&N Corporation,
a major shareholder of the old
Keasby and Mattison Company.
Together with Nicolet Industries,
the companies were responsible
for Area I, but Nicolet had de-
clared bankruptcy in 1987 and
subsequently agreed to a cash
settlement with EPA through the
court. The CertainTeed Corpora-
tion agreed to clean up Area II
and reimbursed EPA $55,042 for
past cleanup costs.
Cleanup Begins
Following a public comment
period, EPA selected a remedy for
Area I that included several
different aspects. Under EPA
supervision, workers from T&N
pumped out collected water,
stabilized the remaining sludge,
and backfilled the lagoons with
clean soil. Workers also repaired
and replanted eroded areas on the
slopes of the two piles and cleared
trees and shrubs from the pla-
teaus.
Engineers then installed pro-
tective caps over the Locust Street
Pile and the Plant Waste Pile
which included semi-permeable
geotextile covers and a top layer
of crushed stone. Workers also
installed a concrete blanket on the
bank of the Wissahickon Creek to
prevent erosion of the side slope.
The plan further required
repairing the protective fence
surrounding the site, placing
warning signs along the site
perimeter, and monitoring the
area for 30 years to ensure the
long-term effectiveness of the
remedy.
EPA negotiates with private
parties for cleanup
Cleanup of the smaller Pipe
Plant Dump (Area II) included
clearing shrubs and trees from the
waste pile and grading more soil
on top to reinforce the protective
cover built in late 1983 during
EPA's emergency removal.
CertainTeed workers also in-
stalled erosion control devices
(gabions) on the banks of Stuart
Farm Creek, repaired the fence,
and posted warning signs. The
company must monitor the
protective cap and site conditions
for 30 years. All field construction
activities at both Areas were
completed in November 1992.
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Superfund At Work Ambler Asbestos Site, Ambler, PA
Summer 1994
Responding to Local Concerns
Area residents often take an
active interest in EPA's actions
to dean up a site. EPA encour-
ages this participation and
works with neighbors to ensure
that residents' concerns are
heeded. EPA worked closely
with the citizens of Ambler to
provide information and
updates of anticipated cleanup
actions.
During the emergency
removal actions, the Locust
Street playground was dis-
mantled and removed and a
fence constructed to restrict
access. After the asbestos
waste piles were stabilized, a
local company (Interspec)
wanted to build a basketball
court at the site of the old
playground; EPA arranged for
the fence to be moved to ac-
commodate the blacktop court.
Workers from T&N worked
with local officials to move the
fence closer to the Locust Street
Pile to facilitate grass cutting in
the city's regular schedule. The
community has now gained a
small open field adjacent to the
basketball court.
With regard to the selection
of site remedies, citizens ex-
pressed concern about a storm
water culvert that flowed into a
grassy area near Wissahickon
Creek. During Seld activities,
the culvert was extended to
discharge into an existing
channel. In addition, local
officials wanted access to
an underground sewer line that
ran alongside and beneath the
waste piles. Both T&N and
CertainTeed voluntarily located
long-buried manholes so the
cityeould have access to this
sewer line.
During the design of
the erosion control device
for Wissahickon Creek, the
Wissahickon Valley Watershed
Association raised concerns
about the aesthetic appearance of
the original design. This group
leases the Four Mills Nature
Preserve directly adjacent to the
site. In response, T&N submitted
a second and yet a third design
that would preserve the erosion
control effectiveness of the device
while minimizing any negative
visual impact. Citizens and local
officials expressed satisfaction to
be included in the decision-
making process.
The Four Mills Nature Preserve is home to Mallards, Wood Ducks, Belted
Kingfishers, turtles, muskrats, at least 20 species of fish, and many other
woodland and aquatic animals.
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Superfund At Work Ambler Asbestos Site, Ambler, PA
Summer 1994
Asbestos in America
Prior to 1970, asbestos was
considered non-toxic and used for
fire-proofing and to insulate
homes, office buildings, and
schools. But when factory work-
ers began showing an increased
rate of lung cancer, scientists
identified asbestos as a major
contributor to respiratory disor-
ders and lung diseases.
"Asbestos" is the name for a
group of naturally occurring
minerals that separate into strong,
microscopic fibers that are heat
resistant, odorless, and very
durable. Friable (easily crushed
or pulverized) asbestos emits
microscopic fibers into the air
when even slightly disturbed.
These fibers are easily inhaled
and can cause a host of respira-
tory disorders. Lung cancer is the
most frequently seen asbestos-
caused disease and is more likely
to occur if the exposed person is a
smoker. Asbestos also causes
asbestosis, a chronic disease of the
lungs that makes breathing
progressively more difficult and
can lead to death.
EPA has taken numerous
actions since 1971 to regulate the
manufacture, use, removal,
transportation, and disposal of
asbestos-containing products and
materials. In 1984, the Asbestos
School Hazard Abatement Act
provided approximately $135
million in interest-free loans to
more than 1,500 schools to con-
duct asbestos control renovations.
In 1986, the Asbestos Hazard
Emergency Response Act re-
quired schools to identify areas of
exposure to asbestos and submit
corrective action plans. EPA then
established training programs for
proper inspection and removal
procedures.
Because of continuing concerns
about asbestos, EPA maintains a
toll-free number for citizens at
1-800-368-5888 (in Washington,
D.C. call 202/557-1938).
Success at
Ambler
EPA's actions at the
Ambler Asbestos site began
with an emergency removal
that significantly reduced the
potential for exposure to air-
borne asbestos. Successful
negotiations with companies
responsible for the site contami-
nation resulted in a thorough
and expedient remediation.
In a spirit of cooperation, the
companies volunteered to
expand their comrratment to
the community beyond re-
quired cleanup activities.
In addition, the parties
reimbursed EPA for a substan-
tial portion of past costs in-
curred at the site. Active
construction at the site was
completed ahead of schedule
and a long-term operation and
maintenance plan is underway.
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