Region 3 GPRA Baseline RCRA Corrective Action Facility SPS Technologies (SPS) 301 Highland Avenue Jenkintown, Pennsylvania 19046 Congressional District 13 EPA ID #: PAD000000554 Last Updated 1/10/06 Current Progress at the Site The S.P.S. Jenkintown, Pennsylvania facility environmental problems are historically associated with two hazardous waste surface impoundments which were closed in 1983. The contaminants of concern at the 26-acre site are trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, and 1-2 dichloroethene. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region III, reevaluated the groundwater conditions in the area of facility in 1996 and in 1999. The 1986 "Interim RCRA Facility Assessment Report" concluded that "if groundwater shows no significant downward trends" in the next few years it is possible that "the two effluent lagoons surface [impoundments] may not have been effectively clean- closed." The facility's "Description of the Contaminated Plume" of 1987 concluded: "The areal extent of the plume is limited by the upper boundary of the RCRA facility management area and by the streams on the downgradient side. The bedrock below ... is very solid for many tens of feet. As a result, contaminants would not be expected to enter the deep water-producing zones... The contaminated plume in the lagoon area is very limited in its extent." On October 31, 2000 EPA, Region III received the PADEP "Comprehensive Monitoring Evaluation Report" for the Facility. According to the Report "based on the consistency of the groundwater quality data from the facility, the PADEP approved a reduction in the frequency of [groundwater] monitoring from annual to biannual." EPA reviewed the investigation results submitted by the Facility and the PADEP. EPA agreed that the consistency of the groundwater quality data indicates that the plume is stable. Biannual groundwater monitoring is required at the Facility for the next several years. Given the low levels of organic contamination, EPA does not expect an active remedy will be required. Site Description The SPS Technologies Incorporated, Aerospace Products Division, is a 26-acre metal forming operations plant located on Highland Avenue, Jenkintown, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Since 1901, the plant has manufactured specialty fasteners for the aviation and aerospace industries. The processes include the cleaning, pickling, descaling, passivating, stripping, anodizing, coloring, and conversion coating of fasteners. The industrial wastewater is treated in a batch type system. The facility was classified as a Hazardous Waste Management Facility under a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) due to electroplating solution and sludge, generated and treated at the plant. In the late 1980s, 10,000 gal. of cutting oil leaked into the groundwater, reaching Tookany Creek. To determine the cause and extent of contamination, a facility investigation and groundwater studies were initiated. Four interim steps were taken to prevent contaminated groundwater from moving off the site: 1) two surface impoundments were closed, 2) 2705 tons of contaminated soil was excavated and disposed off the site, 3) all below-ground storage tanks were removed and replaced with a diked tank ------- farm area, and 4) a large part of the facility was capped with asphalt. A groundwater monitoring wells were installed and have been monitored since 1983. Site Responsibility RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3 with assistance from the PADEP. Contaminants The most recent groundwater monitoring results show that trichloroethene is only slightly higher than the drinking water standard of 5ppb. Government Contact EPA Project Manager Ms. Victoria loff - 3WC22 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region III 1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029 Phone: (215) 814-3415 Email: ioff.vickie@epa.gov For more information about EPA's corrective action webpage, including Environmental Indicators, please visit our site at: www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/correctiveaction.htm Facility Contact Mr. Stephen Pierce, Plant Environmental Engineer 301 Highland Ave. Jenkintown, PA 19046 (215) 572-3000 office phone (215) 572-3193 office fax ------- |