&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste And
Emergency Response
(5102 G)
SUPERFUND:
EPA/540/R-93/036
December 1992
PB93-963237
Progress at
National
Priority
List Sites
PENNSYLVANIA
1992 UPDATE
Printed on Recycled Paper
-------
Publication #9200.5-7386
December 1992
NATIONAL PRIORITIES LIST SITES:
Pennsylvania
„ 5
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Office of Emergency & Remedial Response
Office of Program Management
Washington, DC 20460
-------
If you wish to purchase copies of any additional State volumes, contact:
National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
U.S. Department of Commerce
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
(703) 486-4650
The complete set of the 49 State reports may be ordered as PB93-963250.
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
A Brief Overview of Superfund v
Streamlining Superfund: The Superfund Accelerated Cleanup Model ix
How Superfund Works x
THE VOLUME
How to Use the State Book xi
A SUMMARY OF THE STATE PROGRAM
.XV
THE NPL REPORT
Progress to Date xix
THE NPL FACT SHEETS i
THE GLOSSARY
Terms used in the NPL Book. G-l
-------
INTRODUCTION
A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF SUPERFUND
During the second half of the Twentieth
Century, the environmental conse-
quences of more than 100 years of industrial-
ization in the United States became increas-
ingly clear. Authors such as Rachel Carson
wrote passionately about the often-hidden en-
vironmental effects of our modern society's
widespread use of chemicals and other haz-
ardous materials. Their audience was small at
first, but gradually their message spread.
Growing concern turned to action, as people
learned more about the environment and be-
gan to act on their knowledge
The 1970s saw environmental issues burst
onto the national scene and take hold in the
national consciousness. The first Earth Day
was observed in 1970, the year that the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was
founded. By the end of the 1970s, Love Canal
in New York and the Valley of the Drums in
Superfund Is Established
The industrialization that gave Americans the
world's highest standard of living also created
problems that only a national program could
address. By 1980, the U.S. Congress had
passed numerous environmental laws, imple-
mented by the EPA, but many serious hazard-
ous waste problems were slipping through the
cracks.
Responding to growing concern about public-
health and environmental threats from uncon-
trolled releases of hazardous materials, the
U.S. Congress passed the Comprehensive En-
vironmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act (CERCLA). Popularly known as
Superfund, CERCLA had one seemingly
simple job—to uncover and clean up hazard-
ous materials spills and contaminated sites.
Kentucky had entered the popular lexicon as
synonyms for pollution and environmental
degradation.
A Big Job
Few in Congress, the EPA, the environmen-
tal community, or the general public knew in
1980 just how big the nation's hazardous ma-
terials problem is. Almost everyone thought
that Superfund would be a short-lived pro-
gram requiring relatively few resources to
clean up at most a few hundred sites. They
were quite mistaken.
As the EPA set to work finding sites and
gauging their potential to harm people and
the environment, the number of sites grew.
Each discovery seemed to lead to another,
and today almost 36,000 hazardous waste
sites have been investigated as potential haz-
ardous waste sites. They are catalogued in
the EPA's computerized database, CERCLIS
(for the Comprehensive Environmental Re-
-------
INTRODUCTION
sponse, Compensation, and Liability Informa-
tion System).
The damage to public health and the environ-
ment that each site in CERCLIS might cause
is evaluated; many sites have been referred to
State and local governments for cleanup. The
EPA lists the nation's most serious hazardous
waste sites on the National Priorities List, or
NPL. (These Superfund sites are eligible for
federally-funded cleanup, but whenever pos-
sible the EPA makes polluters pay for the
contamination they helped create.) The NPL
now numbers 1,275 sites, with 50 to 100
added each year. By the end of the century,
the NPL may reach as many as 2,100 sites.
Superfund faces some of the most complex
pollution problems ever encountered by an
environmental program. Improperly stored or
disposed chemicals and the soil they contami-
nate are one concern. More difficult to correct
are the wetlands and bays, and the groundwa-
ter, lakes, and rivers often used for drinking
water that are contaminated by chemicals
spreading through the soil or mixing with
storm water runoff. Toxic vapors contaminate
the air at some sites, threatening the health of
people living and working near by.
Superfund aims to control immediate public
health and environmental threats by tackling
the worst problems at the worst sites first.
Wherever possible, Superfund officials use
innovative treatment techniques—many de-
veloped or refined by the EPA—to correct
hazardous materials problems once and for
all. Many of the treatment techniques they use
did not exist when the program was created.
The EPA Administrator had challenged Su-
perfund to complete construction necessary
for cleanup work at 130 NPL sites by the end
of the 1992 federal fiscal year. By September
30, 1992, the end of fiscal year 1992, con-
struction had been completed at a total of 149
NPL sites. Superfund is well on its way of
meeting the Administrator's goal of complet-
ing construction at 200 NPL sites by the end
of fiscal year 1993, and 650 sites by the end
of fiscal year 2000.
Quick Cleanup at
Non-NPL Sites
Long-standing hazardous waste sites are not
Superfund's only concern. The EPA also re-
sponds to hazardous spills and other emergen-
cies, hauling away chemicals for proper treat-
ment or disposal. Superfund teams perform or
supervise responses at rail and motor vehicle
accidents, fires, and other emergencies in-
volving hazardous substances. They also
evacuate people living and working near by,
if necessary, and provide clean drinking water
to people whose own water is contaminated.
Removal crews also post warning signs and
take other precautions to keep people and ani-
mals away from hazardous substances.
Superfund employee prepares equipment for groundwater
treatment.
VI
-------
INTRODUCTION
Quick Cleanups, or Removals, are not limited
to emergencies. When cleanup crews at con-
taminated sites find hazardous substances that
immediately threaten people or the environ-
ment, they act right away to reduce the threat
or to remove the chemicals outright. As the
EPA implements the Superfund Accelerated
Cleanup Model (SACM), more and more sites
will undergo quick cleanups, and many of
these will be cleaned up completely without
ever being included on the NPL. (See
"Streamlining Superfund: The Superfund Ac-
celerated Cleanup Model.")
Some of Superfund's most significant gains in
public health and environmental protection
have been won by the removal program. As of
March 31, 1992, the Emergency Response
Superfund employee removing drums from a Superfund site.
Program had logged more than 2,300 removal
completions since Superfund was established.
The Public's Role
Superfund is unique among federal programs
in its commitment to citizen participation. Al-
though the EPA is responsible for determin-
ing how dangerous a site is and how best to
clean it up, the Agency relies on citizen input
as it makes these decisions.
Community residents are often invaluable
sources of information about a hazardous
waste site, its current and previous owners,
and the activities that took place there. Such
information can be crucial to experts evaluat-
ing a site and its potential dangers.
Residents also comment on EPA cleanup
plans by stating their concerns and prefer-
ences at public meetings and other forums and
in formal, written comments to Agency pro-
posals. The EPA takes these comments and
concerns seriously, and has modified many
proposals in response to local concerns. For,
ultimately, it is the community and its citizens
that will live with the results of the EPA's de-
cisions and actions; it is only fair that citizens
participate in the process.
A Commitment to
Communication
The Superfund program is very serious about
public outreach and communication. Com-
munity relations coordinators are assigned to
each NPL site to help the public understand
the potential hazards present, as well as the
cleanup alternatives. Local information re-
positories, such as libraries or other public
buildings, have been established near each
NPL site to ensure that the public has an op-
portunity to review all relevant information
and the proposed cleanup plans.
The individual State volumes contain sum-
mary fact sheets on NPL sites in each State
and territory. Together, the fact sheets provide
a concise report on site conditions and the
progress made toward site cleanups as of
March 1992. The EPA revises these volumes
periodically to provide an up-to-date record of
program activities. A glossary of key terms
relating to hazardous waste management and
Superfund site cleanup is provided at the back
of this book.
VII
-------
INTRODUCTION
Superfund is, of course, a public program, and
as such it belongs to everyone of us. This vol-
ume, along with other State volumes, com-
prises the EPA's report on Superfund
progress to the program's owners for the year
1992.
VIII
-------
INTRODUCTION
STREAMLINING SUPERFUND: THE SUPERFUND
ACCELERATED CLEANUP MODEL
Historically, critics and supporters alike
have measured Superfund's progress
by the number of hazardous waste sites de-
leted from the NPL. Although easy enough to
tally, this approach is too narrow. It misses
the major gains Superfund makes by reducing
major risks at the nation's worst hazardous
sites long before all clean-up work is done
and the site deleted. It also ignores the Re-
moval Program's contributions to meeting
Superfund's twin mandates of maximizing
public health and environmental protection.
Renewing Superfund's commitment to rapid
protection from hazardous materials, the EPA
is streamlining the program. The Superfund
Accelerated Cleanup Model, or SACM, will
take Early Actions, such as removing hazard-
ous wastes or contaminated materials, while
experts study the site. SACM also will com-
bine similar site studies to reduce the time re-
quired to evaluate a site and its threats to
people and the environment. This way, imme-
diate public health and environmental threats
will be addressed while long-term cleanups
are being planned.
Emergencies such as train derailments and
motor vehicle accidents will continue to be
handled expeditiously. Teams of highly
trained technicians will swing into action
right away, coordinating the cleanup and re-
moval of hazardous substances to ensure pub-
lic safety as quickly as possible.
Breaking With Tradition
The traditional Superfund process begins with
a lengthy phase of study and site assessment,
but SACM will save time by combining sepa-
rate, yet similar, activities. Each EPA Region
will form a Decision Team of site managers,
risk assessors, community relations coordina-
tors, lawyers, and other experts to monitor the
studies and quickly determine whether a site
requires Early Action (taking less than five
years), Long-term Act'on, or both.
While the site studies continue, the Decision
Team will begin the short-term work required
to correct immediate public health or environ-
mental threats from the site. Besides remov-
ing hazardous materials, Early Actions in-
clude taking precautions to keep contaminants
from moving off the site and restricting access
to the site. Early Actions could eliminate most
human risk from these sites, and Superfund
will further focus its public participation and
public information activities on site assess-
ment and Early Action.
Long-Term Solutions
While Early Actions can correct many hazard-
ous waste problems—and provide the bulk of
public health and environmental protection—
some contamination will take longer to cor-
rect. Cleanups of mining sites, wetlands, estu-
aries, and projects involving incineration of
contaminants or restoration of groundwater
can take far longer than the three to five years
envisioned for Early Actions. Under SACM,
these sites will be handled much as they are
now.
Also under SACM, the EPA will continue its
pursuit of potentially responsible parties who
may have caused or contributed to site con-
tamination. Expedited enforcement and
procedures for negotiating potentially respon-
sible party settlements will secure their par-
ticipation. Superfund personnel will continue
to oversee clean-up work performed by poten-
tially responsible parties.
IX
-------
INTRODUCTION
HOW SUPERFUND WORKS
Each Superfund site presents a different
set of complex problems. The same haz-
ardous materials and chemicals often con-
taminate many sites, but the details of each
site are different. Almost always, soil is con-
taminated with one or more chemicals. Their
vapors may taint the air over and around the
site. Contaminants may travel through the soil
and reach underground aquifers which may be
used for drinking water, or they may spread
over the site to contaminate streams, ponds,
and wetlands. The contaminating chemicals
may interact with each other, presenting even
more complicated cleanup problems.
Superfund's cleanup process is arduous and
exacting. It requires the best efforts of hun-
dreds of experts in science and engineering,
public health, administration and manage-
ment, law, and many other fields.
The average NPL site takes from seven to ten
years to work its way through the system,
from discovery to the start of long-term
cleanup. Actual cleanup work can take years,
decades if contaminated groundwater must
be treated. Of course, imminent threats to
public health or the environment are cor-
rected right away.
The diagram to the right presents a simplified
view of the cleanup process. The major steps
in the Superfund process are:
• Site discovery and investigation to iden-
tify contaminants and determine whether
emergency action is required;
• Emergency site work such as removing
contaminants for proper treatment or dis-
posal, and securing the site to keep people
and animals away, if warranted by condi-
tions at the site;
• Site evaluation to determine how people
living and working nearby, and the envi-
ronment, may be exposed to site contami-
nants;
• Detailed studies to determine whether con-
ditions are serious enough to add the site to
the National Priorities List of sites eligible
for federally funded cleanup under Super-
fund;
• Selection, design, and implementation of a
cleanup plan, after a thorough review of
the most effective cleanup options, given
site conditions, contaminants present, and
their potential threat to public health or the
environment.
• Follow-up to ensure that the cleanup work
done at the site continues to be effective
over the long term.
The Superfund Process
From the earliest stages, EPA investigators
work hard to identify those responsible for the
contamination. As their responsibility is es-
tablished, the EPA negotiates with these "re-
sponsible parties" to pay for cleaning up the
problem they helped create. This "enforce-
ment first" policy saves Superfund Trust Fund
monies for use in cleanups where the respon-
sible parties cannot be identified, or where
they are unable to fund cleanup work.
-------
THE VOLUME
How to Use the State Book
The site fact sheets presented in this book
are comprehensive summaries that cover
a broad range of information. The fact sheets
describe hazardous waste sites on the NPL and
their locations, as well as the conditions
leading to their listing ("Site Description").
The summaries list the types of contaminants
that have been discovered and related threats
to public and ecological health ("Threats and
Contaminants")- "Cleanup Approach" pres-
ents an overview of the cleanup activities
completed, underway, or planned. The fact
sheets conclude with a brief synopsis of how
much progress has been made in protecting
public health and the environment. The
summaries also pinpoint other actions, such as
legal efforts to involve polluters responsible
for site contamination and community con-
cerns.
The fact sheets are arranged in alphabetical
order by site name. Because site cleanup is a
dynamic and gradual process, all site informa-
tion is accurate as of the date shown on the
bottom of each page. Progress always is being
made at NPL sites, and the EPA periodically
will update the site fact sheets to reflect recent
actions and will publish updated State vol-
umes. The following two pages show a ge-
neric fact sheet and briefly describe the infor-
mation under each section.
How Can You Use
This State Book?
You can use this book to keep informed about
the sites that concern you, particularly ones
close to home. The EPA is committed to
involving the public in the decision making
process associated with hazardous waste
cleanup. The Agency solicits input from area
residents in communities affected by Super-
fund sites. Citizens are likely to be affected
not only by hazardous site conditions, but also
by the remedies that combat them. Site clean-
ups take many forms and can affect communi-
ties in different ways. Local traffic may be
rerouted, residents may be relocated, tempo-
rary water supplies may be necessary.
Definitive information on a site can help
citizens sift through alternatives and make
decisions. To make good choices, you must
know what the threats are and how the EPA
intends to clean up the site. You must under-
stand the cleanup alternatives being proposed
for site cleanup and how residents may be
affected by each one. You also need to have
some idea of how your community intends to
use the site in the future, and you need to know
what the community can realistically expect
once the cleanup is complete.
The EPA wants to develop cleanup methods
that meet community needs, but the Agency
only can take local concerns into account if it
understands what they are. Information must
travel both ways in order for cleanups to be
effective and satisfactory. Please take this
opportunity to learn more, become involved,
and assure that hazardous waste cleanup at
"your" site considers your community's
concerns.
XI
-------
THE VOLUME
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Provides the dates when the
site was Proposed, made Final,
and Deleted from the NPL.
SITE RESPONSIBILITY
Identifies the Federal, State,
and/or potentially responsible
parties taking responsibility
for cleanup actions at the site.
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROGRESS
Summarizes the actions to
reduce the threats to nearby
residents and the surrounding
environment and the progress
towards cleaning up the site.
SITE NAME
STATE
EPA ID* ABCOOOOOOO
EPA REGION XX
COUNTY NAME
LOCATION
Threats and Contaminants
Response Action Status
Environmental Progress
Site Repository
SITE REPOSITORY
Lists the location of the primary site repository. The site
repository may include community relations plans, public
meeting announcements and minutes, fact sheets, press
releases, and other site-related documents.
XII
-------
THE VOLUME
SITE DESCRIPTION
This section describes the location and history of the site. It includes descrip-
tions of the most recent activities and past actions at the site that have con-
tributed to the contamination. Population estimates, land usages, and nearby
resources give readers background on the local setting surrounding the site.
THREATS AND CONTAMINANTS
The major chemical categories of site contamination are noted, as well as
which environmental resources are affected. Icons representing each of the
affected resources (may include air, groundwater, surface water, soil, and
contamination to environmentally sensitive areas) are included in the margins
of this section. Potential threats to residents and the surrounding environ-
ments arising from the site contamination also are described.
CLEANUP APPROACH
This section contains a brief overview of how the site is being cleaned up.
®
RESPONSE ACTION STATUS
Specific actions that have been accomplished or will be undertaken to clean
up the site are described here. Cleanup activities at NPL sites are divided
into separate phases, depending on the complexity and required actions at the
site. Two major types of cleanup activities often are described: initial,
immediate, or emergency actions to quickly remove or reduce imminent
threats to the community and surrounding areas; and long-term remedial
phases directed at final cleanup at the site. Each stage of the cleanup strategy
is presented in this section of the summary. Icons representing the stage of
the cleanup process (initial actions, site investigations, EPA selection of the
cleanup remedy, engineering design phase, cleanup activities underway, and
completed cleanup) are located in the margin next to each activity descrip-
tion.
SITE FACTS
Additional information on activities and events at the site are included in this
section. Often details on legal or administrative actions taken by the EPA to
achieve site cleanup or other facts pertaining to community involvement with
the site cleanup process are reported here.
XIII
-------
THE VOLUME
The "icons," or symbols, accompanying the text allow the reader to see at a glance which envi-
ronmental resources are affected and the status of cleanup activities at the site.
Icons in the Threats
and Contaminants
Section
Contaminated Groundwater resources
in the vicinity or underlying the site.
(Groundwater is often used as a drink-
ing water source.)
Contaminated Surface Water and
Sediments on or near the site. (These
include lakes, ponds, streams, and
rivers.)
Contaminated Air in the vicinity of
the site. (Air pollution usually is
periodic and involves contaminated
dust particles or hazardous gas emis-
sions.)
Contaminated Soil and Sludges on or
near the site. (This contamination
category may include bulk or other
surface hazardous wastes found on the
site.)
Threatened or contaminated Environ-
mentally Sensitive Areas in the vicinity
of the site. (Examples include wet-
lands and coastal areas or critical
habitats.)
Icons in the Response
Action Status Section
Initial, Immediate, or Emergency
Actions have been taken or are
underway to eliminate immediate
threats at the site.
Site Studies at the site to determine
the nature and extent of contamination
are planned or underway.
Remedy Selected indicates that site
investigations have been concluded,
and the EPA has selected a final
cleanup remedy for the site or part of
the site.
Remedy Design means that engineers
are preparing specifications and
drawings for the selected cleanup
technologies.
Cleanup Ongoing indicates that the
selected cleanup remedies for the
contaminated site, or part of the site,
currently are underway.
Cleanup Complete shows that all
cleanup goals have been achieved for
the contaminated site or part of the
site.
XIV
-------
A SUMMARY OF THE STATE PROGRAM
xv
-------
Superfund
Activities in
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is
located within EPA Region 3, which includes the five
mid-Atlantic States and the District of Columbia. The Commonwealth covers 45,308 square miles.
According to the 1990 Census, Pennsylvania experienced a one percent increase in population be-
tween 1980 and 1990, and is ranked fifth in U.S. population with approximately 11,882,000 residents.
The Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act of 1988 is the primary statute through which the Common-
wealth implements the Superfund program. This statute authorizes the Commonwealth to compel
polluters to conduct or pay for cleanup activities. In practice, the Commonwealth allows 120 days
before listing sites on its priority list to encourage polluter participation in the cleanup process. An
additional 120-day moratorium period is granted in those cases involving multiple parties to allow for
negotiations. In addition to the State enforcement authorities, the Act allows for private citizen suits
against polluters. The 1988 statute also created the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, which is used to
finance long-term cleanup activities conducted by the State, emergency response actions involving
nonhazardous substances, loans to facilitate cleanup by private polluters, grants for recycling equip-
ment, and incentives to municipalities where hazardous waste disposal facilities will be constructed.
The Commonwealth is required to hold public meetings and incorporate a public comment period into
the decision-making process before allowing cleanup activities to begin. Currently, 94 sites in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have been listed as final on the NPL; seven have been deleted. Six
new sites have been proposed.
The Department of Environmental Resources
implements the Superfund Program in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Activities responsible for hazardous
waste contamination in the Common-
wealth of Pennsylvania include:
Chemical and
Metal Production
Facilities
Manufacturing
Facilities
Federal Facilities
Other
Recycling
and
Storage
and
Disposal
Facilities
Landfills
Facts about the 107 NPL sites
in Pennsylvania:
Immediate Actions (such as removing
hazardous substances or restricting
site access) were performed at 84
sites.
Twenty-nine sites endanger sensitive
environments.
Eighty-one sites are located near
residential areas.
XVII
March 1992
-------
PENNSYLVANIA
Most Sites Have Multiple Contaminants and
Contaminated Media:
Media Contaminated at Sites
Contaminants Found at Sites
Air
Surface
Water
Ground-
water
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percentage of Sites
The Potentially Responsible
Party Pays...
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, poten-
tially responsible parties are paying for or
conducting cleanup activities at 75 sites.
Percentage of Sites
VOCs
Heavy Metals
PCBs
Creosotes
Other*
Pesticides/Herb ic ides
Cyanide
Acids
Petrochemicals/Explosives
Plastics
Asbestos
Gases
Radiation
Dioxin
79%
50%
15%
14%
9%
7%
6%
5%
5%
3%
3%
3%
2%
1%
"Other contaminants include oleum gas clouds,
benzidine, boron, nitrate, dieldrin, sodium phos-
phate, and aluminum.
For Further Information on NPL Sites and Hazardous
Waste Programs in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Please Contact:
EPA Region 3 Environmental
Education and Outreach Branch
National Response Center
The Department of Environmental
Resources: Bureau of Waste
Management, Hazardous Waste
Sites Cleanup Program
EPA Region 3 Site Assessment
Section
EPA Superfund Hotline
For information concerning
community involvement
To report a hazardous
waste emergency
For information about the
State's responsibility in the
Superfund Program
For information about the
Regional Superfund Program
Federal Superfund Program
For information about the
Federal Superfund Program
(215) 597-9370
(800) 424-8802
(717)783-7509
(215)597-8229
(800) 424-9068
March 1992
XVIII
-------
THE NPL REPORT
PROGRESS TO DATE
The following Progress Report lists all
sites currently on, or deleted from, the
NPL and briefly summarizes the status of ac-
tivities for each site at the time this report was
prepared. The steps in the Superfund cleanup
process are arrayed across the top of the chart,
and each site's progress through these steps is
represented by an arrow (O) indicating the
current stage of cleanup.
Large and complex sites often are organized
into several cleanup stages. For example,
separate cleanup efforts may be required to
address the source of the contamination,
hazardous substances in the groundwater, and
surface water pollution, or to clean up differ-
ent areas of a large site. In such cases, the
chart portrays cleanup progress at the site's
most advanced stage, reflecting the status of
site activities rather than administrative ac-
complishments.
O An arrow in the "Initial Response" cate-
gory indicates that an emergency
cleanup, immediate action, or initial ac-
tion has been completed or currently is
underway. Emergency or initial actions
are taken as an interim measure to pro-
vide immediate relief from exposure to
hazardous site conditions or to stabilize
a site to prevent further contamination.
O A final arrow in the "Site Studies" cat-
egory indicates that an investigation to
determine the nature and extent of the
contamination at the site currently is on-
going or planned.
^> A final arrow in the "Remedy Selection"
category means that the EPA has se-
lected the final cleanup strategy for the
site. At the few sites where the EPA has
determined that initial response actions
have eliminated site contamination, or
that any remaining contamination will
be naturally dispersed without further
cleanup activities, a "No Action" rem-
edy has been selected. In these cases,
the arrows are discontinued at the
"Remedy Selection" step and resume in
the "Construction Complete" category.
^ A final arrow at the "Remedial Design"
stage indicates that engineers currently
are designing the technical specifica-
tions for the selected cleanup remedies
and technologies.
^> A final arrow in the "Cleanup Ongoing"
column means that final cleanup actions
have been started at the site and cur-
rently are underway.
^> A final arrow in the "Construction Com-
plete" category is used only when all
phases of the site cleanup plan have
been performed, and the EPA has deter-
mined that no additional construction
actions are required at the site. Some
sites in this category currently may be
undergoing long-term operation and
maintenance or monitoring to ensure
that the cleanup actions continue to pro-
tect human health and the environment.
/ A check in the "Deleted" category indi-
cates that the site cleanup has met all
human health and environmental goals
and that the EPA has deleted the site
from the NPL.
Further information on the activities and
progress at each site is given in the site "Fact
Sheets" published in this volume.
XIX
-------
TJ
a>
(0
'c
CT3
(/>
C
c
a>
a.
"o
0)
03
^^^
CO
_c
•*-•
c
/A
VI
0)
^^
co
a.
73
a.
c
Progress Toward Clea
Remedy Remedy Cleanup Construction
s Selected Design Ongoing Complete Dele
® .2
*± T3
CO 3
CO
01
V)
11
c en
~ ttl
oc
£
(Q
Q
O.
Z
c
o
o
O)
ro
Z
0)
CO
ft
ON
9S.
^
2
73
c
U.
CHESTER
O
Z
| A. I. W. FRANK/MID-COUNTY MUSI
ft
ft
ft
ft
ft
r--
R
o
73
c
UH
Z
^}
LACKAW/i
ALADDIN PLATING
ft
ft
ft
ft
ft
^o
92.
j3>
S
73
c
UH
W
i_J
O
o
i
AMBLER ASBESTOS PILES
ft
ft
ft
ft
ft
ON
00
s
o
7J
UH
O
| AMP, INC. (GLEN ROCK FACILITY)
ft
ft
-------
•o
0)
S"
0)
C
o
o
C3
'c
re
_>
(0
c
c
0)
Q_
*^"
O
s
s
0)
-C
(0
G)
CO
D.
«
Q.
C
ro
0)
Progress Toward Cl
Cleanup Construction
Ongoing Complete Delel
>. c
"g 0)
E '«
>.T3
"O ®
E «
o> "5J
CC 07
•
c
3
0)
ra
Z
(7)
ft
ft
ff
ft
ON
S2.
^
2
•a
c
UH
S
w
m
CRYO CHEM, INC.
ft
ft
ft
ft
ON
ro
O
•a
c
u.
&
CQ
U
^
ry^
DELTA QUARRIES & DISPO!
STOTLER LANDFILL
ft
ft
ft
ft
^-
90
R
S
•a
c
u.
w
§•
O
H
w
DORNEY ROAD LANDFILL
ft
ft
ft
ft
ft
co
so
R
S
•a
c
U,
%
W
m
i
DOUGLASSVILLE DISPOSAI
ft
ft
ft
ft
ft
m
R
S
•a
c
u.
Z
O
u
DRAKE CHEMICAL
S
ft
ft ft ft ft ft
ftftft ftft ftftftftft
ftftft ftft ftftftftft
ftftftftftftftftftftftft
ft ft ft ft ft ft ft
CD ^" ON ON *O r<~} CN ro t — ro ON T^'
p^gogogcgooopjvgoscgogogjb
^cr^^QQcrj^c^jDSDrnc^
ogSooSSSoooo
•O -o
•^•^•^^gg-g o "a *a *a "a *a
cccc-^cR-ccccc
UH UH U, U, Q UL, 0- UH U. U, U. UH
d s i s 1 1
j ^ W OH ^ < O
S^DU
Q
S
t-H
<
^
<
LLJ
O
|
LANSDOWNE RADIATION S
March 1992
-------
TJ
0)
(Continued)
.2
'c
ra
CO
c
c
iS. T3
" 2
CO
0)
V)
11
c (/)
~ 0)
EC
£
"m
Q
Q_
Z
c
o
O
0)
re
0)
in
1992
%
ft
\o
as.
R
s
13
1
LACKA WANNA D
O
d
w
o
w
u
1
LEfflGH ELEC
COMPANY
ft
ft
ON
92
2
o
1
FRANKLIN F
0
Q
&
g
H
Q
i
LETTERKENN
ft
ft
ft
ft
f^-
92
R
•a
1 FRANKLIN F:
S
<
LU
CO,
0
LL)
Q
i
LETTERKENN
ft
ft
ft
ro
9°
R
S
1
ALLEGHENY F
%
LINDANE DU1>
ft
ft
ft
ft
CO
92
R
S
1
LL.
, ^
LANDFIL
LORD-SHOPE
ft
ft
r*-}
92
R
S
1
CHESTER F
LU
MALVERN TC
ft
ft
ft
ft
ft
to
92
R
S
1
SCHUYLKILL FJ
OCIATES
MCADOO ASS
ft
ft
r*~i
92.
R
S
c
PHILADELPfflA Fi
CO
METAL BANK
ft
-------
•o
a>
*•*
_aj
o>
Q
s
S
s s
s
"0
0)
c
.2 o>
•5 •»*
u <»
21
ii
3°
a. o>
3 C
= 'o
»g
00
> i-
? S
E '">
I-S
O
o
.2
'E
re
en
c
I
"o
0)
s
CO
Q)
(0
0>
>.T5
II
E a>
a) "5;
DC to
(0
a .2
is -a
to =
V)
_ s
•— o
C V)
IT
Q
a.
z
o
o
re
a.
c
re
O
•a
re
I
CO
CO
S>
o>
o
o>
E
TO
CO
ft
ft ft
ft ft ft ft
ft
ft
ft
ft ft ft ft ft ft
ft
ft
ft ft
ft ft
ft ft
ft ft
ft ft ft
ft ft ft
ft ft ft ft
ft
ft ft
ft ft
ft ft
ftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftftft
ftft ftftft ftftftftft ftftftftftftftftftftftftftftft
r*~i C^ OO ON CT\ ON C1 f~) t—• ON i~H f*- O C> ^O rn ON ^" C> ON ^" ON ON ^ O vD CN *O
oo ON pO oo co po ON po oo po ON oo ON ON po oo oo oo ON oo oo po oo oo ON oo ON oo
i^, (^-) ^-H ^ ^j ^^ (y-^ ^^ Q £2 fs] o CN| rO O O r*~) O ro O O1 ^D CN O CO O ^H O
SoocNOOOv^ON^or^r^cNoo^ONr^~)ONOoooNior*~iONQoi^p'—'^o
^^ ^^ ^H *•^ »—^ ^^ O C> ^H O C1 O O O ^> O O 1> CJ
*-g *^ »^ 7-3 *r* *-^ —3 -^ »T3 -rt
TOCyCSTO^JOJC^TOCvlJ
C C C C "Ti 'Tj C C C "Ji
UH Q Q tin li. UH Q U,
XXIII
March 1992
-------
0)
I
&
I.
*3 *••
o «
3 "5.
~ E
I5
£0,
c '5
of
,_«
is
.E
3
(0
'c
?
^J^
(0
c
£
•5
i
(/>
0
(0
5>
c/5
a.
z
13
a.
3
(0
a>
O
(5
^
o
F
M
V)
£
rn
>.TJ
x> a>
••S A
E » J
££
Q) .£
wl u
s
_ w
•5 ® ft
— a>
oc
§5
1 £
o B
_i "3
a- .S
Z tL
O2
>• H
I s
0 U
en
§
<;
i— !
^
y
Q
a> 5
1 1
0
f>
UJ
^
1
'u-
^
2
_.
i
t/3 ra
% <
B
C ^
oU
U
ago
{jy j> 5 B "o
Go
•nil
"ja'I
1/1 a -e S «
V3 ? v "a3
*«il
3
1
5
i1
1
tu
'•S
2
'3
1
-c
1
'. activities r
'5
I
^
{
|
§•
0
Si
£
9 ^
^ 0
C/3 ffi
fc B
z <
5 pq
° §
March 1992
-------
A.I.W. FRAN
MID-COUN
MUSTANG
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD004351003
PA REGION 3
Chester County
Extort
Other Names:
xton Area Sites
Site Description
The 16-acre A.I.W. Frank/Mid-County Mustang site was used from 1962 to 1981 to produce
styrofoam cups and plates. In 1981, Continental Refrigerator Corp. acquired the property and
manufactured refrigerators, freezers, and warming cabinets for the institutional food service
industry. One acre of the site was leased by Mid-County Mustang from 1982 until 1984. The
space leased by Mid-County Mustang had been used since the 1940s for auto repair facilities
and body shops. Solvents used for cleaning engines were discharged into floor drains in the
building and from there into an on-site, stone-bed drain field. Various contaminants have
been detected in the floor drain, drain field, and soils. A well on the Mid-County Mustang
property also was found to be contaminated. In August 1991, a fire of unknown origin
destroyed one of the on-site buildings. Approximately 76,700 people obtain drinking water
from public and private wells within 3 miles of the site. More than 900 people live within a
mile of the site. Valley Creek, located within 1/2 mile of the site, is used for recreational
activities and is threatened by runoff from the site. The area, which was originally farmland, is
undergoing rapid development to become a residential, commercial, and light industrial area.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were found in a well on the Mid-County
Mustang property and at the floor drain and drain field in 1983. Surface water
within 3 miles downstream is used for recreational activities and may be threatened
by runoff flow into Valley Creek. There are no immediate threats resulting from
the fire. The site is currently unfenced. People could be exposed to chemicals by
drinking contaminated groundwater.
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the
entire site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The EPA is assuming responsibility for conducting site investigations
and cleanup. A work plan for the study to determine the nature and extent of site
contamination and options for cleaning it up is under review, and field work is
scheduled to begin in the summer of 1992. The EPA also intends to remove the remainder of
the fire-destroyed building in the summer of 1992.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that no immediate actions were needed at the A.I.W. Frank/Mid-County Mustang
site while studies are being conducted and cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
West Whiteland Township Building, 222 North Pottstown Pike, Extori, PA 19341
March 1992
A.I.W. FRANK/ MID-COUNTY MUSTANG
-------
ALADDIN P
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD075993378I
EPA REGION 3
Lackawana County
Scott Township
Other Names:
addin Electroplating
Site Description
The Aladdin Plating site covers 8 1/2 acres and was used as a small electroplating operation
from 1947 to 1982, when it closed following a fire. The electroplating of nickel, copper, and
chromium was the primary process during the company's operation. Sulfuric acid, chromic
acid, and cyanide were used along with water for rinsing. Rinse water and sludge
contaminated with electroplating materials were deposited in two unlined lagoons that had no
diking or diversion ditches, permitting them to overflow. In the mid-1970s, the owner filled
the lagoons with dirt. Vats containing process chemicals remained on site after a 1982 fire.
Two surface water intakes along Leggetts Creek, the Griffin Creek intake, and Providence
Reservoir intake are located approximately 1/2 mile and 2 miles, respectively, downstream of
the site. The site is located in a residential community with about 120 people living within 1/4
mile of the site. An estimated 11,000 people obtain drinking water within 3 miles of the site.
Four residences are located within 100 yards of the site.
Site Responsibility: The site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
Threats and Contaminants
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 07/01/87
Groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals from electroplating process
wastes. Also, analyses conducted by the State in 1983 detected heavy metals
including chromium, lead, and cyanide in the soil at several locations near the
building and the two lagoons. The presence of groundwater contaminants
potentially threaten local water supplies and those who drink the contaminated
water. Direct contact with contaminated soil and inhaling of hazardous materials
that enter the air are potential threats to the health of the nearby population.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focussing on soil and groundwater treatment.
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: EPA emergency personnel stabilized the site by packing
drums in new protective containers and emptying the vats. Two drums of cyanide
were removed. The building was demolished and decontaminated. All
decontaminated debris and vats were sent off site. Contaminated building debris was
transported to an EPA-approved facility. Fencing was installed to secure the site. Monitoring
wells were drilled, and the EPA performed residential well sampling and soil sampling.
Soil: Selected cleanup technologies for the soil cleanup include: excavation and
off-site stabilization of approximately 27,000 cubic yards of
chromium-contaminated soil; disposal of the treated soil in an off-site landfill; and
replacement of the excavated soil with clean fill. These actions began in 1988 and are
expected to be completed in 1992.
Ground water: The EPA began a site investigation in 1990 to determine the
extent of groundwater contamination and to select cleanup technologies. The
investigation is planned for completion in late 1992.
Site Facts: The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADER) cited the
parties potentially responsible for the site contamination for violating the Clean Streams Law
in 1974 and for treating industrial wastes without a permit. The public has expressed concern
over the length of the cleanup process and the potential spread of contamination by
groundwater runoff.
Environmental Progress
Over-packing drums, emptying vats, decontaminating and removing debris, removing
contaminated soil, and fencing the site have reduced the potential for exposure to
contaminants at the Aladdin Plating site while further investigations are taking place and final
cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Scott Township Civic Center, Route 247, Montdale, PA 18447
March 1992 4 ALADDIN PLATING
-------
AMBLER
ASBESTOS
PILES
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD000436436
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
Borough of Ambler
Other Names:
Nicolet Corporation
CertainTeed Corporation
The 15-acre Ambler Asbestos Piles site is made up of three asbestos-containing waste piles in
a residential area. The site was purchased in 1962 and divided by Nicolet Corporation and
CertainTeed Corporation, both manufacturers of asbestos products. The previous owner,
Keasbey & Mattison Company, also manufactured asbestos products and began dumping
waste in 1967. Nicolet pumped wastewater containing asbestos from settling ponds into diked
channel areas, creating wet asbestos piles that gradually dried as new diked areas.
CertainTeed dumped broken wallboard and asbestos pipe products, which periodically were
further broken by compacting tractors. The total volume of asbestos-contaminated waste in
the piles is estimated to exceed 1 1/2 million cubic yards. In 1971 and 1972, Nicolet and
CertainTeed applied for permits to continue the operation of their sites. The State denied the
applications in 1974 and ordered both companies to stop dumping and to stabilize and cover
the piles. The EPA found asbestos in the soil and on equipment in the Locust Street
playground, which is beside the site. Approximately 6,000 people live within 1/2 mile of the
site. The nearest residence is within 200 feet of one of the piles; about 40 residences are
located within 1/4 mile. Wissahickon Creek and its flood plain border the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/84
Final Date: 06/01/86
Threats and Contaminants
ZJAJ
The air, groundwater, soil, sediments, and surface water are contaminated with
asbestos. The contaminated playground equipment has been removed; however,
asbestos found in the soil poses a threat through direct contact, inhalation, and
accidental ingestion of fibers.
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the entire site and asbestos cleanup.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: CertainTeed Corporation contained the asbestos pile with
a vegetated soil cover in 1977. The Nicolet Corporation decontaminated the
playground equipment and closed the playground in 1984. The site was partially
fenced, and the asbestos piles were covered by the Nicolet Corporation and the EPA. The
erosion gullies were repaired and reseeded and the problem drainage areas were regraded.
These containment activities reduced the short-term threats of asbestos migrating off site.
Also, the EPA installed additional fencing in 1989 to restrict access to the site and to limit
the potential for residents to come in contact with contaminated areas.
Entire Site: The remedies selected by the EPA for this phase of site cleanup
include placing a special cover on each of the asbestos piles to prevent the release
of fibers and placing clean soil in the existing lagoon and settling basins. In
addition, water from the lagoon and the settling basins has been pumped out, filtered for
asbestos, and discharged on site. The lagoons were then backfilled and graded with clean soil
and reseeded. The piles will be graded to allow proper drainage. P'encing, locking gates, and
instituting surface water management and erosion control measures will take place at the site.
Erosion control structures will be installed to prevent the erosion of the asbestos pile where it
adjoins the Wissahickon Creek and Stuart Farm Creek banks. No significant contamination
has been detected in Wissahickon Creek. The parties potentially responsible for the site
contamination began the design of these activities in 1992 and are scheduled to complete the
design work in 1992.
Asbestos: Based on the investigation conducted by the parties potentially
responsible for site contamination, the EPA selected a remedy in 1989. The
remedy consists of regrading the pile plateaus; reinforcing the soil cover; installing
erosion and sedimentation control devices; performing a verification study to determine the
source of inorganics in Stuart Farm Creek; installing or upgrading the fencing/locking gates;
posting warning signs; and monitoring air. The design work for this remedy was completed in
early 1992, when cleanup activities began.
Site Facts: In 1988, the EPA entered into a Consent Order with CertainTeed Corporation
to conduct field sampling of one of the asbestos piles it owns. The EPA entered into
additional agreements with CertainTeed and T&N Industries, Inc. to design and implement
the selected remedies on their portions of the site. Nicolet Corporation dissolved in
bankruptcy in 1988.
March 1992 6 AMBLER ASBESTOS PILES
-------
Environmental Progress
The immediate actions, including fencing the site, removing asbestos piles, decontaminating
and closing the adjacent playground, and covering the contaminated soil with a vegetative soil
cover, have reduced the potential for exposure to asbestos from the Ambler Asbestos Piles
site for nearby residents while final cleanup activities are designed and take place.
Site Repository
Wissahickon Valley Library, Ambler Branch, 209 Race Street, Ambler, PA 19002
AMBLER ASBESTOS PILES
March 1992
-------
AMP, INC.
(GLEN ROC
FACILITY)
PENNSYLVANI
EPAID* PAD041421
EPA REGION 3
York County
squehanna Road in Glen Rock
Site Description
The Amp, Inc. (Glen Rock Facility) is a 20-acre site located in a rural area outside of Glen
Rock. The facility is the plastics division of Amp, Inc., which manufactures injection-molded
plastics and polyester. The materials development lab uses contact adhesives and lubricants.
The facility has a permit for managing hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA). In 1984, employees' complaints about the taste of their water led
to testing. Three wells located on the site were tested, and the owners were notified of the
contamination. Well water serving an apartment complex also was tested, and the owner was
notified of possible exposure to contaminants in the groundwater. Amp, Inc. is working to
prevent contaminants from migrating off the property, and solvents are being removed from
nearby wells. Approximately 4,700 people live within a 3-mile radius of the site. A trailer park
and apartment complex are nearby. Larkin Pond, a wetland located next to the site, is used
for recreational activities and drains into a tributary of Seaks Run.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
Analysis of the groundwater, soil, and surface water from 1984 through 1990
revealed contamination with trichloroethane and trichloroethylene from
manufacturing wastes. People who accidentally ingest or come into direct contact
with contaminated groundwater, soil, or surface water may be at risk. The site is
adjacent to a wetland, which could be subject to contamination from runoff from
the site. Larkin Pond, located next to the site, also is a potential threat to people
who use the pond for recreational purposes
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the soil and groundwater.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: Amp, Inc. currently is pumping and treating contaminated
groundwater by utilizing six recovery wells and two air stripping towers to prevent
the contaminants from migrating off site. The monitoring wells are analyzed
quarterly. Results have indicated the system is working; contaminant concentrations have
decreased significantly since the start-up of the system. A third air stripping tower installed in
1987 is used to treat water as a backup drinking water source for the neighboring trailer park.
The tower is located off site in the trailer park.
Soil and Groundwater: Amp, Inc. completed a study of the nature and extent
of contamination at the site and recommended a remedy for site cleanup. The
EPA agreed to the cleanup remedy and Amp, Inc. installed a bedrock flushing
infiltration trench in 1991. This currently operational treatment system flushes contaminants
through the bedrock and into the groundwater pumping wells and air stripping towers.
Following completion of the above treatment, scheduled for 1994, an additional site
investigation will be conducted to address those areas not covered by the bedrock treatment
system.
Site Facts: In 1991, a RCRA order was issued to Amp, Inc. that formally obligated the
company to take corrective measures with regard to the groundwater pump and treatment
system.
Environmental Progress
The pump and treat system currently in operation at the Amp, Inc. (Glen Rock Facility) site
is restricting the spread of contamination and has reduced the potential for exposure to
hazardous materials. Active monitoring wells ensure that contamination continues to be
localized in the site area while the final cleanup remedies are ongoing.
Site Repository
Not established.
AMP, INC. (GLEN ROCK FACILITY) 9 March 1992
-------
AUSTIN AV
RADIATION
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID# PAD98734171
EPA REGION 3
Delaware County
sdowne Borough, East Lansdowne
rough, Upper Darby Township, Aldan
Borough, and Darby Borough
Site Description
The Austin Avenue Radiation site consists of 31 contaminated properties located in
Lansdowne Borough, East Lansdowne Borough, Upper Darby Township, Aldan Borough, and
Darby Borough. Contamination of these properties resulted from the disposal of radioactive
materials generated by W. L. Cummings Radium Processing Co.; this company conducted
radium-refining operations from 1915 to 1925. Radium tailings resulting from these plant
operations were mixed with materials used to construct buildings or used for fill material at
the 31 contaminated properties in Delaware County. In 1991, an advisory was issued to the
area by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). In this advisory,
the nearby population was warned of the significant risks posed to their safety and health by
the radium, radon, and asbestos present in the structures.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 02/07/92
Threats and Contaminants
Radium, radon, and asbestos are present in buildings and other structures located
on the contaminated properties. Coming into contact with or accidentally ingesting
contaminated solids could pose a public health risk.
Cleanup Approach
This site currently is being addressed in one immediate action.
10
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The EPA removed debris from the abandoned warehouse
and painted its interior to prevent radioactive dust from migrating when the
building is dismantled. Thousands of properties were assessed using a radiation
detection vehicle; 50 properties requiring further monitoring were then revisited. The old
warehouse at Austin and Union Avenues has been demolished. Site activities also included
the temporary relocation of residents from seven of the 31 contaminated properties.
Radiological assessments on all properties continue to be performed to determine whether
further disposition of properties is necessary.
Entire Site: The EPA is planning an investigation into the nature and extent of
contamination. This investigation will begin shortly and will recommend
alternatives for cleanup at the site.
Environmental Progress
Immediate actions such as the removal of warehouse debris, assessments of thousands of
possibly contaminated properties, and temporary relocation of affected residents have
reduced risks posed to the safety and health of the nearby population. Additional site
investigations are underway and activities are being planned for permanent cleanup of the
site.
Site Repository
Not established.
AUSTIN AVENUE RADIATION SITE
11
March 1992
-------
AVCO LYCO
(WILLIAMSPO
DIVISION)
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD003053709
A REGION 3
coming County
Williamsport
Site Description
The 28-acre Avco Lycoming (Williamsport Division) site has produced aircraft engines for
over 50 years. The plant operates a still to reclaim Varsol, a petroleum solvent, and has
operated a waste treatment facility since the early 1950s. According to the State, poor
housekeeping practices apparently have contaminated the site. A municipal well field located
3,000 feet to the southwest of the site is used as a backup water supply under drought
conditions. This water system is treated with air stripping. There are approximately 34,000
people living within 3 miles of the site. Private wells within 3 miles of the site serve 2,500
people. The site is located near pristine stream environments, including a trout stream.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 02/12/90
Threats and Contaminants
Monitoring wells on the site, off-site downgradient wells and a well field 3,000 feet
southwest of the site are contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE). The backup
water supply system used in emergency situations is protected by air stripping
treatment. People who accidentally ingest or come in direct contact with
contaminated groundwater are at risk.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
12
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: Currently, groundwater on and off the site is being pumped and
treated to remove contaminants.
Entire Site: Avco Lycoming, under EPA monitoring, has investigated the nature
and extent of contamination at the site. This investigation defined the
contaminants and recommended alternatives for the final cleanup. The remedy
for site cleanup, selected in mid-1991, includes the continued use of the on-site groundwater
recovery and treatment system. The potentially responsible parties currently are designing the
cleanup remedy and are expected to be completed by 1993.
Site Facts: In 1985, the State and Avco signed a Consent Order involving monitoring of
groundwater and cleanup of on-site groundwater. In May 1992, a Unilateral Administrative
Order was signed requiring the potentially responsible parties to design and implement the
selected remedy.
Environmental Progress
The pumping and treating of groundwater described above has reduced the potential for
exposure to hazardous substances at the Avco Lycoming (Williamsport Division) site while
awaiting final cleanup actions.
Site Repository
Not established.
AVCO LYCOMING
(WILLIAMSPORT DIVISION)
13
March 1992
-------
BALLY
GROUNDWAT
CONTAMINAT
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID# PAD061105128
A REGION 3
erks County
Bally
Site Description
The Bally Groundwater Contamination site consists of an area of groundwater contamination
in and around the Bally Municipal Well #3. In 1982, the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources discovered organic solvent contamination in this well; the well was
taken out of service shortly thereafter. Currently, water is being pumped from the well and
treated by an air stripping system to remove volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) before it is
discharged to the municipal water supply system and into the West Branch of the Perkiomen
Creek. The probable source of the contamination is thought to be a company that
manufactures urethane-insulated panels for refrigerating units and is located approximately
1,000 feet from the well. The company used lagoons on its property to dispose of plant waste
from at least 1960 to 1965. By 1966, the three lagoons were backfilled and used for vehicle
parking. Approximately 6,400 people live within a 3-mile radius of the site. The closest
residence is within 1/4 mile of the manufacturing facility. The groundwater is the source for
the Borough of Bally public water supply system, which services 1,200 people. The
groundwater also is the source for private residential wells outside the Borough boundaries.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/01/86
Final Date: 07/01/87
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and surface water is contaminated with various VOCs, including
tetrachloroethene, trichloroethene, and dichloroethene. Potential health risks exist
through direct contact with or drinking of contaminated groundwater or surface
water. Currently, contamination levels in active public water supply wells do not
pose any danger; however, private well contamination does pose a risk. Surface soil
contamination that could pose a public health hazard has been either covered or is
secured by a fence.
14
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on groundwater treatment.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Well #1 at the Bally well field has been taken out of
service in an attempt to limit severe contamination to Well #3. An air stripping
unit has been installed to treat the water supply provided by Well #3. The public
water supply now meets acceptable EPA standards.
Groundwater: Bally Engineered Structures, Inc. completed a study of the extent
of contamination and alternative technologies for cleanup in 1989. The remedy
selected includes pumping and treating the groundwater using an air stripper.
Design of the selected cleanup plan began in late 1991 and is scheduled for completion in
early 1993. Cleanup activities will begin shortly thereafter.
Site Facts: In 1987, the EPA entered into a Consent Order with Bally Engineered
Structures, Inc., to conduct a study on the type and extent of contamination at the site. In
March 1991, the potentially responsible parties signed a Consent Decree with the EPA to
design the remedy and conduct the cleanup activities.
Environmental Progress
By treating the public drinking water, nearby residents of the Bally Groundwater
Contamination site are protected from hazardous chemicals while the potentially responsible
parties plan cleanup activities.
Site Repository
Borough Business Office, South Seventh Street, Bally, PA 19503
BALLY GROUND WATER CONTAMINATION
15
March 1992
-------
BELL LANDF
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID# PAD980705107
EPA REGION 3
Bradford County
Wyalusing
Other Names:
Terry Township Fill
Site Description
Bell Landfill covers 33 acres in Terry Township. Prior to 1970, the privately owned and
operated site served primarily as an open dump for municipal trash. In 1978, the State
licensed the landfill to accept ferric hydroxide sludge in an asphalt-lined portion of the fill.
From 1979 to 1981, 8,225 tons of sludge were disposed of at the site. After identifying
numerous permit violations related to leachate collection and the material used to cover the
filled material, the State closed the landfill in 1982. The former owner's estate had the
disposal areas partially covered with soil and installed two leachate collection tanks. However,
the EPA does not believe these actions were performed satisfactorily. In 1984, the EPA
detected contaminants in a private well near the site. Approximately 800 people live within 3
miles of the site and use private wells for drinking water. About 100 people live within a mile
of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
ZEJ
The groundwater is contaminated with barium from the former disposal activities.
Leachate is contaminated with high levels of organic pollutants, including
aromatics, ketones, and phthalates and heavy metals including barium, cadmium,
lead, and zinc. An on-site pond is contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) and
heavy metals. Leachate has seeped from the landfill into an unnamed tributary of
Sugar Run, which is used for recreation and is protected by the State for cold
water fishing. Contaminants were found in an on-site pond used for watering farm
animals. People who walk on the unfenced site and come into direct contact with
or accidentally ingest contaminated groundwater, surface water, or leachate may
be at risk.
16
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the
entire site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: Three parties potentially responsible for contamination at the site are
investigating the nature and extent of contamination under EPA monitoring. The
investigation is primarily focusing on the filled areas and the remainder of the
landfill. This investigation, which began in 1991 and is planned for completion in 1994, will
recommend alternatives for the cleanup. A fence is scheduled to be installed around the fill-
in areas by late 1992.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations and
determined that the Bell Landfill site does not pose an immediate threat to public health or
the environment. Studies leading to the selection of a final cleanup remedy currently are
taking place.
Site Repository
Not established.
BELL LANDFILL 17 March 1992
-------
BENDIX FLI
SYSTEMS Dl
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD00304797
PA REGION 3
Susquehanna County
idgewater Township
Other Names:
Allied Corporation
Site Description
The Bendix Flight Systems Division site encompasses 60 acres and is an active manufacturing
facility for aircraft instruments. The Bendix Corporation bought the parcels that formed the
site in 1951 and 1952. Bendix was purchased by Allied Corporation in 1983. From 1952 until
1958, industrial solvent wastes were disposed of in a lagoon to the northeast of the plant and
also in a series of trenches east of the plant. In addition, from the 1950s to 1978, an earthen
pit was used for the disposal of water-soluble cutting oil and oil-contaminated water from air
compressors. Liquids were drained from the basin in 1978, and it was backfilled and seeded.
Bendix conducted investigations from 1984 through 1987 that showed contamination of
subsurface soils from past disposal practices. The contaminants have been leaching into the
underlying groundwater. Five areas of contamination have been identified at the site: a
trichloroethylene (TCE) storage tank area, the pit/trench area, an old landfill area, the area
of a former solvent evaporation facility, and a former drum storage area behind the plant
building. Approximately 1,400 people living within 3 miles of the site depend on water from
private wells. An estimated 500 people live in the town of South Montrose. The town is
dependent on the groundwater for its drinking water supply, and 19 residential wells have
been found to be contaminated. Surface water runoff from the site flows into waste water
treatment ponds that drain into a nearby wetland.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
Threats and Contaminants
NIPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/85
Final Date: 07/01/87
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including vinyl chloride and carbon
tetrachloride from former process wastes have been identified in the groundwater.
Low levels of VOCs including benzene and toluene have also been detected in
off-site private wells. VOCs, especially TCE and tetrachloroethene, have been
identified in soils. Surface water also contains TCE, benzene, and chloroform. The
groundwater can pose a threat to the health of people who come in direct contact
with or consume it. The nearby wetlands are at risk from contaminated runoff
from the site.
18
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a single long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: Bendix has drained the freestanding liquid from the basin.
Bendix also supplied carbon filters to affected well users and samples these on a
quarterly basis. Contaminated groundwater is not being used as a source of
drinking water.
Entire Site: The following remedies were detailed in the EPA's 1988 remedy
decision: mechanical screening of the soils, vacuum extraction of contaminants
from the soil and soil aeration, the pumping and treatment of deep groundwater
with carbon filtration, capture and collection of shallow groundwater by an interception
trench, followed by treatment with carbon filtration and treatment of off-site groundwater
through carbon adsorption. Design of the cleanup project began in 1990. Construction of the
groundwater interception trench began in late 1991 and is expected to be completed in late
1992. Construction of the mechanical screening and vacuum extraction systems is expected to
begin in 1993.
Site Facts: The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources and Bendix
negotiated a Consent Order and Agreement to determine the nature and extent of
contamination and to identify alternatives for cleanup. The EPA and Allied negotiated an
additional Consent Decree, effective July 13, 1990, for design and construction of the remedy.
Environmental Progress
By providing and maintaining water filtration systems for affected residences, regularly
sampling affected wells and removing the source of contamination at the site, the potential
for exposure to contaminated drinking water has been reduced while cleanup activities at the
Bendix Flight Systems site are being designed and implemented.
Site Repository
Susquehanna Planning Commission, 31 Public Avenue, County Office Building,
Montrose, PA 18801
BENDIX FLIGHT SYSTEMS DIVISION 19 March 1992
-------
BERKLEY PRODUCTS
CO. DUMP
PENNSYLVANIA^
EPA ID# PAD9805386'
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Lancaster County
Denver
Other Names:
Schoeneck Landfill
From the 1930s until 1965, the 2-acre Berkley Products site accepted municipal wastes, which
were burned or buried at the facility. The operation was privately owned. In 1965, Lipton
Paint and Varnish Co., a subsidiary of Berkley Products Co., bought the site and used it to
bury municipal waste mixed with organic solvents, paint wastes, resins, and pigment sludges.
When operations ceased in 1970, the site was seeded and sold. The contamination affects the
groundwater, a major drinking water supply. There are 25 homes bordering the site. Cocalico
Creek, which is about 2 miles downstream of the site, serves an estimated 2,000 people. The
community around the site is primarily rural.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
Heavy metals including barium, lead, and mercury, and plastic production wastes
including phthalates have been found in groundwater, soils, and in leachates
migrating off site. People may be at risk through direct contact with contaminated
leachate seeps. Because the groundwater also is contaminated, drinking water
could be affected.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a single long-term remedial
phase focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
20
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: When operations on the site stopped in 1970, the Berkley
Products site was covered and seeded. These actions limited the potential for
direct contact with wastes on the site. In late 1991, buried drums found during the
site investigations were excavated. The drums are now awaiting final disposal, expected in late
1992.
Entire Site: A study of the nature and extent of site contamination began in
1990. The study is expected to be completed in 1992, at which time the EPA will
select a final cleanup remedy.
Environmental Progress
By covering the site and seeding it with vegetative cover, the potential for exposure to
hazardous materials has been reduced at the Berkley Products site while studies leading to
final cleanup actions are ongoing. The evacuation and removal of buried drums in 1991 has
reduced the potential for further groundwater contamination through contact between
groundwater and the contaminated drum waste.
Site Repository
Not established.
BERKLEY PRODUCTS CO. DUMP
21
March 1992
-------
BERKS LAN
PENNSYLVANI
EPAID# PAD00065181
EPA REGION 3
Berks County
Sinking Springs
Other Names:
tabatrol Berks County Landfill
Site Description
The Berks Landfill consists of an eastern 43-acre, and a western 17-acre landfill, both of
which are unlined. The Berks Landfill has been in operation since the 1950s. In 1975, the
landfill was granted a permit to discharge treated leachate from its leachate collection system
into an adjacent stream. Also in 1975, the eastern landfill was granted a solid waste permit to
accept municipal refuse and demolition refuse. Starting in 1979, Stabatrol Corporation
operated the western landfill, disposing of stabilized alkali sludges under a State permit. The
State halted the discharges later that year because of violations of water quality standards. In
1980, the State suspended its approval for Stabatrol to stabilize sludges due to inadequate
storage methods, ceasing all operations at the western landfill. A new owner acquired the site
in 1984. A current leachate collection system discharges into three lined surface
impoundments. A fourth unlined surface impoundment collects stormwater. The leachate and
stormwater are pumped to the local wastewater treatment facility. In 1985, the EPA and the
State discovered contamination of a private well and the monitoring wells on the site. About
23,500 residents use private and public wells within 3 miles of the site for drinking water.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including vinyl chloride and benzene, and with manganese, a heavy metal,
according to sampling of an on-site monitoring well and a private well near the
site. Lead has been identified in the leachate and in on-site soils. Before the site
was fenced, contaminants in the lagoons posed a threat to site trespassers.
Ingestion of contaminated groundwater poses a threat if wells become
contaminated. A nearby stream may be threatened by contaminants as it formerly
received leachate from the site.
22
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: As an immediate action, the potentially responsible parties
under an EPA order, erected a fence around the eastern landfill and constructed
clay caps over several areas to prevent contaminants from spreading further.
Leachate and rainwater building up in the lagoons currently are collected and sent to the
local wastewater treatment authority for treatment. Leachate treatment is expected to be
completed in 1992.
Entire Site: In 1986, the potentially responsible parties and the State conducted a
preliminary site investigation, which identified VOC contamination in on-site
groundwater. The EPA began investigating the nature and extent of the
contamination at the site in mid-1991. The EPA will then evaluate the findings and
recommendations to select the final cleanup remedies for the contamination at the Berks
Landfill site.
Site Facts: The current site owner and the State entered into a Consent Order in 1986 to
study the contamination of the groundwater and to close the landfill. In 1990, the EPA issued
a Unilateral Order to 12 potentially responsible parties to conduct immediate actions at the
site.
Environmental Progress
After listing the Berks Landfill site on the NPL, the EPA evaluated site conditions and
determined that the selected immediate actions will eliminate the imminent threats to the
public health or the environment. Meanwhile, investigations into the most effective cleanup
methods are being conducted.
Site Repository
Not established.
BERKS LANDFILL 23 March 1992
-------
BERKS SA
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD9806917
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Berks County
miles northeast of Reading,
ar the Village of Huffs Church
Other Names:
Van Elswyck Property
The Berks Sand Pit site covers 4 acres in Longswamp Township. The privately owned sand pit
was used for the disposal of refuse before it was filled in and regraded. The source of
contamination has not yet been determined. Houses and private wells were constructed at the
site in 1978. Nearby residential wells are contaminated and in 1983, the EPA installed an
upgradient drinking water well as an alternate water source for residents. Longswamp
Township has a population of approximately 4,600. There are approximately 30 single-family
homes on or adjacent to the site. Perkiomen Creek tributaries are located to the east and
west of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/83
Final Date: 09/01/84
Threats and Contaminants
Residential and monitoring wells drawing on the groundwater are contaminated
with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A tributary of Perkiomen Creek also is
contaminated with VOCs. Area residents are at risk from drinking contaminated
groundwater; however, an alternative water source provided to four residences has
limited this exposure. Contaminated groundwater is discharging into the
headwaters of the Middle Branch of Perkiomen Creek.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the groundwater.
24
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1983, the EPA installed a holding tank and water line to
four residences. The homeowners are now maintaining the system. The EPA also
excavated the waste disposal area and disposed of one drum of contaminated
water. The area was filled in with clean soil.
Groundwater: The EPA plans to clean up the groundwater by extracting it and
then treating it by air stripping. The contaminants removed by the air stream are
further treated before releasing the air into the atmosphere. In 1990, the EPA
began constructing the groundwater extraction wells. The wells were completed in 1991.
Design of the groundwater treatment plant began in 1990 and was completed in 1991.
Construction of the treatment plant began shortly thereafter and is scheduled for completion
in late 1993. The EPA is expected to begin treatment of contaminated groundwater by 1994.
The plume of contaminated groundwater has migrated past the residential area, but drinking
water has remained within safe levels. However, as part of the final cleanup action, additional
monitoring wells, and extraction wells if necessary, will be installed to monitor and contain the
migration of contaminated groundwater.
Site Facts: The State and the EPA signed a Cooperative Agreement to study the nature
and extent of contamination at the site.
Environmental Progress
The EPA supplied an alternate drinking water supply to area residents and excavated and
filled in the waste disposal area with clean soil, which reduced the imminent threat posed by
the contamination while final cleanup activities are underway at the Berks Sand Pit site.
Site Repository
Longswamp Township Office, 1010 Main Street, Mertztown, PA 19539
BERKS SAND PIT
25
March 1992
-------
BLOSENSKI
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980539985
EPA REGION 3
Chester County
West Cain Township
Site Description
The Blosenski Landfill, now inactive, covers approximately 8 acres of this 13 1/2-acre site in
West Cain Township. It is bordered by heavily wooded and agricultural areas and new
housing. The site operated as a landfill for the disposal of municipal and industrial wastes
from the 1940s to the 1970s. Solvents, paints, leaking drums, and tank truck contents were
dumped randomly into the unlined landfill. The landfill was ordered to cease operation by the
Chester County Health Department in 1971. In response to citizen concerns, regulatory
actions were taken against the facility. Approximately 30 residents live within 1/4 mile of the
site, and about 470 residents live within a mile. Groundwater within a 3-mile radius of the site
is used as a drinking water source by approximately 600 people.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NIPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
IA
The groundwater and surface water contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including benzene, vinyl chloride, and chloroform from former disposal practices.
These compounds, as well as heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic, also were
detected in monitoring and residential wells on and surrounding the site. VOCs,
polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and heavy metals have been detected in soils
on site. VOCs and heavy metals have been detected in a tributary that receives
runoff from the Blosenski Landfill. Potential risks may exist through direct contact
with contaminated soils and through accidental ingestion of contaminated
groundwater or soil. Recreational use of a tributary of Indian Spring Run, located
approximately 500 feet north of the property, or of Indian Spring Run itself, may
result in exposure to contaminants in surface water and sediments. The landfill also
may pose a potential hazard because wastes with organic content may generate
methane, which has the potential to explode if it accumulates in the landfill.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a single long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
26
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1982, 50 to 60 drums and a leaking tank truck were removed
from the site by the EPA. A temporary alternate water supply was provided to
two residences by the EPA, and a permanent alternate water supply servicing
approximately 70 residents was completed in 1989.
Entire Site: The EPA will complete the cleanup of the site in the following four
phases: a permanent alternate water supply will be provided to approximately 75
residences; approximately 800 buried drums, any materials within the drums, and
freestanding liquids will be excavated and disposed of in an EPA-approved facility; a
pre-design study will be performed and will include further sampling of residential wells and
surface water, the installation of additional monitoring wells, and, based on study results,
pump testing for groundwater contaminants; and installation of a cap on the landfill,
construction of a surface water diversion system, and, if needed, construction of a gas venting
system to protect the cover. Periodic monitoring of groundwater and soil also will take place.
In 1990, the installation of the alternate water supply was completed. Evacuation and disposal
of buried drums is underway. Additional monitoring well work was completed in late 1991.
The pump testing for groundwater contaminants will be completed by the potentially
responsible parties. Construction of the landfill cap began in 1991 and is scheduled for
completion in late 1992. Design of the remaining section of the remedy began in early 1990
with construction expected to begin in 1993.
Site Facts: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has signed four Interagency Agreements with
the EPA to address the public water supply and site cleanup. The landfill was ordered to
cease operation by the Chester County Health Department in 1971. The public is concerned
over who will have access to the water line and potential decreases in property value. In
September 1991, four of the parties potentially responsible for site contamination agreed to a
Unilateral Administrative Order from the EPA to excavate and dispose of the on-site drums.
Environmental Progress
The provision of an emergency alternate drinking water source to the nearby residents and
the removal of contaminated drums have reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous
materials at the Blosenski Landfill site while further cleanup actions are underway.
Site Repository
West Cain Township Building, Route 340, Wagentown, PA 19376
BLOSENSKI LANDFILL 27 March 1992
-------
BOARHEAD
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID# PAD047726161
EPA REGION 3
Bucks County
Bridgeton Township
Other Names:
Boarhead Corporation
Site Description
The 113-acre Boarhead Farms site was used for horse breeding until 1970, when the
Boarhead Corporation began using the property to repair equipment and store waste
materials associated with its waste salvaging and hauling business. Shaak Excavating Company
(also known as the Keystone Excavating Company), a heavy equipment firm, leases a portion
of the property. Little is known about the quantities and types of waste that may have been
deposited on site; however, three documented releases have occurred on the property,
attributed to broken valves on trucks that stopped for repairs or to discharges by the
Boarhead Corporation. Discharges included 3,000 gallons of ferrous chloride in 1973, and
4,000 gallons of ammonia and 2,700 gallons of sulfuric acid in 1976. After the last spill, the
State of Pennsylvania issued an injunction forbidding any chemicals to be brought onto the
property. Approximately 900 people live within 3 miles of the site and obtain drinking water
from public and private wells. Roughly 1/3 of the site is low-lying wetlands. The Delaware
River, which is used for recreational activities, is 2 1/2 miles downstream of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
In 1984, the EPA detected volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and heavy metals in
wells, surface waters, and sediments on the site thought to have been caused by
the release of hazardous materials. Although only sporadic instances of
contamination were found in residential wells, people in the area could be exposed
to contaminants by drinking or coming into direct contact with contaminated
groundwater or surface water on this partially unfenced site. An on-site farmhouse
well is heavily contaminated with VOCs. On-site wetlands could be affected by
contaminants from the groundwater and surface water.
28
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the
entire site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The EPA has begun a study to determine the extent of
contamination at the site and to develop alternatives for site cleanup. As part of
this study, a geophysical survey of the site was conducted in 1991. It revealed
numerous magnetic anomalies underground, which may indicate the presence of buried
drums. Therefore, test pits will be dug as part of the site studies. The study, expected to be
completed in 1993, will result in the selection of the groundwater and surface water cleanup
remedies as well as remedies for any additional contaminated resources identified during the
investigation. Site studies were delayed while historic preservation issues were resolved.
Site Facts: In May 1989, the EPA sent Notice Letters to the parties potentially responsible
for the site contamination, who elected not to perform a study on site contamination. The
EPA is seeking additional information to identify other potentially responsible parties.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations at the
Boarhead Farms site and determined that the site does not currently pose an imminent threat
to public health or the environment while further studies are continued.
Site Repository
Bucks County Library, Center County Branch, 150 South Pine Street,
Doylestown, PA 18901
BOARHEAD FARMS 29 March 1992
-------
BRODHEAD CR
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980691760
PA REGION 3
Monroe County
Stroudsburg
Other Names:
Union Gas
Site Description
The Brodhead Creek site covers 12 acres and is located near Brodhead and McMichael
Creeks in Stroudsburg. A coal gasification plant that operated from 1888 to 1944 within the
site area disposed of tar in two large unlined lagoons. The U.S. Array Corps of Engineers
conducted a flood control project after a 1955 hurricane. Brodhead Creek was rechanneled,
and a flood control level was constructed on site. In 1981, coal tar was found to be seeping
into the creek, which is a heavily used trout fishing stream. Approximately 500 people live
within a 1-mile radius of the site. The nearest residence to the site is less than 1/4 mile away.
The main street of Stroudsburg is within 500 feet of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
ZT3
Groundwater on site is contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs), and toxic organic chemicals associated with coal tar. On-site subsurface
soil is contaminated with PAHs, arsenic, and coal tar constituents. Brodhead Creek
sediments also are contaminated with chemicals associated with coal tar. Potential
public health risks exist if contaminated groundwater is accidentally ingested and if
direct contact is made with contaminants.
30
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of free coal tar and soils and cleanup of the bedrock aquifer.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1981, the EPA took steps to stop the seepage of
contaminants including constructing filter fences and a dam, constructing an
underground slurry wall to contain the wastes, and partially excavating coal
tar-contaminated soil. The current landowner pumped about 8,000 gallons of coal tar out of
the ground and collected 150 drums of material. The owner and the State installed
monitoring wells to determine the extent of groundwater contamination.
Free Coal Tar and Soils: The EPA made preliminary recommendations for
cleanup alternatives, which include stabilization of the stream channel by
backfilling, excavating the back channel area to eliminate coal tar, and pumping of
coal tar from the major areas of contamination. In 1991, the EPA agreed to an interim action
to clean up contaminated subsurface soils. The remedy involves an innovative technology to
recover coal tar and process water from extraction wells to be installed as part of the remedy.
Reinjection wells also will be installed. Treated water will be discharged to Brodhead Creek
and reinjected into the subsurface soils to enhance coal tar recovery. Recovered coal tar will
be disposed of off site in a permitted incineration facility. Fencing and deed restrictions will
be used to limit access during the cleanup and to limit future use of the site. The
groundwater and Brodhead Creek will continue to be monitored to ensure that the remedy is
effective. Design of the remedy is expected to begin in late 1992.
Bedrock Aquifer: In 1992, the potentially responsible party is expected to begin
a study to assess the nature and extent of contamination in the bedrock aquifer.
The study is expected to be completed in 1993, at which time the EPA will select a
cleanup remedy.
Site Facts: In 1983, the Government filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the
Eastern District of Pennsylvania to recover costs incurred by the EPA and the Coast Guard
in the response actions at the Brodhead Creek site. In 1987, Union Gas and the Pennsylvania
Power & Light Co. signed a Consent Order with the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources to perform an investigation to determine the extent of
contamination and to develop alternative remedies for cleanup.
Environmental Progress
The construction of slurry walls to contain the spread of contamination, the pumping and
removal of coal tar, and the removal of contaminated soil have added significantly to making
the Brodhead Creek site safer while it awaits the implementation of further cleanup actions.
BRODHEAD CREEK 31 March 1992
-------
Site Repository
Stroudsburg Borough Building, Seventh and Sarah Streets, Stroudsburg, PA 18360
March 1992
32
BRODHEAD CREEK
-------
BROWN'S
BATTERY
BREAKING
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980831812
EPA REGION 3
Berks County
Tilden Township near the town
of Shoemakersville
Site Description
The Brown's Battery Breaking site, covering 14 acres, is an abandoned battery recycling
facility that was operated from 1961 to 1971. Three families were living on the site when the
State discovered elevated levels of lead in children living in these residences. Additional
investigations by the EPA found soil and surface water contamination. There is a fence
around the primary disposal area; however, the remainder of the site is not restricted to
public access. The landfill is bordered by Conrail tracks to the west, the Schuylkill River to
the southeast, and Mill Creek to the southwest. It lies within the flood plain of the Schuylkill
River. Approximately 220 people live within 1 mile of the site. There are 1,000 people within
3 miles of the site who depend on groundwater for drinking water supplies. Two private
residential wells are located on site and are used as a drinking water source. The adjacent
Schuylkill River is used as a potable water source, as well as for recreation.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/84
Final Date: 06/01/86
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with lead from former site operations. Nickel
and zinc, as well as lead, have contaminated the soil. The surface water is
contaminated with lead and nickel. The Schuylkill River is used for recreation and
as a municipal water source and may become contaminated during periods of high
rainfall or flooding. People who come in direct contact with or accidentally ingest
contaminated surface water, groundwater, or soil may be at risk.
33
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: emergency actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on relocation of residents and cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: In 1983, the EPA temporarily relocated three families
during an extensive emergency action. Contaminated soil and battery casings were
moved to a containment area and were covered with a low permeable cap. Also,
the primary disposal area was fenced. In 1990, more residents were temporarily relocated. In
1991, a resident was moved permanently and all personal property was decontaminated under
an Interagency Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Residential Relocation: In 1990, the EPA decided to permanently relocate
three residences and a business, and the potentially responsible parties began the
process under the EPA's removal authority. In early 1991 the EPA took control if
the remaining relocation, which are scheduled to be completed in 1992.
Entire Site: In late 1991, the EPA completed an investigation into the extent and
nature of soil, debris, and groundwater contamination, identifying cleanup
alternatives at the site. The final remedy is expected to be selected in mid-1992.
Environmental Progress
Emergency actions conducted by the EPA, including temporarily relocating affected families
during cleanup activities, containing contaminated soil and battery casings, capping the
containment area, and fencing the site, have reduced imminent threats to the surroundings at
the Brown's Battery Breaking site while further relocations and investigations are completed
by the EPA.
Site Repository
Hamburg Public Library, 35 North Third Street, Hamburg, PA 19526
March 1992
34
BROWN'S BATTERY BREAKING
-------
BRUIN LAGO
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980712855
EPA REGION 3
Butler County
South Branch of Bear
Creek Bruin Borough
Other Names:
AH-RS Coal Corporation
Site Description
Bruin Lagoon covers approximately 4 acres, consisting of a 1-acre open sludge lagoon
contained by a 22-foot earthen dike, a 2-acre closed lagoon, an effluent pond, abandoned
storage tanks and equipment, and an area of formerly contaminated soil on adjacent private
property caused by flooding in 1980. The site is an inactive impoundment and storage facility
located on the site of a former petroleum refinery. For 40 years, the site was used to dispose
of mineral oil production wastes and motor oil reclamation wastes. The oil refinery discharged
its wastes into several lagoons. Approximately 35 people live in houses adjacent to the site.
An estimated 700 people reside in the community.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/81
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and surface water contained sulfuric acid, heavy metals, and
hydrogen sulfide. The soil on an adjacent private property was contaminated with
hydrogen sulfide and sulfuric acid in a 1980 flood. Direct contact with or accidental
ingestion of contaminated soil, surface water, or drinking water once posed a
potential health risk. The first evidence of site contamination occurred when a
large fish kill in the Allegheny River was reported in 1968. The site is located
within a 100-year flood plain and subject to periodic flooding that could have
spread contaminants from the site.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on site stabilization and cleanup of the entire site.
35
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The EPA began an investigation in 1981 to determine the
extent of contamination and the technologies available for cleanup. Freeboard
was added to the lagoon, and the lagoon's overflow was diverted. The lagoon
overflow was stabilized, and the open lagoon was closed. Cleanup work included the
demolition and off-site disposal of abandoned storage tanks, disposal of PCB-contaminated
residues, and excavation of contaminated surface soils. Discovery of hydrogen sulfide gas
during the cleanup action required stopping all cleanup activities at the site to start an
immediate emergency action. In 1984, site security and 24-hour communication with the fire
chief was started; air monitoring and groundwater and surface water sampling were initiated;
and 13 venting wells were installed. Well leads were covered, and the bank was stabilized.
The work to date has stopped the migration of sludge below the grade of the lagoon using
physical containment.
Site Stabilization: Cleanup work included removing the liquid floating on top of
the open lagoon and disposing of it off site, containing the remaining wastes on
site, and stabilizing the lagoons and dikes. The EPA completed this phase of
cleanup activities in 1984 and determined that a second investigation was needed to
re-evaluate the site for additional sources of contamination.
Entire Site: The EPA completed a re-investigation of the site in 1986 and
administered the continuation of on-site stabilization of the site wastes, venting of
trapped gases in covered areas, treatment of the shallow bedrock with a lime slurry
wall, construction of a channel to prevent groundwater from entering the site, and capping of
the stabilized sludge. Also, dike stabilization was completed. The Army Corps of Engineers
began cleanup activities in 1989 and completed these activities in the summer of 1991. The
closeout report was completed in 1992.
Environmental Progress
The numerous cleanup actions to cover and stabilize the site and remove contaminated
materials reduced the potential of exposure to hazardous materials and controlled further
spreading of contamination at the Bruin Lagoon. The EPA will continue to monitor the site
to evaluate the effectiveness of the cleanup remedies.
Site Repository
Bruin Borough Municipal Building, Main Street, Bruin, PA 16022
March 1992 36 BRUIN LAGOON
-------
BUTLER Ml
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD9805084511
EPA REGION 3
Luzerne County
Pittston
Site Description
The Butler Mine Tunnel site was constructed approximately 50 years ago as a collection and
discharge point for acid mine drainage from an estimated 5-square-mile area of underground
coal mines. Hazardous materials were disposed of in the tunnel, which discharges directly to
the Susquehanna River. In 1979, an oily discharge coming from the tunnel created an oil
slick, from bank to bank, on the river. The EPA tracked the contaminants from this initial
discharge to a municipal water intake 60 miles downstream, which is the sole source of
drinking water for approximately 11,700 residents of Danville. The oil contamination was then
traced to the illegal dumping of hazardous chemicals into a 4-inch borehole located 3 1/2
miles from the outlet of the tunnel. The borehole was found to drain into the Butler Mine
system. Approximately 25,000 people live within a 5-mile radius of the site, and approximately
1,400 people live within the boundaries of the Butler Mine Tunnel site. Also, a number of
schools are located within a mile of the tunnel's discharge point.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/01/86
Final Date: 07/01/87
Threats and Contaminants
Preliminary on- and off-site groundwater (mine water) and surface water sampling
results have identified contamination from semi-volatile organic compounds and
petroleum hydrocarbons thought to have originated from the mine tunnel.
Potential human risks exist if individuals ingest or come into contact with
contaminated surface water and groundwater. Possible risks also exist if individuals
eat contaminated fish or livestock. The Susquehanna River is the area's source of
drinking water and is a valuable ecological resource.
37
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: emergency actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: In 1979, in response to the Butler Mine discharge, EPA
emergency personnel installed booms to collect the oily substances on the surface.
The booms continued to operate until 1980, collecting a total of 160,000 gallons
of oil, which contained approximately 13,000 pounds of VOCs. After the booms were
removed, an automated detection system was installed at the tunnel and was operated by the
State until 1984, during which time there was no evidence of any additional discharge from
the tunnel. In 1985, approximately 100,000 gallons of waste oil were released at the Butler
Mine Tunnel, following heavy rains associated with Hurricane Gloria. The EPA once again
responded by installing booms on the river and collecting the contaminated oil. The existing
monitoring boreholes again were sampled, and contaminated vegetation was removed.
Entire Site: In 1987, the potentially responsible parties, under EPA monitoring,
began an investigation to determine the extent of the contamination and to
identify the alternative technologies available for cleanup. The investigation is
scheduled to be completed in late 1992.
Site Facts: The EPA and 17 potentially responsible parties entered into a Consent Order on
March 30, 1987, under which the parties agreed to conduct a study of site contamination.
Environmental Progress
Due to emergency actions taken after discovery of the site contamination and again after
Hurricane Gloria, the EPA has greatly reduced potential hazards at the Butler Mine Tunnel
site while the potentially responsible parties, under EPA monitoring, complete investigations
and start cleanup activities.
Site Repository
Pittston City Hall, 35 Broad Street, Pittston, PA 18640
March 1992 38 BUTLER MINE TUNNEL
-------
BUTZ LANDR
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID#PAD981034705
EPA REGION 3
Monroe County
ownship Route 601 (RD#5) in
Stroudsburg
Other Names:
North Road Site
Site Description
The Butz Landfill site is a 8 1/2 acre, privately owned landfill in Stroudsburg that operated
from 1963 to 1973. In 1973, the State denied the owner's application for a solid waste
disposal permit. The owner/operator kept no records on the amount or types of wastes
dumped at the site, although the permit application lists garbage, mixed solids, and septic
sludge. Analyses in 1979 showed elevated levels of chromium and mercury in drinking water
wells. In 1986, the State identified volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the groundwater. A
private well located 1,700 feet to the east of the site contained high levels of
trichloroethylene (TCE). The EPA confirmed organic chemical contamination in more than
20 wells downgradient of the site in early 1987. Later that year, hydrogeologic studies
identified the landfill as the source of the solvents found in the groundwater. Surface runoff
from the site appears to move toward the south. The surrounding area is rural and
residential. Two large recreation areas lie within a mile of the site, and a children's camp is
located within 1/2 mile. Surface water is used for recreational activities within 3 miles
downstream of the landfill. Groundwater is the sole drinking source for area residents. An
estimated 6,400 people draw drinking water from private wells within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater underlying the site contains VOCs and heavy metals from solvents
and other disposals at the site. Threats to the health of local residents include
drinking, inhaling, or coming in direct contact with contaminated groundwater.
39
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: emergency actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the groundwater and provision of an alternate water supply.
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: In 1986, EPA emergency staff provided bottled water to
28 locations and installed carbon filter systems at 22 locations. Later that year, 17
groundwater monitoring wells were installed. In 1987, the EPA installed air
strippers at two locations.
1992.
Groundwater: The EPA began an intensive study of groundwater contamination
at the site in early 1990. The EPA is currently reviewing the findings from this
investigation and is expected to recommend the best strategies for final cleanup in
Alternate Water Supply: In 1990, the Bureau of Reclamation began design
activities to provide a new water line to homes with VOC-contaminated water.
Construction of the remedy began in mid-1992 and is expected to be completed by
Environmental Progress
By supplying emergency drinking water to the neighboring residences and installing
monitoring wells to measure contaminant levels, the EPA has reduced the potential of
exposure to hazardous materials in the drinking supply while construction of a new water
supply and investigations leading to the selection of a permanent remedy are taking place at
Butz Landfill.
Site Repository
Pocono Township Library, Township Municipal Building, Route 611, Tannersville, PA 18372
March 1992
40
BUTZ LANDFILL
-------
C & D RECY
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD02144924
EPA REGION 3
Luzerne County
Foster Township
Site Description
The 45-acre C & D Recycling site operated as a metal reclamation plant from the 1960s to
early 1980s. The company incinerated lead- and plastic-cased telephone cables or burned
them in pits to melt off the lead and reclaim the remaining copper wire. Plastic coverings
mechanically were stripped prior to incineration and were stored on site in piles. According to
tests conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (PADER),
high concentrations of lead and copper are present in the ash piles, soil, burn pit, and
drainage pathway areas on the site. Approximately 6,100 people within 3 miles of the site
depend on public and private wells as their source of drinking water. Private wells are located
within 1/2 mile of the site. Some of these wells have lead readings in excess of acceptable
levels. The nearest well is within 1,000 feet of the site. Private residences and a trailer park
with approximately 280 people are located within a 1-mile radius of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/85
Final Date: 07/01/87
Threats and Contaminants
Heavy metals including lead and copper have been found in on- and off-site soils,
sediments, surface water and groundwater. Groundwater contamination, however,
has not been linked to the site. Potential risks exist if people accidentally ingest or
come in contact with contaminated soil, sediment, groundwater, or surface water.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
41
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1985, the potentially responsible parties excavated 68
tons of lead-containing material from the open burn pit areas, under the
supervision of the PADER. In 1987 and 1988, the parties constructed a fence,
removed cable casings from the site, and took measures to control soil erosion. The waste on
site is now stabilized, and the site is secured.
Entire Site: The potentially responsible parties, under EPA monitoring, initiated
an investigation to determine the extent of the contamination and to identify
alternative technologies available for the cleanup. On-site monitoring wells were
installed. The investigation and study was completed in early 1992. The EPA will review the
findings of the site study and will select a final cleanup remedy for site contamination.
Preliminary findings of the study do not substantiate that heavy metal contamination has
migrated from on-site soils to the groundwater and into residential wells. Leaching plumbing
is being considered as a potential source of contamination for the residential wells.
Site Facts: The EPA negotiated two Consent Orders with the potentially responsible parties,
one to conduct a study to determine the extent of contamination, and a second that enforced
an immediate site response that restricted access to the site and limited the migration of
contaminants off site.
Environmental Progress
By constructing a fence, controlling soil erosion, and removing lead-containing materials, the
potentially responsible parties at the C & D Recycling site have reduced the potential for
accidental exposure to contamination while investigations leading to cleanup activities are
completed.
Site Repository
Foster Township Municipal Building, 1000 Wyoming Street, Freeland, PA 18224
March 1992 42 C & D RECYCLING
-------
CENTRE C
KEPONE
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD0004362
EPA REGION 3
Centre County
State College Borough
Other Names:
gers Nease Chemical Company
Nease Chemical
Site Description
The 32-acre Centre County Kepone site is an active chemical manufacturing plant that
manufactured the pesticide kepone in 1958, 1959 and 1963, and mirex in 1973 and 1974.
Process wastes originally were disposed of on-site in a spray irrigation field, a concrete
lagoon, and two other earthen lagoons. Process wastes also were stored in drums on site.
After a leak was discovered in the concrete lagoon, the material in the lagoon was solidified
and the concrete then was disposed of in the two earthen lagoons and capped. However, the
material failed to solidify, and hazardous materials leached into the groundwater and surface
water. Spring Creek is located adjacent to the site and has been placed off-limits for fishing
as a result of high levels of kepone in fish. Approximately 2,100 people live within a 1-mile
radius of the site. The closest residence is less than 1/4 mile from the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
Various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and the pesticides kepone and
mirex have been detected in on-site and off-site groundwater, soil, sediments
and surface water. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been detected in
on-site sediments and soils, and petrochemicals have been detected in off-site
drainage ditch sediment. Threats to human health include accidental ingestion of
or direct contact with contaminated surface water, soil, groundwater and sediment,
as well as eating contaminated fish.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
43
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1982, the parties potentially responsible for site contamination
excavated and removed the contaminated material from the lagoons, removed the
drums, excavated the topsoil of the drum storage area, and disposed of the waste
material in a landfill. The parties also started a groundwater treatment program.
Entire Site: The potentially responsible parties, under EPA supervision, initiated a
study in 1989 to determine the type and extent of contamination at the site and to
identify alternative technologies to clean up the site. Once the study is completed,
the EPA will evaluate the results of the investigation and select the final technology and
cleanup activities for the site. Field work began in 1990. The study is expected to be
completed in early 1993.
Site Facts: Ruetgers-Nease, a potentially responsible party, signed a Consent Order that
required the company to investigate the nature and extent of site contamination.
Environmental Progress
The removal and disposal of waste materials has eliminated imminent threats at the Centre
County Kepone site, and the groundwater treatment program has reduced the threat of more
widespread groundwater and surface water contamination while further studies are evaluated
and final cleanup activities are planned.
Site Repository
Schlow Memorial Library, 100 East Beaver Avenue, State College, PA 16801
March 1992
44
CENTRE COUNTY KEPONE
-------
COMMODO
SEMICOND
GROUP
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD093730174
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
Norristown
Other Names:
mmodore Business Machines
Site Description
The 10-acre Commodore Semiconductor Group site is an active computer chip manufacturing
facility. Waste solvents were stored in an underground concrete storage tank on site until
1974, when it was taken out of service. A second steel tank was installed in 1974, and a leak
occurred in 1979. Inspections conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Resources indicated that both tanks have leaked. Approximately 15,900 people live within a
3-mile radius of the site and an Audubon Nature Reserve is located 2 miles from the site.
Two public water supply wells, which served 6,300 people, were taken out of service in 1979
due to contamination. Within 3 miles of the site, approximately 800,000 people draw drinking
water from wells in the contaminated aquifer.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
On- and off-site groundwater is contaminated with high levels of trichloroethylene
(TCE) and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the waste solvents that
leaked from the underground storage tanks. TCE was also found in on-site soils.
Accidental ingestion or contact with contaminated soils or groundwater on the site
may pose health risks.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
45
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Commodore excavated soils and pumped water from a
contaminated well, then sprayed it onto surrounding fields. The volatile solvents
dissipated into the air. Since 1984, an air stripper has been in use to remove
solvents from the groundwater. Two public water supply wells were taken out of service.
Presently, air strippers have been installed on all affected public wells through agreements
between Commodore and the local water authority.
Entire Site: Under EPA monitoring, the parties potentially responsible for the
site contamination are conducting a study to determine the extent of
contamination at the site and to identify alternative technologies available for the
site cleanup. The results of the study are expected in 1992, at which time the EPA will select
the cleanup remedies for the site.
Site Facts: An Administrative Order on Consent was signed in June 1988, in which
Commodore agreed to study the extent of contamination and to identify alternative
technologies for the cleanup.
Environmental Progress
The numerous immediate actions performed by the potentially responsible parties, including
excavating contaminated soil and treating contaminated water from wells, have made the
Commodore Semiconductor Group site safer while investigations into final remedies are
underway.
Site Repository
Lower Providence Library, 2765 Egypt Road, Audubon, PA 19403
March 1992
46
COMMODORE SEMICONDUCTOR GROUP
-------
CRAIG FAR
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD9805085;
EPA REGION 3
Armstrong County
Parker
Other Names:
Craig Lagoon
raig Farm Disposal Site
Site Description
The Craig Farm Drum site combines several areas that total 8 to 10 acres. The site consists
of two abandoned strip mine pits. Between 1958 and 1963, at least 2,500 tons of drummed
waste material were deposited uncovered at the site and later were covered with dirt. Runoff
from the site flows into an unnamed tributary to Valley Run Creek, which then drains into
the Allegheny River 2 1/2 miles downstream. Approximately 1,700 people reside within a 3-
mile radius of the site, with the closest residence less than a mile away. These residents
obtain water from private and public wells.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and soil are contaminated with creosotes and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). Also, a stream draining from the site and flowing to the
Allegheny River shows signs of contamination from the wastes deposited at the
site. Possible health threats include contact with the contaminated surface water
and soil and accidental ingestion of contaminated groundwater. There is evidence
that local residents use the site for hunting. The site threatens wetlands
downgradient of the disposal pits.
47
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the
entire site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: In 1986, the parties potentially responsible for the site contamination
performed surface water sampling and groundwater sampling. Soil sampling also
was performed in 1987. Five additional wells were drilled in 1988 to determine the
full extent of contamination. A study that determined the remedies for site cleanup was
completed in 1989. Remedies selected include the solidification of the contaminated source
materials and any contaminated soil and removal of the contaminants to an on-site landfill.
The contaminated groundwater will be treated off site at a wastewater treatment plant. As
part of pre-design work, the potentially responsible parties have agreed to sample all of the
wells to determine if further groundwater cleanup is necessary. An engineering design of the
selected remedies is scheduled to be completed in early 1993.
Site Facts: The potentially responsible parties conducted an environmental assessment of
the site in 1983 as a result of negotiations with the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources (PADER). Koppers Company, Inc., one of the potentially
responsible parties, signed a Consent Order with the PADER on February 10, 1987. In 1989,
Beazer Materials and Services, which acquired Koppers Company, Inc. and also is potentially
responsible for contamination at the site, made a good faith offer to the EPA to conduct the
cleanup design and perform the cleanup. A Consent Decree for the cleanup work was signed
by Beazer Materials and Services in May 1990, and was officially lodged in August 1990.
Environmental Progress
The EPA has determined that contamination at the site does not pose an imminent threat to
nearby residents or the environment. The investigations at the Craig Farm Drum site have
been completed and groundwater, soil, and surface water cleanup is expected to commence
soon.
Site Repository
Karns City High School Office, Route 268, Karns City, PA 16042
March 1992 48 CRAIG FARM DRUM
-------
CRATER RES
INC./KEYSTOR
CO./ALAN
STEEL CO.
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980419097
Site Description —
A REGION 3
:gomery County
erion Township
The Crater Resources, Inc./Keystone Coke Co./Alan Wood Steel Co. site consists of three
inactive quarries on an undeveloped parcel of land. Beginning in 1918, the Alan Wood Steel
Co. disposed of wastes generated by its coking facility in Swedeland, Pennsylvania in the three
quarries. In 1977, Alan Wood Steel declared bankruptcy and transferred ownership of the
property to Alabama By-Products Corp. over a 3-year period. Its subsidiary, Keystone Coke
Co., continued to dispose of wastes in one of the three quarries until 1980. The property was
then bought by Crater Resources, the present owner. Various organics and tar wastes were
disposed of in Quarry No. 1 from 1918 to 1965 via a pipeline from the Alan Wood Steel
coking facility. Quarry No. 2 is filled with similar wastes as well as solid wastes, including
cinders, bricks, and paint cans. Known as the waste ammonia liquor (WAL) quarry or lagoon,
Quarry No. 3 also received organics and tar wastes until 1980. Public and private wells within
4 miles of the site supply an estimated 77,000 people with their drinking water; the nearest of
these wells is within a mile of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 02/07/92
Threats and Contaminants
ZE3
Wastes, liquids, soils, and sediments at the bottom of Quarry No. 3 are
contaminated with organics such as phenolic compounds and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs); volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene and
toluene; cyanide; and heavy metals such as zinc, lead, and arsenic. Elevated levels
of cyanide, ammonia, and phenol contaminate area groundwater. People could be
at risk by touching or ingesting contaminated soil or groundwater.
49
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in one stage focusing on cleaning up the entire site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: Investigations into the nature and extent of contamination at the site
and surrounding areas will begin once the site is placed on the National Priorities
List.
Environmental Progress
Initial investigations indicate this site poses no immediate threat to the health and safety of
the nearby population while awaiting further studies and permanent cleanup activities.
Site Repository
Not established.
March 1992
50
CRATER RESOURCES, INC./KEYSTONE
COKE CO./ALAN WOOD STEEL CO.
-------
CROSSLE
PENNSYLVAN
EPAID#PAD98174i
EPA REGION 3
Berks County
Hereford Township
Site Description
The Crossley Farm site, approximately 24 acres in size, is located in a rural area on top of
Blackhead Hill. From the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s, a local plant, Bally Case and Cooler
Co., reportedly sent numerous drums to the Crossley Farm for disposal. These drums
contained mostly liquid waste and were described as having a distinctive "solvent" odor. The
Bally Case and Cooler Co. was believed to have used trichloroethylene (TCE) as a degreaser
until 1970. A 1983 investigation conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Resources (PADER) indicated that residential wells downgradient of the site are
contaminated with various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A health advisory was issued
by PADER regarding the use of contaminated wells and temporary water supplies were
provided by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Additional sampling was
conducted in response to complaints continuously filed by citizens. The EPA confirmed
contamination at the site in 1983. A regional hydrogeologic study, which included constructing
21 monitoring wells and conducting a soil gas survey, was initiated in 1987. A large plume of
TCE-contaminated groundwater was identified, its source located near the crest of Blackhead
Hill. More private wells are being affected by site contamination as the plume continues to
spread. Emergency CERCLA funds also were used to install 11 carbon infiltration units.
Public and private wells within 4 miles of the site supply drinking water to an estimated 4,800
people; the closest private well is well within a mile of Crossley Farm.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/29/91
Threats and Contaminants
TCE and other VOCs have been detected in on-site groundwater and residential
wells downgradient of Crossley Farm. Ingesting contaminated groundwater could
pose a health risk.
51
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on the cleanup of the groundwater.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1983, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency
provided a temporary water supply. Using emergency CERCLA funds, the EPA
outfitted 11 wells with carbon infiltration units. A removal of site contaminants
Groundwater: The EPA is planning to undertake a study of the nature and
extent of groundwater contamination. This study should begin once the site is
listed as final on the NPL.
Environmental Progress
Immediate actions such as installing carbon infiltration units and removing site contaminants
have reduced health and safety risks posed to the nearby population while awaiting further
studies and permanent cleanup activities.
Site Repository
Not established.
March 1992
52
CROSSLEY FARM
-------
CROYDON
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID#PAD981035'
EPA REGION 3
Bucks County
in Croydon and Bristol
Other Names:
Croydon TCE Spill
Site Description
The Croydon TCE (trichloroethylene) site is a 4-square-mile residential area that also
includes a small industrial complex and numerous small businesses. The EPA identified the
Croydon TCE site in 1985 after a Superfund investigation at the neighboring Rohm & Haas
plant revealed a plume of groundwater contamination that did not appear to be associated
with that site. Approximately 18,000 people living within 3 miles of the site depend on water
from the Delaware River for their drinking water. About 200 people depend on shallow
private wells within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/85
Final Date: 06/01/86
Threats and Contaminants
ZGJ
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) thought to have originated from the TCE spill
were detected in the groundwater. In addition, TCE and other VOCs were
detected in eight residential wells. Low concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) were detected in off-site soil. Contaminants were detected in Hog Run
Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River that is used for recreational purposes.
Potential risks may exist if fish and waterfowl from the contaminated creek are
eaten. Individuals may be at risk from direct contact with contaminated materials,
drinking contaminated groundwater or surface water, or accidentally ingesting
contaminated soils.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on provision of a water
supply line and cleanup of TCE contamination.
53
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Water Supply Line: Ten neighboring residences and a commercial establishment
with contaminated wells were connected to a public service water line between
December 1989 and February 1990.
TCE Contamination: Based on the results of an investigation of the site,
preliminary alternatives selected by the EPA in 1989 for the site cleanup include
containing the contamination on site or pumping and treating the contaminated
groundwater via air stripping. In addition, the EPA plans to conduct long-term monitoring of
residential and monitoring wells. Design of the cleanup actions was completed in 1991. While
designing the cleanup remedy, the EPA discovered an interfering ammonium sulfate plume
from the neighboring Rohm & Haas site. The EPA is not addressing this new plume in the
current engineering design. However, later, the EPA will address this new finding with an
appropriate corrective measure. Currently, negotiations are underway for construction of the
groundwater extraction and treatment system. Construction of the groundwater treatment
system is scheduled to be completed in 1993.
Environmental Progress
By connecting threatened neighboring residences and commercial establishments to a public
service water line, the EPA has eliminated the possible exposure to contaminated water while
final design and cleanup activities are completed at the Croydon TCE site.
Site Repository
Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library, 680 Radcliffe Street, Bristol, PA 19007
March 1992
54
CROYDON TCE
-------
CRYOCHEM,
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD002360444
EPA REGION 3
Berks County
Worman
Site Description
The 19-acre CryoChem, Inc. site has operated as a metals fabrication facility since 1962. The
facility is composed of several production and storage buildings and an office complex located
in the lower part of the property. The company uses solvents to clean finished metal parts,
and any excess solvent is collected in shop drains. Prior to 1982, an organic solvent was used
to remove a dye that was applied to welded connections to check for weld integrity. Excess
solvent was placed in the shop drain system, which discharged into nearby surface waters that
lead to Manatawny Creek. There are several residences within 1/4 mile of the site. The
population within a 3-mile radius is approximately 1,100 and is solely dependent on
groundwater as a drinking water supply. A series of environmental samples collected between
1981 and 1985 found organic chemicals in an on-site production well and in nearby residential
wells.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/01/86
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater on and off site and soils are contaminated with various volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) from former solvent disposal practices. VOCs also
were detected in waters that lead to Manatawny Creek and a tributary to
Ironstone Creek. Exposure to contaminated groundwater, surface water, and
sediments through direct contact or accidental ingestion poses potential risks to
individuals. Residential wells are contaminated and threaten drinking water. A
barrier to vehicular access provides the only restriction of the public's access to the
site.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in four stages: immediate actions and three long-term remedial
phases focusing on provision of a water supply system, and cleanup of the groundwater and
soil.
55
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The EPA sampled water in residential wells near the site in
1987. As a result of the findings, 19 carbon units were installed at homes with
wells exceeding acceptable drinking water standards. Some residents have opted
to buy bottled water or filtered tap water at their own expense. As; of 1992, 20 residences use
carbon filtration systems.
Water Supply: The potentially responsible parties, under EPA monitoring,
started an investigation in 1988 to determine the extent of the contamination and
to identify alternative cleanup technologies. Design of the new water supply
system began in 1990, but is on hold while an alternative cleanup remedy is being discussed.
Groundwater: Under EPA oversight, the investigations conducted by the
potentially responsible parties identified site cleanup alternatives. The EPA
selected a remedy which involves pumping and treating groundwater by air
stripping and surface discharge. Design of the technical specifications for this system began in
late 1990 and is scheduled to be completed in late 1992.
Soil: Solvent discarded behind the fabrication building may have contributed to
groundwater contamination at the site. A study to explore technologies for
addressing soil contamination was completed in mid-1991. In late 1991, the EPA
selected a cleanup remedy which will provide for soil vapor extraction in the contaminated
area. Design of this treatment system is underway and is scheduled to be completed by 1994.
Site Facts: The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (PADER) initiated
sampling of residential wells in 1981 as a result of complaints from residents. The PADER
found VOCs in the wells and recommended that the company discontinue the use of
trichloroethane (TCA), clean out the drain system, and properly dispose of all contaminated
materials. The company complied with the recommendations.
Environmental Progress
The water filtration units installed at nearby residences have eliminated the possibility of
using contaminated water in area homes, while further design activities proceed at the
ChyoChem, Inc. site.
Site Repository
Douglass-Berks Township Building, Douglass Drive, Boyertown, PA 19512
March 1992 56 CRYOCHEM, INC.
-------
DELTA QUAR
DISPOSALJN
STOTLER LA
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID# PAD981038052
PA REGION 3
Blair County
and Logan Townships
Other Names:
Stotler Landfill
arshall-Krulse Landfill
Site Description
The 57-acre Delta Quarries & Disposal, Inc./Stotler Landfill site is an inactive, unlicensed
municipal waste facility that operated from the 1960s until 1985. Originally, the site consisted
of two separate landfills that were combined to form one large facility. Approximately 2,500
people live within 3 miles of the site. The closest residence is 35 feet from the site, and there
are private wells in the vicinity. The aquifer under the site is used as a water source by local
municipalities. About 1,500 people obtain drinking water from wells within 3 miles of the site.
Groundwater flows in the direction of the Little Juniata River, which is 1 mile from the site
and is used for recreational activities.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/01/86
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and surface water are contaminated with various volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) that leached from the landfill areas. Threats to human health
may include accidental ingestion of or contact with contaminated surface water
and groundwater. Although there is unrestricted public access to the site, it is
covered with 4 feet of soil, and a vegetative cover has been established over the
landfill areas.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
57
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The parties potentially responsible for the site
contamination agreed to cover the landfill with soil and to take sedimentation and
erosion control measures to limit the further spread of contaminants. This work
was completed in 1987.
Entire Site: Based on investigations performed by the parties potentially
responsible for contamination of the site, the EPA selected a groundwater and
surface water remedy in early 1991. The remedy consists of pumping and treating
groundwater to address contamination. Deed and access restrictions will be implemented
along with cap maintenance, gas venting, and continued monitoring of the surface and
groundwater. Cleanup design work began in 1992, with actual construction anticipated to start
in mid-1993.
Site Facts: In 1984, the potentially responsible parties and the State entered into a Consent
Order and Agreement to close the site. In 1987, the EPA and the potentially responsible
parties executed an additional Consent Order for a study of site contamination and to
identify alternatives for cleanup. The study was completed in 1991.
Environmental Progress
By covering the landfill with soil and taking sedimentation and erosion control measures, the
potentially responsible parties at the Delta/Stotler site have limited the potential for direct
exposure and the further spread of contamination. These actions have made the site safer
while it awaits completion of design work and final cleanup activities.
Site Repository
Altoona Public Library, 1600 Fifth Avenue, Altoona, PA 16602
March 1992
58
DELTA QUARRIES & DISPOSAL, INC./
STOTLER LANDFILL
-------
DORNEY RO
LANDFILL
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980508832
EPA REGION 3
Lehigh and Berks Counties
miles southwest of Allentown
Other Names:
Oswald's Landfill
Site Description
The Dorney Road Landfill site was an open-pit iron mine before it became a landfill in 1952.
The site is located in Upper Macungie Township, a small portion of the site extends into
Longswamp Township in Berks County. From 1952 to 1978, the site was used to dispose of
municipal and industrial wastes. Twenty-seven acres of the site, including the iron ore pit,
were landfilled through 1978. The State inspected the site in 1970 and discovered that
industrial sludge, batteries, and barrels of petroleum products were disposed of on site. The
major portion of the landfill is surrounded by a soil berm. The site is surrounded by rural
residences and farmland. The cultivated farmland near the site primarily is used to grow feed
for cattle. Soybeans and wheat are grown for human consumption. The Allentown Formation
underlies the site and is the primary source of water for local residents and the farm animals
in the area. Groundwater contamination has migrated off site, and possibly into a residential
well to the southeast of the site. There are approximately 20 people within a 1/4-mile radius
of the site. The nearest resident lives 1,000 feet away from the site. Deer, waterfowl, and
pheasant hunting occur seasonally in the area surrounding the site and have been observed
on the site premises.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/83
Final Date: 09/01/84
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater underlying the site contains ketones, vinyl chloride,
trichloroethane, benzene, and the heavy metal, arsenic. Specific contaminants in
leachate include ketones, lead, and arsenic. The soils contain the pesticide dieldrin,
as well as lead and chromium. Pooled surface water on site is contaminated. The
site could threaten the health of residents who ingest or come in contact with
contaminated groundwater or inhale dust contaminated with heavy metals. Also,
residents could be at risk from inhaling or coming in contact with contaminated
surface soil, sediment, and surface water. Residents could be adversely affected by
eating wild game with bioaccumulated contaminants.
59
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: emergency actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on landfill wastes, surface water, and soil cleanup and cleanup of the
groundwater.
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: The EPA conducted an emergency action at the site in
1986, which included building on-site ponds and reshaping surface contours to
manage water infiltration and runoff. A snow fence also was placed around the
site to limit public access. All of the gullies on site were filled with compacted clay and clean
fill. Surface runoff was redirected, and depression ponds were built to reduce movement of
hazardous wastes. Berms were built around the outer perimeter of the site to stop surface
water from leaving the site area. The EPA and the State agreed that further studies of the
groundwater were needed to define the nature and extent of contamination.
Landfill Wastes, Surface Water, and Soil: The final selection of cleanup
technologies to address contamination includes: off-site disposal of 700,000 gallons
of on-site pond water; constructing a dike and diversion ditch system; reshaping
surface contours; installing a multi-layer landfill cap and a gas collection system; conducting
groundwater monitoring; limiting access to the site through deed restrictions and a fence
around the perimeter of the site; and restricting building in the area. The potentially
responsible parties began designing the technical specifications for the selected cleanup
technologies in 1991, and the design phase is expected to be completed in early 1993.
Groundwater: In 1991, the State completed an investigation of the major
contaminants at the site. Later in 1991, the EPA selected a remedy for
groundwater cleanup which includes providing wellhead treatment units to
residences and continued groundwater monitoring. The potentially responsible parties are
expected to begin design of the cleanup in late 1992. In addition, the EPA has issued an
Explanation of Significant Differences requiring the potentially responsible parties to cleanup
the wetlands on top of the landfill.
Site Facts: The State and the EPA signed a Cooperative Agreement to study the nature
and extent of contamination at the site in 1984. The EPA issued Unilateral Orders to eight
parties potentially responsible for site contamination to perform site cleanup. In September
1991, the EPA issued an Explanation of Significant Differences requiring the potentially
responsible parties to cleanup the wetlands on top of the landfill.
March 1992 60 DORNEY ROAD LANDFILL
-------
Environmental Progress
The EPA performed many emergency measures to make the Dorney Road Landfill site safer
to the surrounding communities and the environment by controlling the sources of
contamination. Cleanup technologies for the landfill wastes, surface water, and soil have been
selected, and the design of these remedies has begun. Studies leading to the selection of a
final groundwater cleanup remedy have been completed and a remedy has been selected.
Site Repository
Upper Macungie Township Building, Schantz Road, Beinigsville, PA 18031
DORNEY ROAD LANDFILL
61
March 1992
-------
DOUGLASS
DISPOSAL
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD002384&
EPA REGION 3
Berks County
Along the southern bank of
the Schuylkill River
Other Names:
Reclamation Resources, Inc.
Berks Association, Inc.
Site Description
The 50-acre Douglassville Disposal site was a waste oil and recycling facility that operated
from 1941 to 1986. The on-site features include the former processing equipment, storage
tanks, and waste storage lagoons. From 1941 to 1972, waste oil sludge was placed in on-site
lagoons. The contents were washed into the Schuylkill River during flooding in 1970 and
1972. After the 1972 flood, the sludge remaining in the lagoons was removed, and the
lagoons were filled and seeded. Sludge generated in the oil recoveiy process was landfarmed
on the site. From 1979 to 1982, about 700 drums, many leaking, were stored on the site. The
site is not fenced but there are several large warning signs located at the entrance to the site
and in the landfarm area. The population within a mile of the site is approximately 2,850. The
site is located in a rural setting consisting of cropland, uncultivated fields, and light residential
and industrial development. The segment of the river, along which the site is located, is
designated for recreational activities and is extensively used as a source for municipal and
industrial waters. Fishing occurs in the Schuylkill River and in the pond located just outside
the site boundaries. The City of Pottstown has the closest municipal water intake from the
river and is about 4 miles downstream.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
Contaminants detected in on-site groundwater, surface water, and soil include
various heavy metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Studies have
detected PCBs and lead in locally caught fish. Specific contaminants in river
sediments include lead, chromium, and PCBs; however, they may not be site-
related. Threats to public health include contact with on-site soils and sediments,
or ingestion of contaminated groundwater. Numerous wild animals are found at
the site, and hunting is known to occur on the site.
62
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: initial actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on cleanup of the tank farm and the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1982, contaminated drums and surface soil were removed by a
potentially responsible party to reduce the source of contamination and threat of
exposure to contaminated materials.
Tank Farm: The final selection of cleanup technologies to address site
contamination includes the dismantling of tanks and off-site thermal treatment of
wastes. The EPA initiated tank farm cleanup activities in early 1990. Final
cleanup activities are scheduled to be completed in 1993.
Entire Site: In mid-1989, the EPA completed a comprehensive investigation into
lagoon and surface water contamination and the remaining site areas. Based on
the results of this investigation, a remedy was chosen which includes providing a
soil cover over the former lagoon areas and on-site incineration of filter cakes and drainage
way wastes containing lead and PCBs. Recent studies have shown that contaminants in the
groundwater do not exceed background levels and do not require cleanup actions. The Army
Corps of Engineers completed the design of the first phase of the cleanup in 1990 and
currently is designing the technical specifications for the second phase. In early 1992, the
potentially responsible parties began installing the soil cover over the lagoon areas, which is
scheduled to be completed in late 1992. Incineration of contaminated materials is expected
to begin in late 1993.
Site Facts: On July 31, 1991 the EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to the
potentially responsible parties requiring them to install the soil cover over the former lagoon
areas.
Environmental Progress
Cleanup actions to date have resulted in the removal and isolation of sources of
contamination at the site, and have reduced the threat of exposure to contamination while
the EPA continues to address the remaining areas of contamination at the Douglassville
Disposal Site.
DOUGLASSVILLE DISPOSAL
63
March 1992
-------
Site Repository
Union Township Municipal Building, 177 Center Road,, Douglassville, PA 19518
March 1992 64 DOUGLASSVILLE DISPOSAL
-------
DRAKE CH
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD0030580
EPA REGION 3
Clinton County
Lock Haven
Site Description
The 8-acre Drake Chemical site operated as a chemical plant, manufacturing chemical
intermediates for pesticides and other organic compounds. Operations started in the 1960s
and ceased in 1981. The site contains six major buildings including former offices, production
facilities, and a wastewater treatment building. There are approximately 60 process tanks and
reactors inside and surrounding the process buildings. Outside, the buildings are
approximately 10 large tanks that were used for bulk storage of acids, bases, and fuel oils.
Also located on site are two lined wastewater treatment lagoons, and two unlined lagoons.
Chemical sludge and contaminated soils cover or underlay all of the open area on the site.
The site is bounded by the American Color and Chemical Company. An apartment complex,
a shopping center, and Castanea Township Park are located within 1/4 mile of the site. There
are approximately 10,300 people living within a mile of the site. Bald Eagle Creek is located
less than 1/2 mile south of the site, and the West Branch of the Susquehanna River is located
approximately 3/4 mile north of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
m
The air in the vicinity of the site was contaminated in 1982 with oleum gas clouds
thought to originate from a leaking pipe on the site. Groundwater is contaminated
with acids and organic compounds. A contaminated leachate stream, originating at
the site, flows through Castanea Township Park to Bald Eagle Creek. On-site
buildings and structures were contaminated with pesticide residues. Sediment and
surface water in Bald Eagle Creek is contaminated with the herbicide fenac. The
soils are contaminated with organic compounds. Health threats include direct
contact with or accidental ingestion of contaminated soil, groundwater, air, and the
leachate stream. There is also the possibility of an on-site fire or explosion from
accumulated gases.
65
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in four stages: immediate actions and three long-term remedial
phases focusing on the leachate stream, the buildings and structures, and cleanup of soil,
sludges, and groundwater.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1982, the EPA removed 1,700 exposed drums and
drained and neutralized tanks. The site has been secured by an 8-foot fence, and
warning signs are posted along its perimeter. From 1988 through 1990, piping was
removed and cleaned.
Leachate Stream: The design to eliminate the leachate stream was completed in
1986, and the EPA completed the majority of the construction in the same year.
Final reshaping of surface contours to manage water infiltration and runoff and
seeding was completed in 1987. The leachate stream pathway has been successfully cleaned
up, and the threat of direct contact has been eliminated.
Buildings and Structures: The EPA selected removal of the buildings, lagoons,
and other structures to an approved facility as the remedy for this source of
contamination. This phase of the site cleanup was completed in spring 1989.
Soils, Sludges, and Groundwater: The EPA-selected remedy for the final
cleanup of soils, sludges, and groundwater includes excavation and incineration of
on-site soils and sludges along with pumping and treatment of the contaminated
groundwater. The EPA is preparing the technical specifications and design for the selected
groundwater cleanup technologies. The design work is scheduled to be completed in 1993.
The EPA has completed the design for excavating and incinerating soils and sludges, and is
expected to begin cleanup activities in late 1992.
Environmental Progress
The EPA has completed many phases of the planned cleanup solution, such as the removal of
contaminated drums, construction of a security fence, diversion of the leachate stream, and
the demolition and removal of contaminated buildings and structures. These actions have
made Drake Chemical safe while awaiting final cleanup activities.
Site Repository
Rose Public Library, 232 West Main Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745
March 1992 66 DRAKE CHEMICAL
-------
DUBLIN TC
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD981740004
EPA REGION 3
Bucks County
Dublin Borough
Other Names:
Dublin Water Supply
Site Description
The 4 1/2-acre Dublin TCE Site is located in Dublin Borough. In 1986, the Bucks County
Health Department discovered trichloroethylene (TCE) in 23 tap water samples. The highest
TCE concentrations were found in a well on the property occupied by several industrial
operations over the past 50 years. This property is thought to be the likely source of the
contaminants. The site property was acquired in 1986 by John H. Thompson, who is using the
main building to restore antique race cars. Laboratory Testing, Inc. has leased part of the
property since 1986. The water supplies of approximately 170 homes, apartments, and
businesses in Dublin have been affected by this contamination. An estimated 10,100 people
obtain drinking water from public and private wells within 3 miles of the site. The sole source
of drinking water in the area is the Brunswick and Lockatong Formations. The formations
are connected hydraulically, permitting water to move between them.
Site Responsibility:
The site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/26/89
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with TCE. Potential health threats to people include
drinking and inhaling of TCE from groundwater used for washing and direct
contact with contaminated groundwater.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the entire site, and the establishment of a waterline.
67
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1987, a potentially responsible party, John H.
Thompson, began providing an alternate water supply to persons affected by the
contaminated wells and is periodically sampling wells in the area. Thompson is
supplying persons affected by the contaminated water with carbon treatment systems. The
Consent Order was amended in 1991 to expand the full-house carbon treatment systems for
lower levels of TCE found in drinking water wells. In addition, Thompson is required to
monitor the wells.
Waterline: In late 1991, the EPA selected a remedy which involves installing a
waterline from the Dublin Borough Water System to affected and potentially
affected residences and business. The parties potentially responsible for site
contamination are designing the waterline hookup and plan to begin construction in 1994.
Entire Site: Under EPA supervision, an investigation into the nature and extent
of groundwater and soil contamination at the site is planned to begin in 1992. The
investigation will define the contaminants of concern and will recommend
alternatives for site cleanup. The investigation is scheduled to be completed in 1994.
Site Facts: In 1987, a potentially responsible party, John H. Thompson, entered into a
Consent Order with the EPA that required provision of carbon filters, water treatment
systems or bottled water to residents with contaminated wells and the periodic sampling of
wells in the area. Thompson performed preliminary soil and groundwater investigations at the
request of the State. The State entered into a Consent Order with Sequa Corporation, a
potentially responsible party, to perform a groundwater and source investigation and the
groundwater cleanup activities at the site.
Environmental Progress
By supplying affected residents with carbon treatment systems and monitoring these systems,
the EPA and the potentially responsible parties have reduced the potential for exposure to
hazardous materials in the water from the Dublin TCE Site.
Site Repository
Not established.
March 1992 68 DUBLIN TCE SITE
-------
EAST MOUN
ZION
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980690549
EPA REGION 3
York County
"pringettsbury Township
Other Names:
etrow Rubbish Dump
Site Description
The East Mount Zion site is a privately owned, inactive 10-acre landfill that accepted
municipal and industrial wastes, including electroplating sludges, from 1955 to 1972. The
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (PADER) attempted to close the
dump during the 1960s and early 1970s. After extensive legal action, the site was closed in
1972. Final closing activities, including a permanent soil cover and seeding, were completed in
1976; however, groundwater resources underneath the site had become contaminated from
landfill wastes. Within a mile of the site are small groupings of rural residences; the nearby
population is approximately 200. Approximately 30,000 people use the Rocky Ridge County
Park each year, which has an entrance near the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/83
Final Date: 09/01/84
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from
contamination at the site. Leachate seeps on site are contaminated with copper
and zinc. Accidental consumption of contaminated groundwater poses a risk to
nearby residents. However, residential wells in the area show no signs of
contamination and the majority of residents are on public water.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
69
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Entire Site: Based on studies conducted by the State, the EPA selected a
remedy for the site in 1990. The remedy consists of installation and maintenance
of an impermeable cap over the landfill, surface water control systems for the cap,
and a fence around the site to restrict access. Continued groundwater monitoring and deed
restrictions regarding future activities at the site will ensure the effectiveness of this remedy.
The EPA began designing the remedy in 1990 and is expected to complete the technical
specifications in late 1992.
Environmental Progress
The EPA and the State of Pennsylvania performed preliminary investigations at the site and
determined that the East Mount Zion site does not pose an imminent threat to the public or
the environment while cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Springettsbury Township Building, 1501 Mount Zion Road, York, PA 17402
March 1992
70
EAST MOUNT ZION
-------
EASTERN
DIVERSIFIED
METALS
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980830533
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Schuylkill County
Rush Township
The 25-acre Eastern Diversified Metals site is a former wire recycling facility. From 1966 to
1977, the company disposed of approximately 150 million pounds of "fluff (waste insulation
material) from the recycling of copper wire in an open pile 40 feet high and covering an area
250 by 1,500 feet. The waste pile produced phenolic leachate. In 1974, the company installed
a wastewater treatment plant, diversion ditches, and an interceptor trench that diverts shallow
groundwater to the treatment plant. The surface impoundment associated with the
wastewater treatment plant sometimes overflows into a tributary to the Little Schuylkill River,
which is used for trout fishing and is located within 3 miles downstream of the site. The site is
underlain by Mauch Chunk Formation, one of the most important water-bearing formations
in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Approximately 1,400 people are served by wells that are within
3 miles of the site and draw on the Mauch Chunk Formation for their water supply. There
are about 1,600 people living within a 1-mile radius of the site. The distance from the site to
the nearest residence is approximately 1,000 feet. An intermittent tributary to the Little
Schuylkill River that is used for recreational activities drains south of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
Threats and Contaminants
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/01/86
Final Date: 10/04/89
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and manganese from former site operations
have been detected in the groundwater. The contaminants detected in on-site
leachate and sediments consist of heavy metals including copper, lead, manganese,
and zinc, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and VOCs. Dioxin, PCBs, and lead are
the principal contaminants in the main fluff pile. Potential health threats include
direct contact with and accidental ingestion of contaminated groundwater,
sediment, leachate, and surface wastes. There is also a possibility of risk from the
consumption of contaminated fish taken from area tributaries and rivers.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in four stages: immediate actions and three long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the hot spot areas, groundwater, and the remainder of the site.
71
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
contaminated areas.
Immediate Actions: In response to a 1987 EPA directive, the parties potentially
responsible for the site contamination constructed a security fence around the site
to restrict access to the site and to reduce the potential of exposure to
Hot Spot Areas: Based on the investigation conducted by the parties potentially
responsible for site contamination, in 1991 the EPA selected a final remedy for
the hot spot areas. The remedy consists of excavation and incineration of dioxin-
and PCB-contaminated fluff and removal of lead-contaminated soils and sediments
contaminated with heavy metals. Also included in the remedy is the upgrade of the
wastewater treatment facility and the equalization lagoon. Improvement of the existing site
fence and continued site maintenance are planned to ensure the effectiveness of this remedy.
Design work began late in 1991 and is scheduled to be completed in 1993.
Groundwater: Based on the studies performed by the potentially responsible
parties, the EPA selected an interim remedy to address groundwater
contamination. The interim remedy involves installing a deeper groundwater
collection trench parallel to the existing trench and further study of the practicality of deep
groundwater cleanup. Issues such as long-term effectiveness and permanence will be
addressed in the final remedy. The study is planned to be completed in early 1993.
Remainder of the Site: The potentially responsible parties currently are
conducting an investigation into the nature and extent of the contamination at the
site. The investigation will define the contaminants and will recommend
alternatives for the final cleanup.
Site Facts: In 1974, as a result of a Consent Agreement with the State, the company
installed a wastewater treatment plant, diversion ditches, and an interceptor trench that
diverts shallow groundwater to the treatment plant. In 1987, the EPA issued a Unilateral
Administrative Order to the potentially responsible parties for construction of a security
fence.
Environmental Progress
Initial actions to limit public access to the Eastern Diversified Metals site have reduced the
potential for accidental exposure to contamination at the site, making it safer while further
study, design, and cleanup activities are completed.
Site Repository
Rush Township Municipal Building, Route 54, Hometown, PA 18252
March 1992 72 EASTERN DIVERSIFIED METALS
-------
ELIZABETH
LANDFILL
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD9805397
EPA REGION 3
Lancaster County
He southwest of Elizabethtown
Other Names:
United Disposal
Site Description
The 15-acre Elizabethtown Landfill site is an unlined sandstone quarry that operated as an
unlicensed sanitary landfill from about 1958 to 1973, accepting an unknown quantity of
industrial and municipal wastes from surrounding communities. In 1985, the EPA detected
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and manganese in monitoring wells and a leachate
stream emanating from the landfill area. In 1986, the site was covered with 2 feet of clay and
6 inches of topsoil, vents were installed to control methane gas accumulation, and a leachate
collection system to prevent contamination from moving away from the site was installed. A
sedimentation basin also was constructed, and a drainage system to channel runoff to the
basin was installed. An estimated 13,200 people obtain drinking water from public and private
wells within 3 miles of the site. A private well is 800 feet from the site. The area surrounding
the site is largely agricultural and rural. Conroy Creek, which is 800 feet downgradient of the
site, is used for recreational activities.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater contaminants include the VOC benzene and heavy metals
including manganese and lead. Leachate from the landfill is contaminated with
VOCs and has been seeping into Conroy Creek. Potential health threats include
accidental ingestion of contaminated groundwater in the drinking water supply and
direct contact with polluted surface waters.
73
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two phases: initial actions and a single long-term remedial
phase concentrated on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1986, the site owners covered the site with 2 feet of clay and
6 inches of topsoil. They also installed vents to control the migration of methane
gas, a system to collect leachate, a sedimentation basin, and a drainage system to
Entire Site: In 1990, the potentially responsible parties began an investigation
into the nature and extent of groundwater and leachate contamination at the site.
The investigation will define the contaminants and will recommend alternatives for
final site cleanup. Once the studies are completed, expected in 1994, the EPA will select final
cleanup remedies for site contamination.
Site Facts: In September 1990, the potentially responsible parties entered into a Consent
Agreement with the EPA to conduct studies of the site to determine the nature and extent of
contamination.
Environmental Progress
After placing the Elizabethtown Landfill site on the NPL, the EPA completed an assessment
of site conditions and determined that the site currently does not pose an imminent threat to
public health or the environment while investigations are undertaken to identify
contamination levels and cleanup alternatives.
Site Repository
West Donegal Township Building, 7 West Ridge Road, Elizabethtown, PA 17022
March 1992 74 ELIZABETHTOWN LANDFILL
-------
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD98055291
EPA REGION 3
Philadelphia County
Philadelphia
Site Description
The Enterprise Avenue site, located in an industrial area in the city of Philadelphia, near the
eastern end of the Philadelphia International Airport, encompasses a total of 57 acres. Until
1976, the Philadelphia Streets Department used the site for the disposal of incineration
residue, fly ash, and bulky debris. Drums containing various industrial and chemical wastes
were buried illegally at the site by several waste handling firms. In response to the situation,
the Philadelphia Water Department conducted exploratory excavations during 1979 to
confirm the alleged waste dumping. Approximately 1,700 drums that contained, or had once
contained, such wastes as paint sludges, solvents, oils, resins, metal finishing waste, and solid
inorganic wastes were discovered on the site. Approximately 1 million people live within a
mile of the site in the Philadelphia area.
Site Responsibility: This site was addressed through
Federal, State, and Municipal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Deleted Date: 03/07/86
Threats and Contaminants
The soil on site was contaminated with various organic compounds from the waste
disposal practices. Potential risks existed if direct contact was made with
contaminated soil or if soil was accidentally ingested.
Cleanup Approach
The site was addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
75
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Entire Site: In 1982, the City began cleanup measures at the site in which all
drums and drum fragments were removed and disposed of off site, and 32,600
cubic yards of contaminated soil were excavated and placed in a federally approved
facility off site. The remaining contaminated soil was stockpiled on site in two separate piles,
and a partial cover was installed. The EPA selected a remedy to clean up the soil, which
included removal of the remaining contaminated soil and completion of further precautionary
measures, including installation of a cap and revegetation of the area. In 1984, the State
tested the soil remaining on site for contamination. Contaminated soil was disposed of at an
off-site approved facility. The site then was capped and revegetated as a further
precautionary measure, and a fence was installed around the site area. The EPA, with the
concurrence of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, has determined that no further cleanup
by the potentially responsible parties is appropriate. The Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources (PADER) agreed to operate and maintain the site. The PADER
also has developed and implemented an operations and maintenance plan for the cap which
was approved by the EPA, and will monitor the groundwater to ensure that the water quality
remains at background levels. The EPA and the PADER have determined that the site has
met all cleanup criteria, and the site has been deleted from the NPL.
Environmental Progress
As a result of the cleanup activities described above, the EPA determined that all site
contamination has been addressed and that the site no longer is a threat to the public or the
environment. Therefore, the site has been deleted from the NPL.
Site Repository
Information is no longer available.
March 1992
76
ENTERPRISE AVENUE
-------
FISCHER AN
PORTER CO
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD002345817
EPA REGION 3
Bucks County
Warminster
Site Description
The 6-acre Fischer and Porter (F&P) Company site is an active facility that produces
waterflow and process control equipment. In 1979, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were
detected in local groundwater. This contamination reached some public water supply wells of
the Hatboro Borough and Warminster Heights Water Authorities, forcing several to be
closed in 1979. The wells since have been reopened with treatment to remove contaminants.
Until 1986, a degreasing agent used at the facility was stored in a 2,000-gallon underground
tank; however, F&P's investigations of the underground storage tank have shown it to be
intact. About 30,000 people within a 3-mile radius of the site depend on the groundwater for
their drinking water supply. The F&P property drains to an unnamed tributary of Pennypack
Creek, located 1,000 feet north of the plant. F&P depended on wells for drinking water at
one time, but has switched to an alternate water supply source.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
VOCs from former process wastes were detected in industrial wells at the F&P
property and in nearby municipal water supply wells for the towns of Hatboro and
Warminster Heights. Drinking water sources have been equipped with
contamination treatment devices.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on cleanup of the
entire site and source control.
77
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Entire Site: In 1986, F&P began pumping and treating contaminated groundwater
from three on-site wells. The Hatboro Borough and Warminster Heights Water
Authorities installed permanent treatment systems for the public water supply. The
full on-site recovery system went into operation in 1986. Hatboro Borough also completed
the installation of air strippers and an oil-water separator to remove contaminants at certain
wells. F&P will continue to operate the treatment system and will report to the EPA.
Source Control: In late 1992, the EPA is scheduled to begin an investigation of
the source of contamination at the site. In addition, the EPA will perform a
limited hydrogeological investigation aimed at determining the efficiency of the
groundwater pump and treat system, which continues to operate at the site.
Site Facts: A Consent Decree was signed by F&P, agreeing to pump and treat groundwater
from three on-site wells. F&P also contributed money to the Hatboro Borough and
Warminster Heights Water Authorities so that permanent treatment systems for the public
water supply could be installed.
Environmental Progress
The pumping and treatment operations currently underway at the F&P facility continue to
reduce groundwater contamination levels. These ongoing actions, as well as the closure of
contaminated wells and installation of other treatment devices, have ensured a safe public
drinking supply for affected residents.
Site Repository
Montgomery County Information Center, 120 South York Road, Hatboro, PA 19040
March 1992
78
FISCHER AND PORTER COMPANY
-------
FOOTE MINERA
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD0770879
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Chester County
East Whiteland Township
The Foote Mineral Co. is located on a 79-acre site that has been a part of Cyprus Specialty
Metals Co. since 1988. Since 1942, Foote Mineral has manufactured the compound lithium
halide and lithium halide products in both liquid and solid forms. Plant activities also include
custom-grinding of a variety of minerals and alloys. Inorganic fluxes for the steel industry and
other metal items were produced in the past. Waste waters resulting from the cleaning of
drums containing lithium were disposed of in a nearby "dry quarry" until 1966. This dry
quarry also received demolition debris and municipal wastes. Lithium waste waters were
disposed of in a limestone "wet quarry." In 1975, the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources (PADER) ordered Foote Mineral to stop depositing wastes at the
wet quarry. Impurities associated with the crushing and grinding of lepidolite ore were
collected in three unlined ponds on site until 1975. An on-site pit was used for burning waste
organic solvents and soluble lithium wastes from 1960 to 1979. Drums containing lithium
arsenide were buried on site. Public and private wells within 4 miles of the site supply
drinking water to an estimated 42,300 people; the nearest of these wells is 800 feet
downgradient of the site. Four public water systems may be affected by site contamination:
Philadelphia Suburban Water Co., Uwchlan Township Municipal Authority, and two smaller
systems.
Site Responsibility: The site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 02/07/92
Threats and Contaminants
On-site monitoring wells are contaminated with heavy metals including lithium, chromium,
arsenic, and antimony, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Boron and heavy metals,
such as lithium and chromium, were detected in off-site public and private wells. Soil is
contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. People who ingest or come into direct contact
with contamination may risk harmful health effects.
79
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is begin addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase focusing
on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1990, Cyprus/Foote Mineral surveyed all drinking water wells in
the area to determine the nature and extent of lithium, boron, and chromium
contamination. Alternative water supplies are being provided to all homes at which these
three contaminants exceeded acceptable levels. Long-term monitoring of groundwater has been
implemented. Two underground storage tanks were removed from the site in mid-1992 in accordance
with State regulations. Approximately 15,000 cubic yards of soil from the above excavation are
stockpiled temporarily on site while awaiting treatment
Entire Site: The EPA plans to begin an investigation in mid-1993 into the nature and
extent of contamination at the site. Based on the results from this study the EPA will
select a remedy to clean up the site.
Site Facts: In 1990, Cyprus/Foote Mineral Co. signed an Administrative Consent Order with the
EPA Office of Drinking Water requiring Foote Mineral to conduct sampling of public and private
drinking water wells and, if necessary, to provide alternate water supplies.
Environmental Progress
Immediate actions such as the provision of safe drinking water to affected residences have reduced
threats posed to the safety and health of the nearby population while additional investigations are
underway and activities are being planned for permanent cleanup of the site.
Site Repository
Not established.
March 1992 80 FOOTE MINERAL CO.
-------
HAVERTOWB
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID# PAD00233801d
EPA REGION 3
Delaware County
Havertown Township
Other Names:
ational Wood Preservers
Site Description
The Havertown PCP site encompasses 12 to 15 acres including a wood-treatment facility
(formerly operated by National Wood Preservers), Continental Auto Parts, an adjacent
manufacturing plan (Philadelphia Chewing Gum), and several adjacent residential and
commercial areas. From 1947 to 1963, National Wood Preservers disposed of liquid wastes,
primarily oil contaminated with pentachlorophenol (PCP), into a well that entered the
groundwater under the plant. Disposal practices after 1963 still are under investigation. The
liquid wastes leached into nearby Naylor's Run, a small stream that flows through a
residential area and eventually into the Delaware River. In 1976, the EPA took emergency
action to contain the leaching by drilling recovery wells and pumping PCP to the surface for
treatment. In addition to PCP, National Wood Preservers also used copper, chromium, and
arsenic as part of the wood preserving process. Approximately 26,000 people live within a
mile of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater, surface water, sediments, and soil are contaminated with PCP,
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and oils. The soil also is contaminated with
various inorganic chemicals. Contaminated wastes have leached into Naylor's Run.
People who accidentally ingest or come in direct contact with contaminated soil,
groundwater, or surface water may be at risk.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in four stages: immediate actions and three long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the source control, shallow groundwater, and deep
groundwater and soils.
81
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1987, the EPA installed a fence to restrict access to the
site and constructed sorbent booms and a catch basin in Naylor's Run to contain
the chemicals.
Source Control: The EPA decided in 1989 to install an oil and water separator
in the existing catch basin at Naylor's Run and remove tanks and drums of liquid
wastes from earlier cleanup actions conducted by the EPA and the State. The
EPA began site cleanup in 1990. The oil and water separator was installed in early 1991, and
drums and tanks of waste were removed for disposal off site. In mid-1991, construction of the
separator system was completed. Security improvements and regrading are underway, and
maintenance of the catch basin and separator system is ongoing. The cleanup activities are
being evaluated for effectiveness.
Shallow Groundwater: The EPA completed a study in 1991 to determine the
extent of the groundwater and other site contamination. The EPA-selected
remedy includes the installation of a groundwater treatment plant and associated
groundwater collection drain. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began design of the cleanup
remedy in early 1992 and expect to complete it by 1994. Actual site cleanup will begin shortly
thereafter.
Soil and Deep Groundwater: The EPA began an investigation in late 1991 to
determine the extent of soil contamination and how it contributes to groundwater
contamination. This study also will address sediment contamination in Naylor's
Run. The EPA sampled soils, sediments in Naylor's Run, surface water, and installed deep
groundwater wells for sampling in early 1992. The study is slated for completion in early
1993.
Site Facts: As a result of an Interagency Agreement signed in April 1992, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers has agreed to design the shallow groundwater collection drain.
Environmental Progress
By fencing the site and taking actions to stem the further spread of site contamination, the
EPA has reduced the potential of exposure to contamination and has made the Havertown
PCP site safer while designing a groundwater treatment system, and while further
investigations continue at the site.
Site Repository
Haverford Township Free Library, Mill and Darby Roads, Havertown, PA 19083
March 1992
82
HAVERTOWN PCP
-------
HEBELKA
SALVAG E Y*3* ^ ::-&V Weisenberg Township
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980829329
Site Description
The 20-acre Hebelka Auto Salvage Yard site is in a rural area of Lehigh County. From 1958
to 1983, approximately 750 to 1,000 cubic yards of battery casings were disposed of on site in
two areas. In addition, automobiles, empty storage tanks, empty drums, and miscellaneous
scrap metals were disposed of in the yard. Storage tanks are still disposed of on the site;
however, this practice is under review by the State. In 1985, the EPA conducted an on-site
investigation and discovered contamination in sediments at Iron Run Creek, which is a
tributary of Lehigh Creek, a cold water fishing stream. Two residences are located within the
site boundary. There are 10 residences within 1,000 feet of the site. The population within a
1-mile radius of the site is approximately 300, and 1,000 people live within 2 miles.
Approximately 2,800 people draw water from three Lehigh County Water Authority wells
within 3 miles of the site; another 500 people use private wells.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions. Final Date: Q7/01/87
Threats and Contaminants
One unfiltered groundwater sample showed elevated levels of lead, but the sample
was muddy and inconclusive. Groundwater was resampled during another phase of
the investigation; during this round of tests, lead was either not detected or was
present at levels within the range deemed safe for human health. Sediments, soil,
and sludges are contaminated with lead from former disposal practices. Because
the site is not fenced, on-site workers or trespassers are at risk by coming into
direct contact with or accidentally ingesting, liquids from batteries, solid waste, or
contaminated soil. People who use Iron Run Creek for recreational purposes may
come into contact with contaminated sediment. Although Iron Run is a tributary
to Lehigh Creek, it does not appear that contamination has spread farther
downstream.
83 March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on the battery casings
soil and surrounding soil and groundwater, surface water, sediment, air, and soil air.
Response Action Status
Battery Casings Soil: In 1989, the EPA selected a remedy to clean up the site
that includes stabilizing the lead-contaminated soil by mixing it with a hardening
agent such as cement or lime to form a solid and removal to an off-site facility.
This prevents contaminants from leaching from the soil. In addition, the battery casings will
be removed to an approved facility and recycled or disposed of if possible. The EPA is
preparing the technical specifications and design for removing the battery casings and
cleaning up the soil. The design phase is expected to be completed in late 1992. Actual site
cleanup is expected to begin in 1993.
Groundwater, Surface Water, Sediment, Air and Soil Air: The EPA
sampled the groundwater, surface water, sediment, air, and soil air at the site to
determine the extent of lead contamination. Based on the results of these samples,
the EPA determined in late 1991 that no action was necessary to clean up groundwater,
surface water, sediments, air, or soil air at the site. Additional sampling of groundwater,
surface water, and sediments will take place to ensure that levels of contaminants remain
within acceptable limits.
Site Facts: In early 1992, the parties potentially responsible for site contamination entered
into a Consent Decree for the cleanup of the battery casings soil.
Environmental Progress
After adding the Hebelka Auto Salvage site to the NPL, the EPA determined that the site
does not pose an imminent threat to the public or the environment while waiting for
investigations and cleanup activities to be completed.
Site Repository
Weisenberg Township Building, Sidestown Road, Fogelsville, PA 18051
March 1992 84 HEBELKA AUTO SALVAGE YARD
-------
HELEVA LANS
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD98053771
EPA REGION 3
Lehigh County
North Whitehall Township
Site Description
The Heleva Landfill site consists of about 20 acres on a 93-acre parcel of land. In the late
1800s, the site area was a large open-pit iron ore mining operation. The mining operations
left four open, water-filled pits. Two of these pits are on site: both were covered over by a
landfilling operation. The site began operations as a sanitary landfill in 1967 and accepted
general mixed refuse, including paper, wood, and orchard wastes. Unconfirmed types and
amounts of industrial wastes, including solvents, were reported to have been sent to the site
beginning in that same year. Detection of contamination in the West Ormrod Water
Association Well, 1/4 mile southeast of the site, led to its closing. The site was closed in 1981,
and the owner covered the waste area with 2 feet of clay soil. Groundwater discharges from
the landfill flow into Todd Lake, Coplay Creek, and Whitehall Quarry, all of which are used
for recreational purposes. Coplay Creek is a tributary of the Lehigh River. The area within a
3-mile radius of the landfill is primarily rural, with the greatest portion being farmland and
pastures. Some of the land adjacent to the landfill is used for raising crops. A large
percentage of the population around the site live in small residential communities that pocket
the area. Ormrod, a village of approximately 35 families, is located about 1/4 mile southeast
of the site. Ironton, with a population of 150 residents, is 1/4 mile to the west. An elementary
school is located about 1,500 feet south of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from
former site activities. On-site soils also are contaminated with VOCs. People who
come into direct contact with or accidentally ingest contaminated groundwater or
soil may be at risk.
85
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on groundwater and soil cleanup.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The West Ormrod Water Association well was closed down
due to contamination. Bottled water was provided in 1985 and 1988 to homes
with contaminated wells. In 1986, the North Hampton Water Company extended
an existing water line to provide water for 35 homes that had been drawing water from the
contaminated well. In 1989, three additional homes with contaminated wells were discovered.
Extension of the water line to these homes is underway; completion is expected in 1993.
Groundwater: In 1985, the EPA selected remedies for groundwater
contamination at the site, which include: installing a soil cover over the
contaminated soil and constructing a surface water diversion system to keep
contaminants from migrating off site; installing a gas venting system and monitoring gases at
the vents and at the landfill boundary; constructing an on-site treatment facility to treat the
contaminated groundwater before discharging it into Coplay Creek; extending the public
water supply to residents whose groundwater supply wells have been or potentially could be
contaminated; and monitoring the groundwater until all residents in the vicinity are connected
to the public water supply. In 1991, the EPA amended the cleanup remedy to include
containing the source of contamination by implementing a groundwater extraction and
treatment system downgradient of the aquifer. Construction of the soil covering for the
landfill and gas venting system have been completed. The EPA is preparing the technical
specifications and design for the groundwater pumping system. Construction of the
groundwater pump and treatment system is scheduled to begin in 1993, upon completion of
the technical specifications.
Soil*. The EPA is conducting an additional investigation to study the nature and
extent of the soil contamination in the vicinity of the landfills. The EPA completed
an investigation of the soil contamination and performed a treatability study in
1990. However, further analysis for selection of cleanup remedy is pending the results of the
groundwater cleanup activities.
Site Facts: The EPA issued two Unilateral Orders (February 1985 and March 1985) and
two Administrative Orders of Consent (February 1985 and August 1988), as well as a
Consent Agreement, to the potentially responsible parties to provide bottled water for the
homes affected by the contamination of the groundwater.
March 1992 86 HELEVA LANDFILL
-------
Environmental Progress
Closing the contaminated well and providing alternate drinking water to affected residents
have eliminated all potential health risks posed by drinking contaminated groundwater and
have made conditions at the Heleva Landfill site safer while cleanup activities are taking
place.
Site Repository
North Whitehall Township Building, 600 Levans Road, Coplay PA 19083
HELEVA LANDFILL
87
March 1992
-------
HELLERTOV
MANUFACT
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD00239074
EPA REGION 3
Northampton County
Hellertown
Other Names:
hampion Spark Plug Company
Site Description
The Hellertown Manufacturing Co., a subsidiary of Champion Spark Plug Company, formerly
manufactured spark plugs at this site. The site area includes five former lagoons
encompassing approximately 9 acres. Operations at the facility began in 1930 and continued
until it closed in 1982. From 1930 to 1976, Hellertown used the five on-site lagoons for the
disposal of wastes including cleaners, cutting oils, zinc plating waste, and chrome dip waste.
The lagoons were unlined, allowing wastes to seep into the local soils. In 1970, the company
reported that it discharged 300,000 drums of wastes to the lagoons. All five lagoons were
filled in 1976 with excavated material. Private wells are located within 1/4 mile of the site.
Groundwater underlying the site is contaminated. An aquifer within 3 miles of the site
supplies water to the Hellertown Water Company, the Bethlehem Steel Corporation plant,
and private residences, affecting approximately 15,000 people. Saucon Creek is located
approximately 1,000 feet off site and is used for fishing.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater underlying the site is contaminated with volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), according to tests conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources (PADER) in 1985. On-site soils and sludges from the
lagoons are contaminated with chromium and cyanide from former manufacturing
process wastes. On-site workers may be threatened by coming in contact with or
accidentally ingesting contaminated soils, sludges, or groundwater. On-site cleanup
activities also may stir up dusts, which are hazardous to inhale. Individuals may be
at risk if they ingest contaminated groundwater or fish, or come into direct contact
with contaminated water.
88
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: Site access was restricted to minimize entry by unauthorized
personnel.
Entire Site: The parties potentially responsible for the site contamination
initiated a study in 1988 to determine the extent of the contamination at the site
and to identify alternative technologies for cleanup. The potentially responsible
parties completed the study in 1991, and shortly thereafter, the EPA selected a cleanup
remedy. The remedy calls for construction of an impermeable cover over the former lagoon
area and groundwater pumping and treatment. The EPA began designing the remedy in early
1992 and is expected to complete the design in 1994.
Site Facts: Champion Spark Plug Company signed a Consent Order with the EPA in 1988
to study the contamination and to identify alternative technologies for cleanup.
Environmental Progress
By restricting site access, the potential for exposure to hazardous materials to nearby
residences has been greatly reduced at the Hellertown Manufacturing Co. site while design
and cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Hellertown Municipal Center, 685 Main Street, Hellertown, PA 18055
HELLERTOWN MANUFACTURING CO.
89
March 1992
-------
HENDERSO
ROAD
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD009862939
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
Upper Merion Township
Other Names:
O'Hara San. Co. Inc.
ABM/O'Hara
O'Hara Injection Well
The Henderson Road site occupies 7 acres in a commercial business area of Upper Merion
Township. Since 1975, O'Hara Sanitation has used the site for waste storage, waste recycling,
vehicle maintenance and parking, and office facilities. A former industrial water supply well
was used to dispose of industrial liquid wastes during the 1970s. The injection well lies
beneath the floor of the O'Hara Sanitation maintenance garage. Other areas of concern
include an area of previously ponded water and a landfill located 200 feet east of the well,
containing approximately 158,000 cubic yards of landfill material. Additionally, about 21,000
cubic yards of trash and cinder fill were disposed of on adjacent properties. The landfill did
not have a permit and contains a mixture of construction demolition debris and other
commercial wastes, cinders, a former trenching area, and four underground storage tanks.
Liquid waste, sludge, and drums also may have been disposed of at the landfill. The site is
approximately 2,000 feet upgradient of the Upper Merion Reservoir, which is part of a public
water supply serving 800,000 customers, and 350 feet from Mcllvain Lumber Company, where
a water supply well serves 15 employees. Apartment complexes and private homes are
situated beyond the neighboring industrial facilities of the site. The population residing within
a mile of the site is approximately 5,000 people. A school is located 3,000 feet south of the
site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/83
Final Date: 09/01/84
Threats and Contaminants
Air sampling has detected chemicals including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs), chromium, barium, and benzidine from former disposal activities. Principal
on-site threats to groundwater are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as
benzene, vinyl chloride, chloroform, and trichloroethylene (TCE); heavy metals;
and cyanide. The major potential health risk is drinking contaminated groundwater.
People also could be exposed to site contaminants from inhalation of vapors
generated by cleanup activities. There is a potential environmental impact on the
adjacent intermittent stream from site runoff.
90
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases directed at cleanup related to
an injection well and cleanup of the landfill.
Response Action Status
Injection Well: This phase of the cleanup addresses groundwater contamination
caused by the injection of hazardous substances into an on-site well before 1977.
The design of the technical specifications for the cleanup began in 1989. Currently,
one private off-site well is being treated by carbon adsorption. Construction of the
groundwater treatment plant is complete and the plant has been in operation since late 1991.
Additional modifications may be made to the plant in 1993 allowing the plant to handle more
water. In addition, a vapor extraction system to remove contaminants from the groundwater
has been completed and is currently operating.
Landfill: The Western Zone of the site has been investigated, as well as the
surface drains. The selected cleanup remedy includes capping of the landfill,
leachate collection and stormwater management. To date, debris from an adjacent
property has been removed and the western portion of the site has been paved. In addition,
monitoring of the need for groundwater recovery and treatment will be undertaken, and land
use will be restricted. The design of the technical specifications for the cleanup began in
1990. Actual site cleanup began in early 1991 and is scheduled to be completed in 1994.
Construction of the leachate collection system has been completed and treatment of leachate
is expected to begin in 1992.
Site Facts: In 1985, an Administrative Order on Consent was signed by the EPA and nine
respondents to perform a study to determine the extent of the contamination. A Consent
Decree was entered into in June 1989 in which the parties potentially responsible for the site
contamination agreed to clean up the injection well and the groundwater.
Environmental Progress
The EPA has determined that immediate actions were not required at the Henderson Road
site. Initial groundwater cleanup actions have commenced while cleanup activities are being
planned and beginning.
Site Repository
Upper Merion Library, 175 West Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406
HENDERSON ROAD 91 March 1992
-------
H RAN 1C A
LANDFILL
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980508618
EPA REGION 3
Butler County
Buffalo Township
Site Description
The Hranica Landfill is a 14-acre drum disposal, landfill, and incineration facility located in a
farming community. The privately-owned landfill operated from 1966 to 1974. The site
originally contained over 7,700 55-gallon drums and larger vessels of waste composed of
solvents, paint pigments, and metal sludges. In 1984, all the drums and contaminated soil
were removed from the site. The area was then capped, graded, and seeded. A subsequent
investigation of the site showed that soil, surface water, and groundwater are contaminated.
There are approximately 4,000 people living within a 3-mile radius of the site, and there are
private wells near the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/81
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and soil are contaminated with heavy metals and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) from former site operations. Surface water also is
contaminated with VOCs. In addition to the above contaminants, the soil and
surface water also are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and
phenols. Prior to the 1984 cleanup operation, a tainted supply of cow's milk was
condemned, and nearby springs were reported to be contaminated. These springs
are used for irrigation and as water supplies for livestock. More recent testing
suggests the springs no longer are contaminated. People who come in direct
contact with or accidentally ingest contaminated soil or water may be at risk.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the soil and the groundwater.
92
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
lx Immediate Actions: In 1984, two of the parties potentially responsible for the
site contamination removed all the drums and 5,000 cubic yards of contaminated
soil. The excavated areas were covered with soil and then seeded to establish a
Soil and Groundwater: In 1990, the potentially responsible parties completed a
study determining the type and extent of soil contamination at the site. The EPA
has chosen to place a soil cover on contaminated areas and repair an existing cap
with 2 feet of clay. While the potentially responsible parties complete the design of the soil
remedy, an investigation is being conducted into the nature and extent of contamination in
the shallow aquifer. While the shallow aquifer is not productive enough to be used as a
drinking water source, the study is addressing any groundwater cleanup that may be
necessary. The design of the remedy began in late 1991 and is expected to be completed by
1993.
Site Facts: The EPA and the potentially responsible parties entered into an Administrative
Order in 1987 requiring the potentially responsible parties to conduct a hydrogeological and
soil study of the site. The EPA also entered into a Consent Decree with the potentially
responsible parties requiring them to conduct the remaining cleanup activities at the site.
Environmental Progress
By removing the contaminated drums and soil from the Hranica Landfill site, the potentially
responsible parties and the EPA have reduced the potential of exposure to hazardous wastes.
These actions have made the site safer while further investigations are conducted and a final
cleanup method is being designed.
Site Repository
Buffalo Township Municipal Building, 109 Bear Creek Road, Sarver, PA 16055
HRANICA LANDFILL 93 March 1992
-------
HUNTERSTOW
ROAD
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD98083089
EPA REGION 3
Adams County
Straban Township
Other Names:
Shealer Property
Westinghouse #2
Site Description
The 3-acre Hunterstown Road site served as the recipient of wastes generated by several
local corporations from 1970 through 1980. Throughout its history, the operation had no
permit. The majority of the waste, consisting of paint sludges and various solvents, was
dumped on the site grounds. A waste lagoon and contaminated soil have been excavated on
the site. A fence has been constructed around the lagoon area. There are several small
streams on site. Approximately 9,500 people live in the area and use wells within 3 miles of
the site for drinking water.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/84
Final Date: 06/01/86
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and surface water are contaminated with volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) from wastes dumped on site. Soils are polluted with heavy
metals, VOCs, and asbestos. Possible health threats include accidentally ingesting
or coming in direct contact with contaminated soils and drinking polluted water.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: emergency actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
94
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: In 1984, a party potentially responsible for the site
contamination excavated a waste lagoon and contaminated soil and transported
the materials off site to an approved facility for disposal. The potentially
responsible parties constructed a fence around the lagoon area and, in 1985, took on- and
off-site soil and water samples. In 1989, buried drums were removed, and the area was
backfilled.
Entire Site: A potentially responsible party is conducting an investigation into the
nature and extent of contamination at the site. The investigation will define the
contaminants and will recommend alternatives for the final cleanup. Residential
well sampling has been conducted to ensure that nearby residences are not using
contaminated groundwater. If a resident near the site requests to be connected to the public
water supply, a potentially responsible party will do so at the expense of the potentially
responsible party. The investigation is planned to be completed in 1993.
Site Facts: In 1984, the EPA issued an Administrative Order to a potentially responsible
party, which addressed excavation of a waste lagoon and contaminated soil and transportation
of materials off site for disposal. In 1985, the EPA and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
signed a multi-site Cooperative Agreement providing funds for an investigation into the
nature and extent of contamination at the site. In 1988, a Consent Order was issued between
the EPA and a potentially responsible party to remove contaminated drums.
Environmental Progress
Fencing the site, transporting contaminated materials off site, and removing contaminated
drums have reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous substances at the Hunterstown
Road site while final cleanup activities are being planned. If necessary, the potentially
responsible parties connect affected residences to the public water supply to ensure residents
are not using contaminated groundwater.
Site Repository
Adams County Public Library, 59 East High Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325
HUNTERSTOWN ROAD 95 March 1992
-------
INDUSTRIAL LANE
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD9805084!
EPA REGION 3
Northampton County
Borders South Easton and the Lehigh
>iver, 15 miles east of Allentown
Other Names:
Chrin Bros Inc. Landfill
Industrial Drive Landfill
South Easton Site
Site Description
The Industrial Lane site includes a zoned industrial area and a 30-acre sanitary landfill. The
Chrin Landfill began operating as an open dump in 1961. The community of Glendon
Borough is located in the north-western portion of the study area. Lucy's Crossing is located
in the southwestern portion of the study area, and Morgan Hill is situated in the southeastern
portion of this area. The groundwater used by the local residences is obtained from a
complex bedrock aquifer. Groundwater contamination has been documented since 1980. Past
industrial uses that may have contributed to site contamination include iron ore extraction
and iron works operations. The Easton City Suburban Water Authority obtains its raw water
from the Delaware River. The intake is located approximately 1 1/2 miles up the Delaware
River from the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers. There are 1,140 people living
within 1 mile of the site. Lucy's Crossing, Glendon Borough, and the Morgan Hill area
contain 152 residences, all located along Industrial Drive. Twenty four private wells were
located in Lucy's Crossing and Glendon. All of the residences along Industrial Drive are
connected to the public water system. It is believed that all the residences, upgradient of the
site, in the Morgan Hill area rely upon private wells.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/83
Final Date: 09/01/84
Threats and Contaminants
Contaminants detected in groundwater at the Industrial Lane site include the
volatile organic compounds (VOCs) vinyl chloride and benzene from the former
disposal activities. The health threat of concern at this site is the risk associated
with potential exposure to hazardous substances in the groundwater through direct
contact, accidental ingestion, or inhalation.
96
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on providing a safe
water supply and cleanup of the groundwater/source control.
Response Action Status
Water Supply: The State and the EPA conducted a water sampling program of
private wells in the area and investigated the potential sources of groundwater
contamination. In 1989, water service lines were installed from the existing street
water supply mains to the 24 residences with contaminated or threatened wells.
Groundwater/Source Control: The EPA has completed an investigation into
the nature and extent of the groundwater contamination at the site. The selected
remedy for cleanup of the groundwater and the source of contamination is .
closure of the unlined municipal landfill, in accordance with State regulation, and cleanup of
groundwater to background levels. The potentially responsible parties began design of the
cleanup technologies in 1991.
Site Facts: The owners currently are operating under a State municipal landfill permit and
are negotiating with the State for closure of the unlined landfill area and opening of a new
area.
Environmental Progress
By supplying the residences having contaminated or potentially threatened wells in the
Industrial Lane site area with a safe drinking water source, the EPA and the State have
greatly reduced the potential for these residents to be exposed to hazardous materials while
the design of the final cleanup remedy is taking place.
Site Repository
Mary Meuser Memorial Library, 1803 Northampton Street, Easton, PA 18042
INDUSTRIAL LANE
97
March 1992
-------
JACKS CREEK/SITKI
SMELTING &
REFINING, I
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980829493
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Mifflin County
Maitland
Other Names:
kin Smelting
Refining Inc.
Operators smelted and refined scrap metal to make alloys such as brass on the 115-acre Jacks
Creek/Sitkin Smelting & Refining, Inc. site in Maitland, until the facility closed in 1977. The
owners left behind approximately 143,000 tons of mill tailings (smelting wastes) containing
lead and other heavy metals. These are stockpiled next to Jacks Creek. Bankrupted in 1977,
Sitkin sold part of its property to Joseph Krentzman and Son, Inc. for a scrap yard, and the
C.I.T. Corp. and the Alabama Bankruptcy Court own the remainder. In 1984, the EPA
detected polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in on-site soil and lead and PCBs in Jacks Creek,
which is used for recreational activities. In 1985, Krentzman proposed to remove the
PCB-contaminated soils and encapsulate them elsewhere on the site. The owner also planned
to dismantle the smelters and to arrange for proper disposal. However, an agreement
between this owner and the State was never reached. The Tonolowa Keyser, Old Port, and
Onondaga Formations provide water to private wells that serve approximately 1,000 people
living within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
Preliminary sampling results indicate that lead from the former site operations may
be present in on-site groundwater. On-site soil contains PCBs; the acidity of the
soil enhances lead migration into the groundwater. Jacks Creek contains lead and
PCBs. People using Jacks Creek for recreation could be exposed to chemicals in
the water through accidental ingestion or direct contact.
98
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1991, the EPA built berms and a rip-rap barrier on the site to
control the erosion of materials and to prevent contaminants from being washed
into Jacks Creek. A liner also was placed on the mill tailings to contain waste left
over from smelting operations, and a fence surrounding the site was completed.
Entire Site: An intensive investigation of on-site contamination began in 1990.
This study is exploring the nature and extent of the problem and will identify the
best strategies for final cleanup. It is scheduled for completion in 1993.
Site Facts: The parties potentially responsible for the site contamination submitted a
proposal for cleanup to the State in 1985 to encapsulate and remove PCB-contaminated soils.
However, no agreement was reached. General notice letters were sent out to four parties in
May 1990, inviting them to participate in the site investigations and cleanup.
Environmental Progress
By building berms to control erosion and lining the tailings piles to contain contaminants, the
EPA has reduced the immediate threats to the surrounding residents and the environment at
the Jacks Creek/Sitkin Smelting & Refining, Inc. site while investigations leading to final
cleanup activities take place.
Site Repository
Not established.
JACKS CREEK/SITKIN SMELTING 99 March 1992
& REFINING, INC.
-------
KEYSTONE
SANITATION
LANDFILL
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID#PAD0541427811
Site Description -
EPA REGION 3
Adams County
Union Township
The Keystone Sanitation Landfill site covers 40 acres on a former farm that began accepting
municipal waste and industrial construction debris in 1966. The landfill site is situated on a
ridge, and runoff leaves the area in all directions. Tests conducted by the EPA and the State
show groundwater has been contaminated. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Resources (PADER) is monitoring the site, and the owner voluntarily has begun cleanup
actions. Currently, groundwater is being pumped through one well to the surface, and
contaminants are being removed through an aeration process. The population within a 3-mile
radius of the site is approximately 2,300. An estimated 1,700 people draw drinking water from
private wells or springs that tap the contaminated aquifer within 3 rniles of the site. One
resident is located on site. Others live approximately 200 yards from the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 04/01/85
Final Date: 07/01/87
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater on site is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
heavy metals including chromium and lead from former waste disposal practices.
Groundwater off site is contaminated with chromium, mercury, and VOCs
including vinyl chloride and dichloroethylene. Surface water contains VOCs,
cyanide, and heavy metals including mercury, lead chromium, copper, and zinc.
Accidentally ingesting or coming in direct contact with contaminated groundwater
may present a health risk.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two long-term remedial phases focusing on cleanup of the
entire site and off-site groundwater and surface water cleanup.
100
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Entire Site: Keystone completed a study of on-site groundwater contamination.
In 1990, the EPA selected the remedy for cleanup of the site, which includes
extraction and treatment of on-site groundwater, installation of an impermeable
cap and a gas collection system to prevent the migration of wastes, construction of a fence to
limit access to the site, and monitoring of the groundwater, surface water, and sediments. The
design of the cleanup technologies began in 1991. Actual site cleanup is expected to begin in
1993.
Off-Site Groundwater and Surface Water: In 1990, the EPA completed a
study of off-site contamination of groundwater. Keystone is expected to continue
investigating the nature and extent of off-site groundwater contamination in 1992.
The study also will address concerns over off-site surface water contamination.
Site Facts: In 1987, Keystone signed a Consent Adjudication with the PADER, which
requires Keystone to investigate and clean up the on-site groundwater contamination and the
contaminated groundwater migrating off site. The state of Maryland also is monitoring the
site, because it is close to the Maryland/Pennsylvania border.
Environmental Progress
After adding the Keystone Sanitation Landfill to the NPL, the EPA conducted an assessment
of site conditions and determined that the site currently does not pose an immediate threat to
the public or the environment. Once further investigations into the groundwater
contamination and the selected remedies are designed, final cleanup activities will begin.
Site Repository
Hanover Public Library, Library Place, Hanover, PA 17331
KEYSTONE SANITATION LANDFILL 101 March 1992
-------
KIMBERTON
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID # PAD980691703
REGION 3
Chester County
Kimberton Borough,
near Philadelphia
Other Names:
Monsey Products
Ciba-Geigy Corporation
Site Description
The Kimberton Site occupies a 1-acre area and encompasses the Monsey Products Company
property and adjacent properties within the surrounding Village of Kimberton. Several buried
lagoons are located on the site and are in close proximity to numerous private water supply
wells. A previous owner operated eight lagoons at the site in which various residues from
manufacturing operations were dumped from 1947 to 1959. During routine water quality
testing in 1981, a private well on the site was found to be contaminated. The EPA's
subsequent investigation indicated that soil and surface water were also contaminated. The
lagoons were identified as a source of contamination at the site. Approximately 500 people
live within a 1-mile radius of the site. The nearest residence is adjacent to the Kimberton
Site. A small stream that crosses through the site is the discharge point for local groundwater.
Less than 1 mile from the site is French Creek, a public recreation and fishing area.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
EEJ
Soils, sludge, and sediments were contaminated with volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) including trichloroethylene (TCE) and dichloroethylene. Groundwater is
contaminated with VOCs including TCE, dichloroethylene, and vinyl chloride. A
tributary to French Creek is contaminated with VOCs. People who accidentally
ingest or come in direct contact with contaminated groundwater, soil, sludge, or
sediments may be at risk. The use of French Creek for recreation or consumption
of locally caught contaminated fish may pose a health hazard.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases directed at the water supply and groundwater and surface water cleanup.
102
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1984, Ciba-Geigy and Monsey excavated and removed
contaminated soil and 57 drums. The excavated area was covered with soil and
seeded to establish a vegetative cover. In 1992, parties potentially responsible for
site contamination installed a permanent water line.
Water Supply: In 1986, Ciba-Geigy and Monsey Products provided 25 residential
and commercial locations with an alternate source of drinking water. In 1988, the
EPA selected a remedy for groundwater contamination, which included continuing
the alternate water supply as well as installing monitoring wells. The activated carbon systems
have been in place since 1986 and are filtering contaminants from the wells' water. The
potentially responsible parties constructed an extension of the public water system to the
affected residences, which was completed in early 1992. The activated carbon systems will be
dismantled once the public water system is extended to all affected residences.
Groundwater and Surface Water: In 1989, the EPA selected a remedy for
treating the contaminated groundwater and surface water, which includes
pumping the water and then removing the contaminants by air stripping. The
contaminants removed by the air stripper are further treated prior to releasing the air into
the atmosphere. This treatment is expected to continue for 30 years. The potentially
responsible parties are preparing the technical specifications and design for the cleanup. The
design phase is expected to be completed in 1992 and, at that time, the cleanup actions will
begin.
Site Facts: In 1986, the State negotiated a Consent Order with the potentially responsible
parties. This Order requires the parties to provide alternate water supplies to affected
residences until a permanent water line can be constructed. In 1987, the parties agreed to
conduct a study to determine the type and extent of contamination at the site.
Environmental Progress
The excavation and disposal of contaminated soils and drums reduced the threat of further
groundwater contamination. The provision of a permanent safe drinking water source has
reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous materials at the Kimberton Site while the
technical design of additional remedies is underway.
Site Repository
East Pikeland Township Building, Rappsdam Road, Phoenixville, PA 19460
KIMBERTON SITE 103 March 1992
-------
EPA REGION 3
_ Lackawanna County
D C ETI IO C [y^~r5 V?~ ^X^1*660 tfie Borou9f1 °f OW Forge and
""• * ^ ^ ™ —~ Ransom Township
^ Other Names:
EPA ID # PADQSOSCDSV ^ Lackawana Refuse Removal
Company, Inc.
lacavazzi Landfill
Old Forge Landfill
Site Description
The Lackawanna Refuse site consists of 258 acres and lies in an area previously used for
deep mining and strip mining of coal. In 1973, the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources (FADER) issued a permit for the disposal of municipal and
commercial refuse in three strip-mine cuts covering approximately 18 acres. Two of the
strip-mine cuts contained commercial and municipal refuse, and the third contained
approximately 15,000 buried drums. Industrial wastes also were dumped along the site's access
road, in a borehole pit, and in a small paint-disposal area. In 1977, the owner applied for an
addendum to the permit for the disposal of sludge. Although the addendum was authorized in
1978, pader suspended the solid waste disposal permit later that year, after discovering that
on-site activities included the unauthorized disposal of industrial and hazardous wastes. In
1980, the EPA excavated 200 drums and sampled 18 others. Leachate flows from the site into
an intermittent stream, drainage ditches, and nearby St. John's Creek, which flows into the
Lackawanna River. The site is located in a rural area of Pennsylvania and is surrounded by
residential, agricultural, and former strip-mining areas. Approximately 9,000 people live within
a 1-mile radius of the site. The nearest residences are along the site's eastern border. Local
residents obtain drinking water from a public system that takes water from reservoirs several
miles north of the site.
o-* D -u-r* IT.- • • u • AA A u u NPL LISTING HISTORY
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through proposed Date: 12/01/82
Federal actions. Final Date. Q9/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
On-site groundwater is contaminated with nitrate, heavy metals including arsenic
and cadmium, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from disposal activities at
the site. Off-site groundwater is contaminated with the pesticide dieldrin. Surface
water on site is contaminated with boron, manganese, and methylene chloride. Fish
are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), VOCs, and dieldrin.
Rabbits are contaminated with heavy metals including lead and nickel and VOCs.
People who accidentally ingest or come in direct contact with contaminated water
and sediments may be at risk. In addition, eating rabbits and fish with
bioaccumulated levels of contaminants may pose a health threat.
104 March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1983, the EPA installed a fence and an access gate
around the pits. Warning signs also were posted around the site.
Entire Site: The remedies selected by the EPA in 1985 to clean up the source of
the contamination include removing the drums and solid waste and excavating
contaminated soil and disposing of the materials in an EPA-approved facility,
covering the pits with synthetic material to prevent rainwater and surface water from coming
into contact with buried wastes, and installing a system to collect leachate. All drums and
solid waste have been removed, and approximately 40,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil
were excavated and disposed of. The leachate collection system and the synthetic cover were
installed in 1989. The final grading and seeding of the site were completed in 1990. When
treatment of the leachate is finished, slated for 1992, all cleanup activities will be completed.
Site Facts: In 1983, the owners and operators of the site pleaded guilty to failing to notify
EPA that hazardous substances were disposed of, paid a fine, and agreed to use the proceeds
from any sale of the land to help finance cleanup at the site. Two other NPL sites, Taylor
Borough and Lehigh Electric, the latter deleted from the NPL, are located within 3 miles of
the Lackawanna Refuse site.
Environmental Progress
The numerous completed cleanup actions at the Lackawanna Refuse site have removed
contaminated materials and have prevented the further spread of contamination. Once final
actions are completed, the EPA will evaluate the site cleanup to ensure that the site no
longer poses a threat to nearby residents or the surrounding environment.
Site Repository
Old Forge Borough Council, 312 South Main Street, Old Forge, PA 18518
LACKAWANNA REFUSE 105 March 1992
-------
LANSDOWNi^
RADIATION
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980830921
EPA REGION 3
Delaware County
orough of Lansdowne
Site Description
The 1/2-acre Lansdowne Radiation site was a duplex housing structure, the basement of
which was used as a laboratory by a chemistry/physics professor from 1924 to 1944. The
laboratory was predominantly used to manufacture radium sources for medical radiation
therapy. The duplex was contaminated with radium and other radionuclides. The radium
contamination was detected in the soil surrounding the duplex structure and was presumed to
have migrated onto properties bordering the duplex. A sewage line also was contaminated.
There are approximately 11,000 people living within a mile of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site was addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 04/01/85
Final Date: 09/01/85
Deleted Date: 09/10/91
Threats and Contaminants
Radiation levels in the duplex exceeded Federal guidelines. Radioactive
contamination had migrated to the sewer line from the duplex. Specific
contaminants detected in soil surrounding the duplex included radium, radon gas,
and radon decay products. Radioactive contamination had migrated to soil at the
edge of the avenue where the duplex is located. Threats to human health included
direct contact with radioactive materials. Air migration of contaminants also was of
concern.
Cleanup Approach
The site was addressed in two stages: emergency actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
106
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: In 1984, the EPA and the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) temporarily relocated the residents of the duplex
and most of their uncontaminated personal belongings. The EPA installed a fire
alarm and sprinkler system. The EPA shipped 289 truckloads of radiation-contaminated
wastes for disposal to a federally-approved facility in Utah. All threats to the nearby residents
have been alleviated.
Entire Site: The final selection of cleanup technologies to address radiation
contamination included dismantling the duplex, packing and sealing radioactive
materials in approved containers and disposal at an approved facility off site,
excavating and removing contaminated soil located in and around the house, excavating the
existing sewer line and replacing 243 feet of sewer line, and revegetating the vacant property
lot. The EPA completed these actions, and the site was deleted from the NPL in 1991.
Environmental Progress
The Lansdowne Radiation Site has been dismantled and cleaned up within State and Federal
guidelines, and all radioactive materials have been removed from the site. The area once
again is safe for the surrounding population, and the site has been deleted from the NPL.
Site Repository
Lansdowne Public Library, 55 South Lansdowne Avenue, Lansdowne, PA 19050
LANSDOWNE RADIATION SITE
107
March 1992
-------
LEHIGH EL
AND ENGIN
COMPANY
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD980712731
EPA REGION 3
Lackawanna County
rough of Old Forge
Site Description
The 5 1/2-acre Lehigh Electric and Engineering Company site operated as part of a coal
processing facility. From the mid-1970s until 1981, the site served as an electrical equipment
repair and storage yard. About 4,000 transformers and capacitors were stored at the facility
where indiscriminate handling and disposal of dielectric fluids containing polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) occurred. The Lackawanna River is located less than 1,000 feet downslope
of the site. Contamination of the groundwater and the Lackawanna River was possible
because the PCB-contaminated soil located on site is highly permeable, and the site is located
in the river's flood plain. Groundwater is used for agricultural purposes, but no residents
within a 3-mile radius of the site rely on groundwater as a source of drinking water. The site
is adjacent to a residential area where approximately 150 people live.
Site Responsibility: This site was addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Deleted Date: 03/07/86
Threats and Contaminants
Electrical equipment and debris on site were contaminated with PCBs. EPA
investigations also revealed high concentrations of PCBs in on-site soil. The nearby
population health was threatened by ingestion, direct contact, and inhalation of
PCB-contaminated soils and contact with PCB-contaminated equipment. There
also was a risk associated with the ingestion of PCB-contaminated fish, game, and
other biota prior to cleanup activities.
Cleanup Approach
This site was addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
108
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Entire Site: This site was cleaned up in two stages: Stage I involved the removal
of transformers, transformer contents, and surface debris from the site; Stage II
addressed the removal of contaminated soils and buildings from the site. In 1981,
the EPA fenced the site and analyzed soil and water samples. In 1982, the EPA completed
the removal of all surface equipment and debris. In 1984, the EPA completed the removal of
PCB-contaminated soil, the excavation of additional soil, demolition of on-site buildings,
backfilling, grading, and vegetating of the site. In 1986, the EPA deleted this site from the
NPL.
Site Facts: Two other NPL Sites, Taylor Borough and Lackawanna Refuse, are located
within 3 miles of the Lehigh Electric and Engineering Company site.
Environmental Progress
All cleanup activities have been completed at the Lehigh Electric and Engineering Company
site. Contaminated soils, buildings, and debris have been removed and the site has been
restored to safety levels. As a result of these cleanup activities, the EPA, in conjunction with
the State, has deleted the Lehigh Electric and Engineering Company facility from the NPL.
Site Repository
Information is no longer available.
LEHIGH ELECTRIC AND
ENGINEERING COMPANY
109
March 1992
-------
LETTERKENNY
DEPOT (PR
DISPOSAL
OFFICE AR
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PA2210090054
Site Description —
EPA REGION 3
Franklin County
2 miles north of Chambersburg
Other Names:
foperty Disposal Office Area
The Letterkenny Army Depot (Property Disposal Office Area) site covers 250 acres of the
19,520-acre facility north of Chambersburg. From 1947 to the present, operations at the site
have included the maintenance, overhaul, and rebuilding of wheeled and tracked vehicles and
missiles. These operations have involved the use of large quantities of chlorinated organic
solvents and cleaning agents. Some wastes from these operations have been stored and
disposed of in the Property Disposal Office (PDO) area by landfilling and spreading wastes
on open ground areas. Other areas of suspected contamination are the drum storage area, oil
burn pit, trash burning pits on the site, and possibly, adjacent landfills. An estimated 17,000
people reside within 5 miles of the site. No effects on residential or other areas located near
the site have been reported, except for Rocky Spring Lake, which has not been used for
recreational purposes since the discovery of contamination in 1983. However, fishing,
swimming, and boating activities were taking place in the lake prior to 1983.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 04/01/85
Final Date: 03/13/89
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater beneath the PDO area and surface water, including Rocky Spring
Lake, are contaminated with chlorinated organic chemicals including chloroform
and trichloroethylene (TCE), according to tests conducted by the Army. Soils have
been contaminated by xylene, heavy metals, chloroform, and organic compounds.
No residential wells have been found to be contaminated by this site. Individuals
may be at risk if they drink, come in direct contact with, or inhale vapors from the
contaminated waters.
110
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in four stages: initial actions and three long-term remedial phases
directed at cleanup of the drum storage revetments, source control and cleanup of the
groundwater.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1990, the Army removed the fire training pit because of
contamination found during site studies.
Drum Storage Revetments: A comprehensive study to determine the extent of
contamination and to identify alternative technologies at the site has been
completed. This study, which was completed in 1991, concluded that no further
cleanup is necessary to protect human health and the environment at the drum storage
revetments area.
Source Control: An investigation into the nature of the sources of
contamination was initiated in 1989. This investigation will result in cleanup
alternatives and is expected to be completed in 1994.
Groundwater: A study is underway to characterize the level and extent of
contamination of the groundwater. The investigation is scheduled for completion in
1994, at which time the final cleanup strategy will be selected.
Site Facts: On February 3, 1989, the EPA, the State, and the Army entered into an
Interagency Agreement covering comprehensive cleanup and compliance activities at the
base. The site is participating in the Installation Restoration Program a specially funded
program established by the Department of Defense (DOD) in 1978 to identify, investigate,
and control the migration of hazardous contaminants at military and other DOD facilities.
The Southeast Area of the Letterkenny Army Depot is listed separately on the NPL.
Environmental Progress
The removal of the fire training pit has reduced the potential for exposure to contaminants
while investigations into the source of contamination and the groundwater are being
completed.
Site Repository
Letterkenney Public Affairs Office, Room SDSLE-CY, Chambersburg, PA 17201
LETTERKENNY ARMY DEPOT
(PROPERTY DISPOSAL OFFICE AREA)
111
March 1992
-------
LETTERKEN
ARMY DEP
(SOUTHEA
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PA6213820!
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Franklin County
2 miles north of Chambersburg
Other Names:
Letterkenny Army Depot (Lead)
The Letterkenny Army Depot (Southeast Area) covers 170 acres of the 19,520 acres
occupied by the military facility, which is located 2 miles north of Chambersburg. The site was
established in 1942 as an ammunition storage facility. From 1947 to the present, operations at
the site have included the maintenance, overhaul, and rebuilding of wheeled and tracked
vehicles and missiles. These operations have taken place primarily in the southeastern corner
of the depot known as the Southeast Industrial Area and in the East Patrol Road Disposal
Area. The operations have employed large quantities of chlorinated organic solvents and
cleaning agents. Wastes from the operations have been disposed of in the same areas by
landfilling, by burying in trenches, and by spreading wastes on the surface. Approximately
17,000 people live within 5 miles of the site. Wells that supplied 44 homes located nearby are
contaminated with wastes migrating from the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/84
Final Date: 07/01/87
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater beneath the Southeast Industrial Area of the depot, as well as
beneath an off-depot area of approximately 4,000 acres, extending at least 2 1/2
miles to the east, is contaminated with chlorinated organic chemicals. Soil has been
found to be contaminated with chlorinated organic chemicals, including volatile
organic compounds (VOCs).Individuals may be at risk if they accidentally ingest,
inhale, or come in direct contact with contaminated groundwater or soil.
Additional residential wells potentially could become contaminated.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: initial actions and two long-term remedial phases
focusing on cleanup of the K areas and of the entire site.
112
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: The Army supplied 44 residences with bottled water and
subsequently, from the summer of 1987 until 1989, connected the homes to the
Guildford Water Authority public water system. The Army completed preliminary
studies that resulted in closing the on-site waste lagoons under a closure plan to eliminate the
source of contamination.
K Areas: A more complete study to determine the extent of contamination from
the former drum storage area and to identify alternative technologies for the
cleanup was started in 1989. Dye tracer studies were used to determine
characteristics of the geology and groundwater movement under the site. In mid-1991, a
remedy for the K Areas was selected. This remedy entails low temperature thermal
treatment of soils. The engineering designs are underway and cleanup activities are expected
to begin in early 1993. Studies of the industrial sewage system have lead to the discovery of
several leaks and alternatives for repairing the lines and cleaning up any contaminated soils
are currently being evaluated.
Entire Site: A second investigation was started in 1989 to study other possible
disposal areas on site and includes soil sampling and geophysical testing.
Site Facts: The Army, the EPA, and the State have entered into an Interagency Agreement
that covers all cleanup activities at the site. Letterkenny Army Depot is participating in the
Installation Restoration Program, a specially funded program established by the Department
of Defense (DOD) in 1978 to identify, investigate, and control the migration of hazardous
contaminants at military and other DOD facilities. A portion of the Letterkenny Army
Depot, referred to as the Property Disposal Office Area (PDO), is also listed on the NPL.
Environmental Progress
By supplying the affected residences with a safe alternate water supply and closing the waste
lagoons, the Army has reduced the potential for the nearby population to be exposed to the
contamination sources, while further studies and designs of cleanup activities at the
Letterkenny Army Depot (Southeast Area) are taking place.
Site Repository
Letterkenny Public Affairs Office, Room SDSLE-CY, Chambersburg, PA 17201
LETTERKENNY ARMY DEPOT 113 March 1992
(SOUTHEAST AREA)
-------
LINDANE DUMP
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD9807127981
EPA REGION 3
Allegheny County
Harrison Township
Other Names:
Pennwalt Lindane Dump
Alsco Community Park
Site Description
The Lindane Dump site consists of a recreational park about 14-acres in size and a 43 1/2-
acre lower project zone that includes a closed landfill area. About 400 tons of powdered
lindane pesticide waste and other industrial waste were dumped at the site from 1900 to 1950.
Industrial waste dumping continued after the sale of the property in 1965. In 1976, a portion
of the site was donated by the owner to Harrison Township for use as a park area. In 1987,
Pennwalt, Atchem, and North America, Inc., parties potentially responsible for the site
contamination, assumed responsibility for the site investigation. There are approximately
13,000 people living within a mile of the site. Residents near the site obtain water from a
municipal system that draws water from the Allegheny River.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/81
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
Continuous leaching of pesticide residues from the landfill is contaminating the
groundwater and surrounding soil. Accidentally ingesting or coming in direct
contact with contaminated groundwater, soil, or leachate can pose health risks.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: an initial action and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
114
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Initial Action: A leachate treatment system has been installed and activated to
control the spread of pesticide residues.
Entire Site: The State and the potentially responsible parties are conducted an
investigation into the nature and extent of contamination at the site. The
investigation defined the contaminants and recommended alternatives for the final
cleanup. The final remedy, including capping part of the site, upgrading the leachate
collection and treatment system, deed and access restrictions, and long-term monitoring, was
selected by the EPA in 1992. The cleanup design is scheduled to begin in early 1993.
Site Facts: In 1983, the State and Pennwalt, a potentially responsible party, agreed to
conduct a leachate treatability study to evaluate short- and long-term treatment and disposal
alternatives.
Environmental Progress
The leachate treatment system has reduced the further spread of contaminated materials
from the Lindane Dump site while the State and the potentially responsible parties continue
conducting intensive studies, which will lead to the selection of a final cleanup remedy.
Site Repository
Harrison Town Municipal Building, Municipal Drive, Natrona Heights, PA 15065
LINDANE DUMP
115
March 1992
-------
LORD - SHO
LANDFILL
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980508931
EPA REGION 3
Erie County
miles west of Erie
Other Names:
e Melvin Property
Site Description
An estimated 4 million cubic feet of waste were disposed of on the privately owned 5-acre
Lord-Shope Landfill site between 1959 and 1979. Wastes deposited on the landfill site
consisted principally of debris, but included rubber scrap, organic and inorganic chemicals,
solvents, cooling oils, acids, and caustic agents. Land use in the immediate vicinity includes
agricultural areas, a golf course, orchards, vineyards, and wooded areas. The nearest
residences are situated several hundred feet from the site. Approximately 125 people reside
within a mile of the site, and about 5,700 people live within 3 miles of the contamination
area. Elk Creek, into which site runoff discharges, has a water intake located approximately
4,800 feet downstream of the contamination area. The water from this intake is used to
irrigate food crops.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/81
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
Due to the spillage or disposal of liquid wastes and leaching of contaminants, the
soils, landfill materials, and groundwater are contaminated with volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) and various heavy metals including lead. Sediments of a
nearby stream are contaminated with low-level VOCs, barium, and arsenic. Arsenic
and copper have been identified in off-site surface water, although not at
significant levels. Long-term risks are posed by the potential for consumption of
contaminated groundwater. Currently, there are no drinking water wells in the
area of contamination. Direct contact with landfill materials and soil is limited by a
cap and revegetation of the area.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
116
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1983, a party potentially responsible for the site
contamination removed exposed drums, placed 20,000 gallons of leachate into
drums and removed them, regraded and capped the landfill with a polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) liner, and installed a subsurface slurry wall to divert groundwater from coming
in contact with contaminated materials in the landfill.
Entire Site: In 1990, the EPA selected the remedy for cleanup of the entire site,
which includes removal of VOCs from landfill materials and surrounding soils
through in-situ vapor stripping, extraction and treatment of contaminated
groundwater by pre-treatment of iron and other metals and air stripping for removal of
VOCs, and discharge of treated groundwater to a nearby tributary of Elk Creek. The design
of the cleanup technologies is scheduled to be completed in 1993.
Site Facts: A Consent Order was signed in 1982 between the potentially responsible parties
and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources (PADER) to perform some
immediate cleanup actions at the site. A second Consent Order was signed in 1987, under
which the potentially responsible parties were required to conduct studies at the site. A
Consent Decree between the EPA and the potentially responsible parties was signed in 1991,
under which the potentially responsible parties are required to implement the selected
remedy.
Environmental Progress
The removal of hazardous materials and drums and regrading and capping of the landfill have
eliminated the immediate sources of exposure to contamination, making the Lord-Shope
Landfill safer while the selected remedy is being designed.
Site Repository
Wilcox Library, 8 Main Street, Girard, PA 16417
LORD - SHORE LANDFILL 117 March 1992
-------
MALVERN
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID# PAD014353445
EPA REGION 3
Chester County
Malvern
Other Names:
hemclene Corporation
Site Description
The Malvern TCE site covers 2 acres in a wooded area and operates as a solvent reclamation
facility. This site is a federally regulated hazardous waste facility. From 1952 to 1976, drums
containing various wastes were dumped into pits on the site. Two drum disposal areas were
found to contain approximately 300 drums. There are approximately 14,000 people living
within a 3-mile radius of the site. The nearest residence is 350 feet away. There are 30 homes
that draw drinking water from the contaminated groundwater.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) from past drum
disposal practices. Soil is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
People who accidentally ingest or come in direct contact with contaminated
groundwater may be at risk.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a single long-term remedial
phase focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
118
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: All the buried drums and some of the contaminated soil
have been removed. The owner of the site provided carbon filters to residences
with contaminated wells and fenced the pits.
Entire Site: Chemclene, the potentially responsible party, is studying the type and
extent of contamination at the site. The study, planned for completion in 1993, will
provide alternatives for the cleanup. Since the facility is a Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA)-regulated facility, RCRA enforcement is now handling the site.
However, due to the lack of progress at the site, Superfund authorities may be used to
conduct cleanup activities.
Site Facts: In December 1988, the EPA and Chemclene signed a Consent Order, in which
Chemclene agreed to conduct a study and to clean up the site.
Environmental Progress
After adding the Malvern TCE site to the NPL, the EPA performed a preliminary evaluation.
They determined that, as a result of the early actions to remove contaminated drums and soil
and provide water filtration to affected residents, no other immediate actions were required
to reduce the potential for exposure to hazardous materials while the investigation leading to
the selection of a final cleanup remedy for the site is taking place.
Site Repository
Not established.
MALVERN TCE
119
March 1992
-------
MCADOOf^ — rT^^\\ — I~TS EPA REGION 3
Schuylkill County
Biorough of McAdoo and
Kline Township
EPA ID# PAD9807fr2ffflBY_J // Vn X / >3McAdoo Associates and E. I_ Player
Site Description
The McAdoo Associates site consists of two areas approximately 1 1/3 miles apart. One area,
in the Borough of McAdoo, covers about 1/5 of an acre. The other, in Kline Township,
covers 8 acres. From 1884 until 1969, the site was mined for anthracite coal. In 1975, the
property was acquired by McAdoo Associates. Wastes were stored at these sites from 1978
until 1979, when the State revoked McAdoo's permit to operate. At that time, the McAdoo
Borough facility had five underground storage tanks that contained hazardous substances.
The Kline Township area, used as a metal reclamation and incineration facility, consisted of
approximately 7,000 drums and six aboveground tanks. Approximately 5,100 people live within
a 1-mile radius of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through NPL LISTING HISTORY
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
Proposed Date: 10/01/81
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
The soil is contaminated with heavy metals and low levels of various volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) from the former waste storage practices. Direct
contact with contaminated soils was formerly a risk to the nearby population;
however, as a result of the completion of a cap, the risk of direct contact with
contaminated soil has been eliminated.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the entire site, and groundwater and off-site surface water
cleanup.
120 March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1980, the site owner removed the incinerator, the
buildings, and three temporary underground storage tanks and sampled the soil.
In 1982, the owner removed all surface wastes and visibly contaminated soil to a
federally regulated off-site facility. Between 1988 and 1989, the last remaining tank and
surface debris were removed. Soil sampling and a mine subsidence study also were conducted.
Entire Site: In 1985, the EPA chose a remedy to clean up the site, which
included: removing all surface tanks; excavating contaminated soil, then backfilling
the excavated area with clean topsoil; and constructing diversion ditches to prevent
off-site surface water from draining into the site. The potentially responsible parties have
completed excavating the contaminated soil, backfilled the area with clean soil, and capped
the site. Remaining cleanup activities are expected to be completed in late 1992.
Groundwater and Off-Site Surface Water: In 1991, the EPA completed an
investigation into the nature and extent of any contamination in the groundwater
and off-site surface water. The investigations concluded that no further actions are
required to cleanup the contaminated groundwater and off-site surface water. Groundwater
monitoring, however, will continue.
Site Facts: In 1988, the EPA, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the potentially
responsible parties signed a Consent Decree, under which the parties agreed to clean up the
site.
Environmental Progress
The initial removal of contaminated materials and soil and the subsequent capping of the
area have reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous materials at the McAdoo
Associates site, while cleanup activities address the remaining contamination areas and
restore the site to safety levels.
Site Repository
Hazleton Area Public Library, McAdoo Branch, 515 Kelayres Road, McAdoo, PA 18237
MCADOO ASSOCIATES 121 March 1992
-------
METAL BAN
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD04655709i
EPA REGION 3
Philadelphia County
Philadelphia, next to the
Delaware River
Other Names:
Cottman Avenue Site
Site Description
The Metal Banks site occupies 6 acres next to the Delaware River in an industrial section of
Philadelphia. From 1968 to 1972, Metal Bank of America, Inc. drained oil contaminated with
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from used transformers to reclaim copper parts. When the
U.S. Coast Guard traced periodic oil slicks in the River to the site in 1972, the company
carried out cleanup activities to prevent oil releases; however, oil containing PCBs again
seeped from the site in 1977. A 1978 study by the Coast Guard revealed that up to 20,000
gallons of PCB-contaminated oil lay in groundwater under the site and was leaking into the
Delaware River. Oil was in one underground tank that had ruptured and leaked. The tank
was drained, cleaned, and filled with concrete in 1981. Two million people living within 3
miles of the site are supplied with drinking water from either the Delaware river via a public
water supply system or groundwater sources via private wells. The nearest residence is 200
feet away, and the nearest well is 2 miles from the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
PCB-contaminated oil from former disposal practices has penetrated to the
groundwater under the site. PCB-contaminated oil is seeping into the Delaware
River via the groundwater. Recreational boaters may be at risk from direct contact
with contaminated surface water and sediments. Recreational fisherman may be at
risk from consuming contaminated fish. Wetlands may be affected by PCBs seeping
from the site area.
122
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a single long-term remedial
phase focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Under EPA orders, the owner began recovering
contaminated oil from the groundwater in 1981; the process was completed in
1989, although oil remains in the subsurface. Approximately 4,200 gallons of PCB-
contaminated oil were collected. The remaining oil is not recoverable using the previously
approved pump and treat system.
Entire Site: Further study of contamination at the site will be conducted by some
of the potentially responsible parties. The investigation, which will explore the
nature and extent of site problems and recommend strategies for final cleanup, has
begun and is expected to be completed in 1993.
Site Facts: The EPA sued Metal Bank of America for cleanup in 1980, and the company
began recovering the oil-contaminated groundwater in 1981. After the EPA sued the owner,
Metal Bank and the EPA entered into a 1983 agreement requiring that the company install
and maintain a groundwater recovery system. By 1988, the EPA identified 20 additional
potentially responsible parties. In December 1988, litigation commenced regarding Metal
Bank's claim that the 1983 stipulation requirements had been met, thus ending the company's
liability at the site. The EPA did not concur with this finding and in November 1989, the
court ruled in favor of the EPA. In May 1991, the EPA and 10 potentially responsible parties
signed an Administrative Consent Order requiring the parties to perform investigations at the
site. Metal Bank chose not to join the group signing the Consent Order.
Environmental Progress
The process used to pump and treat the oil-contaminated groundwater, although not entirely
effective, has helped reduce the levels of contamination while studies are underway to
identify a permanent treatment for the Metal Banks site.
Site Repository
Not established.
METAL BANKS 123 March 1992
-------
METROPO
MIRROR A
GLASS INC
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD982366957
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Schuylkill County
Frackville
The Metropolitan Mirror and Glass Co., Inc. site is 8 acres in size and located in an industrial
area. Metropolitan Mirror manufactured mirrors from 1959 until 1982, when it declared
bankruptcy. The site was acquired by the National Patent Development Corp. and then
resold in 1987 to St. Jude Polymer Co., which recycles plastic bottles. Current site activities
do not involve the disposal of wastes. During its manufacturing operations, Metropolitan
Mirror used silver solutions, paint strippers, paint thinner, and other solvents. Wastes
resulting from these operations were disposed of in four on-site settling lagoons. The first pair
of these lagoons was used before 1967; the second, between 1967 and 1982. Contaminants
were first discovered in 1986 in groundwater used by Frackville as a drinking water source. A
subsequent investigation conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Resources (PA DER) identified Metropolitan Mirror as a possible source of contamination;
PA DER was unable to confirm this finding. Public and private wells within 4 miles of the site
provide drinking water to an estimated 1,000 people; the nearest of these wells is well within
a mile of the site. Close to 3,800 people live within a mile of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 02/07/92
Threats and Contaminants
Contaminants detected in the lagoon areas and the soils of a drum storage area
include aluminum, heavy metals such as mercury and lead, and volatile organic
compounds (VOCs). Site conditions, such as unlined disposal areas, shallow
groundwater, and permeable soil, have facilitated the migration of contaminants
into the groundwater. The workers of the St. Jude Polymer Co. are at risk of being
exposed to contaminants in the soil of the drum storage area.
124
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed by one long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the
entire site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The EPA is planning an investigation that will determine the nature
and extent of contamination at the site. This investigation will lead to the
selection of activities to clean up the site.
Environmental Progress
Initial investigations indicate the Metropolitan Mirror and Glass Co., Inc. site poses no
immediate threat to the health and safety of the nearby population while investigations and
activities are being planned for permanent cleanup of the site.
Site Repository
Not established.
METROPOLITAN MIRROR AND GLASS INC.
125
March 1992
-------
MIDDLETO
AIR FIELD
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD9805387
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Dauphin County
iles southeast of Harrisburg
Other Names:
Olmstead Air Force Base
rrisburg International Airport
Until 1966, the Federal Government owned and operated the Middletown Air Field as the
Olmstead Air Force Base. The site encompasses approximately 200 acres between
Middletown and Highspire. Various users at the site generated solvent and other industrial
wastes while maintaining, overhauling, and testing aircraft. Some wastes appear to have been
disposed of on site. Now privately and Commonwealth-owned, the property houses Harrisburg
International Airport, the Mead Heights area, and several industrial properties. The site lies
next to the Susquehanna River and near Swatara Creek. In 1983, discovery of volatile organic
compound (VOC)-contamination in 2 of 10 water supply wells resulted in their closure. A
water treatment system was installed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and
the U.S. Air Force, under an agreement with the EPA. This action has returned all of the
wells to potable use. The site is located in a mixed residential and industrial area. The water
supply on the site provides water to about 3,500 full-time users, as well as to airline travelers
and industrial users. Approximately 19,500 people obtain drinking water from wells within 3
miles of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/84
Final Date: 06/01/86
Threats and Contaminants
Wells, groundwater, and soils are contaminated with VOCs including
trichloroethylene (TCE) and heavy metals such as lead. Drinking contaminated
groundwater could pose a threat, although this threat has been virtually eliminated
by groundwater treatment. Accidental ingestion of or direct contact with
contaminated soil also pose health risks.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in four stages: immediate actions and three long-term remedial
phases focusing on groundwater cleanup, source control, and soil cleanup.
126
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1984, the State removed all sludge and liquids in the
waste distribution building, closed the fire training pits, and removed all
contaminated materials from the location. The same year, the Air Force removed
some waste drums from the Mead Heights area.
Groundwater: In 1987, the EPA selected a remedy for cleaning up groundwater
supplied by the Harrisburg International Airport system. It features: providing a
potable water supply; building a central treatment plant; pumping groundwater and
air stripping it of contaminants by exposing it to air; and monitoring groundwater. These
cleanup activities were conducted by the potentially responsible parties. Construction of the
groundwater pumping and treating system was completed in 1990.
Source Control: Three disposal areas have been identified as possible sources of
groundwater contamination at the site. The EPA began an intensive study of these
areas in early 1988, exploring the nature and extent of the problem at each area.
The investigation, was completed in 1990. The EPA proposed a plan to control the source of
contamination through land-use restrictions, monthly groundwater monitoring, and further
investigations.
Soil: In 1991, the EPA initiated an investigation into the nature and extent of
contamination of the soil. This investigation will result in the selection of
remedies for the permanent cleanup of the soil and is expected to be completed
in 1992.
Site Facts: The Air Force is cooperating with the EPA under the Installation Restoration
Program, a specially funded program established by the Department of Defense (DOD) in
1978 to identify, investigate, and control the migration of hazardous contaminants at military
and other DOD facilities.
Environmental Progress
The immediate removal of contaminated materials, the closing of the fire-training pits at the
Middletown Air Field, and the treatment of contaminated wells to ensure a safe drinking
water source have made the site safer while final cleanup remedies are being planned.
Site Repository
Middletown Public Library, 20 North Catherine Street, Middletown, PA 17057
MIDDLETOWN AIR FIELD
127
March 1992
-------
MILL CREEKS.
DUMP
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID# PAD980231690
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Erie County
Millcreek Township,
2 miles west of Erie
Other Names:
Fuchs Landfill
Harbor Drive Dump
Mill Creek Dump is an 84 1/2-acre site comprised of a former freshwater wetland that was
used as a dump for foundry sands, solvents, bulk liquids, and other industrial and municipal
wastes. Over a period of 40 years, all but 4 acres of the marsh were filled. For a time, the
operators reclaimed metals from foundry sands and excavated a deep pond to supply the
wash water. The site includes four adjacent parcels of land, each with a separate owner. The
site is flat and partially wooded and includes a portion of Marshall's Run, as well as the
former wetland. Junk vehicles, leveled buildings, and abandoned machinery are scattered on
the surface. The surrounding area is commercial and residential. An estimated 2,000 people
work or live within 2,500 feet of the site. Nearby are a state park, an airport, and woodlands.
Hunters and children have been observed on the landfill.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/83
Final Date: 09/01/84
Threats and Contaminants
m
Groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the
former waste disposal practices. Soil and sediments contain high levels of polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy
metals. Coming in direct contact with, inhaling, or ingesting contaminated materials
presents a health risk. The nearby contaminated wetland lies within flood plains.
Contaminated groundwater, soils, sediments, and surface water drain into Lake
Erie.
128
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a single long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1983, the EPA undertook these cleanup actions at the site:
built fences and gates across access roads; demolished sheds on site; crushed 600
clean, empty drums and sent them to a metals recycling facility; removed 100
drums of hazardous liquids, 70 to be landfilled and 30 to be incinerated at EPA-approved
facilities; and stored 364 drums filled with non-hazardous material in the northeast corner of
the site. In 1986, the EPA also put up 1,820 feet of wire-mesh fence in eight locations,
installed a gate, and posted warning signs.
Entire Site: In 1986, the EPA selected a remedy for the site that features:
excavating contaminated soil and consolidating it under a cap to keep rainfall and
runoff from spreading pollution; covering remaining low-level contaminated soil
with clean soil; building retention ponds for managing surface and flood waters; planting the
soil cover and cap; installing additional monitoring wells; and pumping and treating the
groundwater. Construction of groundwater collection trenches began in 1990. Construction of
the groundwater treatment system was completed in early 1992. Design of a soil cap began in
early 1991, and construction of the soil cap is targeted for spring of 1993.
Site Facts: In 1992, the EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to the parties
potentially responsible for site contamination. These parties agreed to construct the cap to
contain contamination in the soil.
Environmental Progress
The numerous initial actions taken at the Mill Creek Dump site by the EPA, such as fencing
and removing hazardous substances, have reduced the potential for exposure to contaminants
at the site. Cleanup actions are well underway and will ultimately reduce the contaminants at
the site to safety levels.
Site Repository
Millcreek Township Building, 3608 West 26th Street, Erie, PA 16506
MILL CREEK DUMP 129 March 1992
-------
MODERN SANIT
LANDFILL
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980539068
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
York County
York
Other Names:
Modern Sanitation
The 72-acre Modern Sanitation Landfill site once was a farm that was used as a landfill for
open domestic dumping since the 1940s and reportedly had received hazardous wastes
between 1976 and 1979. The EPA and the State performed tests that indicated contamination
from toxic organic chemicals in the groundwater under the site. Similar contaminants have
been detected in springs adjacent to the landfill and in some private wells near the site. The
current operator and the State are collecting and treating the contaminated groundwater on
the western edge of the landfill. Between 1,000 and 3,000 people draw drinking water from
wells within 3 miles of the site. The nearest residence is 10 feet from the site; 800 people live
within 1 mile and 2,400 within 3 miles of the site. There are 273 wells within 1 mile; the
nearest well is 1/2 mile away.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/84
Final Date: 06/01/86
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater, surface water, and soils are contaminated with volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) including benzene and chloroform from past disposal practices
at the landfill. Private wells contain site-related contaminants. People who
accidentally ingest or come into direct contact with contaminated groundwater,
surface water, or soil may be at risk. A drainage ditch into Kreutz Creek receives
the outfall from an active leachate and groundwater treatment system on the site.
The creek is stocked seasonally with trout. The possibility exists of the
bioaccumulation of contaminants in fish, livestock, and crops. Groundwater and
surface water are used to irrigate crops and provide water to grazing livestock.
130
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Owners of contaminated wells near the site currently are
using an alternate water supply. A leachate collection system, which is designed to
divert groundwater to an on-site treatment system, was put on the site. The
system was redesigned and currently is active and collecting leachate. Groundwater extraction
wells remove contaminated groundwater from the site. The groundwater is treated on site
and discharged to a tributary of Kreutz Creek. Further analysis will determine the ultimate
effectiveness of the system and whether additional actions are required to address
contaminated leachate.
Entire Site: Under a State order, Waste Management, Inc. completed an
intensive study of contamination at the site. In mid-1991, the EPA selected a
remedy for the site that includes: continuation of all activities initiated previously,
including the collection and treatment of leachate and groundwater; monitoring of
groundwater and surface water; completion of a landfill cap system and final cover for the 66-
acre landfill; maintenance of site fencing; and, addition of groundwater extraction or
monitoring wells to the present system as needed. Design of the remedies is expected to
begin in late 1992.
Environmental Progress
The initial actions described above have provided a safe water supply to affected residents
and have limited contamination migration from the site. The EPA has determined that the
Modern Sanitation Landfill site no longer poses an immediate threat to the nearby residents
or the environment as final cleanup remedies are being planned.
Site Repository
Windsor Township Municipal Building, 400 Bahms Mill Road, Red Lion, PA 17356
MODERN SANITATION LANDFILL 131 March 1992
-------
MOVERS LA
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD9805087&
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
In Collegeville, near Eagleville
Site Description
From 1940 to 1981, the 44-acre Moyers Landfill accepted an unknown quantity of municipal,
sewage, and industrial wastes. Solid and liquid hazardous wastes thought to have included
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), solvents, paints, low-level radioactive wastes, and
incinerated materials were disposed of at the landfill site. The State closed the landfill in
1981, and it was brought into receivership of the U.S. District Court. Skippack Creek, which
was contaminated from site activities, and other small tributaries drain from the site.
Leachate overflows continuously from several collection pits located on the property. Soil was
placed over the landfill and, following closure, additional cover soil was spread over the
landfill. The waste mound also was reshaped to improve drainage; however, erosion exposed
waste materials in some areas. Groundwater discharges from the downgradient "toe" of the
landfill and along the steep slope beyond the landfill. The area is agricultural and residential.
Evansburg State Park borders the site, and large residential developments lie within 1 mile.
The distance to the nearest residence and well is approximately 300 feet. Approximately 760
people live within a mile of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
On- and off-site groundwater, leachates, and soil are contaminated with heavy
metals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from former waste disposal
practices. The surface water is polluted with VOCs. PCBs have been found in the
trout in the surrounding streams. Leachate and affected sediments contain
substantial levels of contaminants and therefore may pose risks to individuals who
accidentally ingest, inhale, or come into direct contact with them. Drinking
contaminated groundwater or consuming contaminated trout also may pose
significant threats.
132
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the entire
site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: In 1985, the EPA selected a remedy for controlling the source of the
pollution. It includes: grading and leveling the site; constructing retaining walls at
highly erodible areas; capping the site with a low-permeability soil; installing a gas
vent system that prevents accumulating gas from rupturing the cap; collecting surface runoff
and discharging it directly into the creek; installing a leachate collection and removal system;
treating collected leachate and discharging it; and continuing to monitor groundwater and
surface waters. The engineering design for the cleanup remedy, undertaken by the Army
Corps of Engineers, was completed in 1989. The leachate collection trench will be completed
in 1992. However, due to community concern the landfill cap is being re-designed to
minimize the amount of imported soil needed. Construction of the cap is scheduled to begin
in the spring of 1993.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA assessed conditions at the Moyers Landfill and
determined that no immediate actions were needed while cleanup activities are underway.
Site Repository
Lower Providence Township Building, 100 Parklane Drive, Eagleville, PA 19403
MOYERS LANDFILL
133
March 1992
-------
MW MANUF
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID# PAD980691372
EPA REGION 3
Montour County
Valley Township, 2 miles north
of Danville
Other Names:
Domino Salvage Yard
omiino Salvage Warehouse #81
Site Description
The 15-acre MW Manufacturing site was originally a recovery operation for scrap wire, but
currently does not operate in that capacity. The main building is now being used as a storage
facility. The recovery process, which broke the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) insulation around the
wire into granular black carbon, also helped dissolve heavy metals like lead, zinc, and copper
into the waste materials. Workers then treated the freed copper wire with chlorinated
solvents. The spent solvent apparently was dumped on the site. MW Manufacturing, the first
owner, used both mechanical and chemical processes and went bankrupt in the early 1970s.
The current owner, Warehouse 81, Inc., used a mechanical process. Waste accumulation on
the site consists of an 86,000-gallon surface impoundment, 32,000 cubic yards of finely divided
scrap wire called "fluff," a buried underground tank, and 13,000 cubic yards of contaminated
soil. While the mechanical process generated the most fluff, the chemical processes were
responsible for the greatest environmental impact. The area is agricultural and residential.
Within a mile of the site are homes, motels, gas stations, restaurants, and a school. About
5,200 people live within a 3-mile radius; 1,500 live within 1 mile. Area residents use
groundwater wells for drinking; about 320 wells lie within 3 miles of the site. Mauses Creek, a
trout stream, flows to the south of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/84
Final Date: 06/01/86
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater, sediments, surface water, and soil are contaminated with various
volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Possible health risks include direct contact
with the carbon waste pile, inhalation of contaminated dusts or VOCs from the
waste pile, or accidental ingestion of the contaminated groundwater. Trout in
Mauses Creek also are threatened by site contaminants.
134
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in four stages: immediate actions and three long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the groundwater, the carbon waste pile, and the "fluff pile."
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The EPA fenced the site and, as a precaution, temporarily
provided bottled drinking water to a local school in 1985. When additional
sampling confirmed that the well was not contaminated, the supply of bottled
water was discontinued.
Groundwater: A study is underway to characterize the nature and extent of
groundwater contamination. It is scheduled for completion in 1992, at which time,
final cleanup remedy will be selected.
Carbon Waste Pile: The EPA considered the cleanup of this contamination
source to be of primary urgency. In 1990, the carbon waste pile was excavated and
incinerated at an off-site incinerator. Approximately 300 drums of carbon wastes
contaminated with PCBs were removed in 1992 for off-site incineration. All cleanup activities
are expected to be completed in late 1992.
"Fluff Pile": In 1990, the EPA selected a remedy for the cleanup of the fluff pile,
which entails excavation of the fluff pile wastes and underlying soils, on-site
burning of the wastes and soils, and disposal of the incinerator ash in an EPA-
approved hazardous landfill. Engineering designs began in 1990, and cleanup activities are
slated to begin in 1993.
Site Facts: The State has investigated the site since the late 1960s and has issued orders for
cleanup since 1971. At present, there is a Consent Order to clean up the site. The present
owner, Warehouse 81 Ltd. Partnership, has removed and disposed of some of the hazardous
waste and has processed some of the fluff.
Environmental Progress
By fencing the site and providing bottled water to a local school, the EPA has reduced the
threat of exposure to contaminants from the MW Manufacturing site while cleanup activities
and designs are being completed. The removal of carbon waste pile has further reduced the
risk posed by the site while studies of the groundwater contamination are underway.
Site Repository
Thomas Beaver Library, 25 East Market Street, Danville, PA 17821
MW MANUFACTURING
135
March 1992
-------
NAVAL AIR
DEVELOPME]
CENTER
(8 WASTE AR
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PA6170024545
Site Description —
A REGION 3
ucks County
Warminster
The Naval Air Development Center (8 Waste Areas) site covers 734 acres in Warminster.
Commissioned in 1944, its main mission is research, development, testing, and evaluation for
naval aircraft systems. The Naval Air Development Center (NADC) also conducts studies in
anti-submarine warfare systems and software development. Wastes are generated during
aircraft maintenance and repair, pest control, firefighting training, machine and plating shop
operations, spray painting, and various materials research and testing activities in laboratories.
These wastes include paints, solvents, sludges from industrial wastewater treatment, and waste
oils. The main areas of concern at NADC are eight waste areas covering more than 2 acres.
The nearest population center involves the residents living on the base. The closest civilian
home is about 200 feet from the base. The waste areas potentially affect the Stockton
Formation Aquifer, which provides water for more than 100,000 people within 3 miles of the
site. Local surface water bodies are used for recreation and industrial purposes. All surface
waters run to the Delaware River.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/01/86
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
The EPA found the groundwater to be contaminated with volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) including methylene chloride and toluene. The soil also is
contaminated with VOCs, petrochemicals (such as chrysene and fluorine), and
petrochemical sludges, lead, and waste oils. Nearby residents risk exposure through
direct contact with contaminated soil and groundwater. Residential wells sampled
in 1984 showed the presence of some VOCs, but these were not detected when
the wells were resampled later that year. People using the unpaved road on site
could be exposed to contaminants by accidentally ingesting or touching soils or
wastes or by inhaling contaminated air.
136
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in eight long-term remedial phases focusing on cleanup of the
Waste Burn Pit and seven other waste areas of the site.
Response Action Status
Waste Burn Pit: Soil samples, groundwater samples, electromagnetic surveys, and
soil gas surveys were done to determine the extent of contamination at the waste
burn pit. The Navy is conducting an intensive study of this area in two separate
phases. Phase I, which has been completed, assessed the need for immediate action,
confirmed site boundaries, and added to the hydrogeologic database. Phase II is determining
the type and extent of groundwater and surface water contamination, evaluating groundwater
flow, and ascertaining possible remedial alternatives. The investigations also will explore the
nature and extent of contaminants and will pinpoint the most effective strategies for cleanup.
The study for the first phase began in 1989 and has been completed. The Phase II study has
begun and is expected to be completed in 1993. Based on the results of these studies, a final
cleanup remedy will be selected.
Other Waste Areas: Similar actions are planned for the seven remaining
contamination areas at the NADC site, including two sludge disposal pit areas,
landfills located north and south of the runway, additional waste burn and disposal
pits, and the fire training area. The investigations will entail mapping VOCs in soil gas and
studies of electromagnetic conductivity and metallic anomalies to detect metal contamination
areas. Approximate site boundaries will be identified and confirmation of site contamination
will be made through soil borings, installation of new overburden and shallow bedrock
monitoring wells, groundwater sampling and analysis, and surface water and sediment
monitoring. In addition, the Navy has sampled air quality in base housing and buildings
adjacent to several contamination areas and will evaluate the potential for releases of
contaminated air. The EPA and the Navy also are investigating areas where accelerated
cleanup activities may be appropriate. Investigations at all areas now are underway.
Site Facts: In 1989, the EPA submitted a draft Interagency Agreement to the Navy for
formalizing and scheduling remedial activities. Regional EPA and Navy officials are
negotiating its contents. NADC is participating in the Installation Restoration Program, a
specially funded program established by the Department of Defense (DOD) in 1978 to
identify, investigate, and control the migration of hazardous contaminants at military and
other DOD facilities.
NAVAL AIR DEVELOPMENT CENTER 137 March 1992
(8 WASTE AREAS)
-------
Environmental Progress
After adding the USN Naval Air Development Center site to the NPL, preliminary
evaluations were performed, which showed that the site does not pose an immediate threat to
the public or the environment while studies leading to the selection of a final remedy are
taking place.
Site Repository
Warminster Free Library, 1076 Emma Lane, Warminster, PA 18974
March 1992
138
NAVAL AIR DEVELOPMENT CENTER
(8 WASTE AREAS)
-------
NORTH PEN
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD096834494
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
Souderton
Other Names:
Gentle Cleaners
Granite Hosiery Mills, Inc.
Granite Knitting Mills, Inc.
Site Description
The North Perm-Area 1 site is one of six NPL sites that involve the North Penn Water
Authority (NPWA) wells which supply drinking water to people living northwest of
Philadelphia. Originally listed under their individual names, each of these sites has been
assigned an "Area" number under the name "North Penn." Gentle Cleaners, Inc., one of the
parties potentially responsible for the site contamination, has been in business since 1953. The
firm used perchloroethylene (PCE) from 1953 to 1983 in dry cleaning operations, and then
changed its processes to use a combination of PCE and trichloroethane. Next door to the
cleaners is Granite Knitting Mills, a hosiery mill that has operated for over 50 years. This
facility also used PCE as part of its dry cleaning operations. In 1979, NPWA discovered PCE
in a municipal well in the area and took the well out of service. An estimated 75,000 people
obtain drinking water from public and private wells within 3 miles of the site. A well on the
Granite Knitting Mill property 200 feet from the North Penn site is contaminated.
Approximately 8,000 people live within a mile of the site. The site is 800 feet northwest of
Skippack Creek, which is used for recreational activities.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with the volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
PCE and trichloroethane from cleaning operations at the site and other nearby
activities. People who drink or come in direct contact with contaminated
groundwater may be at risk.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase focusing on groundwater
contamination at the site.
139
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The EPA is studying the nature and extent of contamination at the
site. The study is planned to be completed in 1993. Once the investigation is
completed, the EPA will select a final remedy for cleanup of the groundwater and
other contaminated areas identified in the study.
Site Facts: The EPA sent general notice letters to nine potentially responsible parties on
February 28, 1990. Contamination at the site may be caused by other sources in addition to
those identified.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA assessed conditions at the North Penn-Area 1 site
and determined that no immediate actions were needed while the investigations into cleanup
remedies are taking place.
Site Repository
Borough of Souderton Municipal Building, 331 West Summit, Souderton, PA 18964
March 1992
140
NORTH PENN - AREA 1
-------
NORTH PEN
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID# PAD057152365
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
Worcester
Other Names:
Transicoil, Inc.
Site Description
The North Perm-Area 12 site has been estimated to include approximately 20 acres
surrounding the former Transicoil facility on Trooper Road in Worcester. This site is one of
several suspected of contaminating the groundwater serving as the main source for the
drinking water supplies for the northwestern suburban Philadelphia. Each of these sites has
been assigned an "Area" number under the name "North Penn." Since 1952, several different
owners have manufactured electric motors at the Area 12 site, under the name Transicoil,
Inc. State records show that the facility used several drums of trichloroethylene (TCE) each
year as a degreasing solvent until 1976, when it switched to trichloroethane. The company
stored waste oil and solvents in an underground tank. In 1979, the State found elevated
concentrations of solvent-based chemicals in on-site wells and in at least two private off-site
wells. Subsequent sampling by a consultant to Transicoil confirmed the results. The area is
primarily rural, interspersed with agricultural areas and housing developments. Approximately
16,200 people live within a 3-mile radius of the site and use groundwater as a drinking water
supply. The closest residence is 600 feet from the site. Schools and hospitals are located
nearby. Private well water is used for drinking water and possibly for livestock and crop
irrigation within a 3-mile radius of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 02/21/90
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soil contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including TCE
from solvent waste disposal. There is a potential health threat from direct contact
with or accidental ingestion of contaminated soil or groundwater.
141
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Residential well sampling is ongoing. An underground
waste solvent tank, thought to be the potential source of contamination, has been
removed. The Keystone Water Authority now is supplying the Norristown State
Hospital with an alternate water supply. Carbon filters have been installed on affected
residential wells.
Entire Site: The potentially responsible parties, under EPA monitoring, were
conducting a study into the nature and extent of the contamination. These parties
recently filed for bankruptcy. Therefore, the EPA is continuing these studies which
are planned for completion in late 1992.
Site Facts: In 1989, the EPA entered into a Consent Order with Transicoil and
Eagle-Picher under which they agreed to conduct an intensive study into the nature and
extent of soil and groundwater contamination at the site. While conducting the study, these
parties filed for bankruptcy. The EPA has taken over the study.
Environmental Progress
By providing an alternative water supply, the North Penn Area-12 site currently does not
pose an immediate threat to public health or the environment. Monitoring nearby residential
wells will be continued to ensure that contaminant levels are within safety levels while final
cleanup actions are being planned.
Site Repository
Worcester Township Hall, 1721 Valley Forge Road, Worcester, PA 19490
March 1992 142 NORTH PENN-AREA 12
-------
NORTH PEN
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD002342475
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
Hatfield
Other Names:
Ametek, Inc.
(Hunter Spring Division)
The 8-acre North Penn-Area 2 site, formerly listed on the NPL as Ametek, Inc. (Hunter
Spring Division), was used to manufacture precision springs, reels, and measuring and
controlling apparatus. It is one of several NPL sites suspected of contributing to
contamination of the groundwater that supplies the population northwest of Philadelphia.
Originally listed under their individual names, each of these sites has been assigned an "Area"
number under the name "North Penn." The facility used trichloroethylene (TCE) as a
degreasing solvent. In 1983, waste lagoons on site were emptied, backfilled, and revegetated.
In 1986, the North Penn Water Authority (NPWA) detected TCE and other volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) in on-site and downgradient wells; however, wells upstream from the site
contained no contaminants. About 1,100 people live within 1 mile of the site, and 70,000 are
within 3 miles of the site, all of whom obtain drinking water from public and private wells
within 3 miles of the facility. The site setting consists of a mixture of residential, commercial,
and industrial areas.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
In 1986, the NPWA detected VOCs including TCE from Ametek's process wastes
in on-site and downgradient wells. The same contaminants also were found in the
soil in several areas of the site. Groundwater and soil contamination could pose a
threat to people who accidentally ingest or come in direct contact with them.
Surface runoff from the site could contain pollutants and help spread the
contamination to off-site areas.
143
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on contamination at the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The site now is fenced in and is guarded 24 hours a day.
Ametek, Inc. took measures to clean up several areas of soil contamination in
1987. The EPA conducted sampling of 16 residential wells located near the site in
1989; none of the wells sampled was found to be contaminated above drinking water
standards. In 1990, the EPA resampled a number of residential wells twice; test results
showed that contamination levels remain within Federal safety standards.
Entire Site: Investigations into the nature and sources of contamination of the
soil and groundwater began in 1988 and are expected to be completed in 1994.
Environmental Progress
Fencing the site and cleaning up several areas of soil contamination have reduced the
potential for accidental exposure to site contamination and made the North Penn-Area 2 site
safer while studies and cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
EPA Region 3, Public Reading Room, 9th Floor, 841 Chestnut Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19107
March 1992
144
NORTH PENN-AREA 2
-------
NORTH PE
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD9806926!
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
Montgomery Township
Other Names:
merlcan Electronics Laboratories
The 35-acre North Perm-Area 5 site is comprised of several manufacturing facilities. It is one
of several sites suspected of contaminating the groundwater that supplies most of the drinking
water to the population northwest of Philadelphia. Each of these sites has been assigned an
"Area" number under the name "North Penn." American Electronics Laboratories, Inc.
manufactures electronic communication equipment and components on this site in
Montgomery Township. The State and the company have detected trichloroethylene (TCE),
other volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and related breakdown products in on-and off-site
wells. The surrounding area is industrial, commercial, and residential. Approximately 100,000
people use public and private wells within 3 miles of the site as their source of drinking water.
A public well lies within 50 feet of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater contains VOCs including TCE and trichloroethane (TCA). Soils
on the site may contain TCE. People who obtain their drinking water from wells
drawing on the contaminated groundwater in the area are at risk.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a single long-term remedial
phase directed at cleanup of the entire site.
145
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Under State order, the owner removed 125 cubic yards of
contaminated soil and transported them to an EPA-approved hazardous waste
facility. In 1981, the company began treating contaminated groundwater by
pumping on-site monitoring wells and sending the water to a nearby sewage treatment plant.
In early 1986, the owner installed a unit that uses air stripping to evaporate VOCs from the
groundwater.
Entire Site: A study of the nature and extent of groundwater and soil
contamination at the site is underway. The investigation will result in
recommendations for final cleanup and is scheduled for completion in 1994. The
EPA also is evaluating additional sources of contamination.
Site Facts: In 1981, the State and American Electronics Laboratories, Inc. signed a Consent
Order to conduct a groundwater recovery program.
Environmental Progress
The removal of contaminated soils and the use of a pumping and treatment system to treat
the contaminated groundwater have reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous
materials at the North Penn-Area 5 site. Once the investigations have been completed and
final cleanup strategies selected cleanup work will begin.
Site Repository
Montgomery Township Municipal Building, 623 Cowpatch Road, Montgomery, PA 18936
March 1992
146
NORTH PENN-AREA 5
-------
NORTH PE
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD98092697
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
Lansdale
Other Names:
J.W. Rex Company
Allied Paint Manufacturing
Keystone Hydraulics
Site Description
The 200-acre North Perm-Area 6 site encompasses the area in and around the Borough of
Lansdale. It includes many manufacturing sites and is one of six Superfund sites contributing
to contamination of the groundwater that supplies drinking water to the population northwest
of Philadelphia. Originally listed under their individual names, each of these sites has been
assigned an "Area" number under the name "North Penn." During its history, varied activities
have been carried out at the facility, located in the center of the site, by several previous
owners and facility operators. The J.W. Rex Company heat-treated metals on the site until
ownership was assumed by the Allied Paint Manufacturing Company, followed by Keystone
Hydraulics, which repaired hydraulic equipment and stored construction equipment at the site.
Contamination may have been caused by a leaking underground storage tank on the site
during the mid-1970s; the tank was removed in 1979. The North Penn Water Authority
(NPWA) found high levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) in the soils surrounding the tank, as
well as high levels of other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in an on-site well.
Contamination decreases with distance from the site. An unnamed tributary to Towamencin
Creek is about a mile from the site. In 1979, NPWA took a well within 200 feet of the site
out of service due to contamination from TCE compounds. Approximately 100,000 people
obtain drinking water from public and private wells within 3 miles of the site. A public water
well lies across the street from the site. The closest home is next to the site, and the nearest
well is 200 feet away. Approximately 45,000 people live within a 3-mile radius of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater has been shown to be contaminated with VOCs in
on-site wells, off-site wells, and private wells. Soils also are contaminated with
elevated levels of VOCs from previous waste disposal practices. Potential threats
exist from drinking contaminated groundwater, coming into direct contact with
contaminated groundwater or soil, or other domestic use of contaminated
groundwater.
147
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the groundwater contamination at the site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1989, the parties potentially responsible for the site
contamination connected four homes affected by the groundwater contamination
to the public water supply.
Groundwater: The EPA is conducting an intensive study of groundwater
contamination at the site, exploring its nature and extent. The investigation will
recommend the best strategies for final cleanup and is scheduled for completion in
1995. The EPA also is evaluating additional sources of site contamination. Once this phase of
the cleanup process has been completed, the EPA will review the Investigation findings and
will select a final cleanup technology for other contamination areas identified by the study.
Site Facts: The EPA plans to issue General Notice and Special Notice letters to the
potentially responsible parties. The EPA is requesting that the parties perform the cleanup
activities being devised from the groundwater investigation.
Environmental Progress
By connecting residences affected by the groundwater contamination to the public water
supply, the potential for exposure to contaminants at the North Penn-Area 6 site has been
reduced while investigations and final remedy selection is taking place.
Site Repository
Lansdale Public Library, Susquehanna Avenue & Vine Street, Lansdale, PA 19446
March 1992 148 NORTH PENN-AREA 6
-------
NORTH PEN
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD00249863;
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
North Wales
Other Names:
Spra-Finn, Inc.
The North Perm-Area 7 site is one of six NPL sites involving the North Penn Water
Authority (NPWA) wells that supply drinking water to most of the people living northwest of
Philadelphia. Originally listed under their individual names, each of these sites has been
assigned an "Area" number under the name "North Penn." The North Penn-Area 7 site
consists of approximately 650 acres and encompasses numerous facilities. Spra-Fin, Inc.
manufactured metal products at a 1/2-acre facility on the site, using trichloroethylene (TCE)
and storing it in a 550-gallon-aboveground tank. This tank replaced a deteriorated tank that
was removed in 1982. On-site production wells, as well as on-site soil sampled by the NPWA,
show contamination. An estimated 91,000 people obtain drinking water from public and
private wells within 3 miles of the site. There is no other source of drinking water.
Wissahickon Creek is 1,500 feet to the north of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soils are contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including TCE and vinyl chloride from former process wastes. People who
accidentally ingest or come in direct contact with contaminated groundwater or soil
may be at risk.
149
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases directed at cleanup of the source of contamination and groundwater.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Spra-Fin removed 80 cubic yards of TCE-contaminated soil
from the area near the deteriorated tank, which was removed in 1982, and is
pumping groundwater and treating it with an air stripper. Contaminants removed
by the air stripper are further treated prior to being released into the atmosphere. Residential
wells were sampled by the EPA in 1987.
Source Control: The EPA is studying the nature and extent of contamination at
the site. The investigation will focus on the source of contamination and will
include monitoring of private wells. The study, planned for completion in 1994, will
recommend alternatives to clean up the site.
Groundwater: The EPA currently is investigating the nature and extent of
contamination in the groundwater. The study is scheduled to be completed in
1994.
Environmental Progress
By removing contaminated soil and tanks and treating groundwater, the North Penn-Area 7
site has been made safer while investigations continue leading to the selection of a final
remedy.
Site Repository
Upper Gwynedd Township Municipal Building, Parkside Place, North Wales, PA 19454
March 1992 150 NORTH PENN-AREA 7
-------
NOVAK SAN
LANDFILL
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID#PAD07916084g
EPA REGION 3
Lehigh County
South Whitehall Township
Other Names:
Hey Disposal Division of
Novak Corporation
Novak Landfill
Site Description
The 60-acre Novak Sanitary Landfill operated from the late 1950s until 1984. Located near
Allentown, the privately owned operation began by disposing demolition wastes in an
abandoned quarry and later began accepting municipal and industrial wastes. The owner
obtained a solid waste permit from the State in 1972 and started waste disposal activities in
five trenches excavated for that purpose. Some of the materials reportedly dumped there
were organic wastes, including spent solvents and electroplating wastes containing heavy
metals. Monitoring wells on the site and a private well 1,200 feet from the site are
contaminated with barium and a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The landfill is
in a limestone region that is very susceptible to groundwater pollution and migration of
contaminants. As of 1984, a ditch encircling the landfill diverted runoff and leachate into an
on-site pond. Surface water is threatened because this system was poorly engineered, and the
landfill was not covered adequately. The residential community within 3 miles of the site
houses approximately 1,700 people, but about 17,300 people are served by 855 public and
private wells within 3 miles of the site. Jordan Creek, which is used for recreation, is within
1,000 feet of the site. Although the State attempted to close the site in 1984, the closure was
overruled by the Environmental Hearing Board, and the site was allowed to re-open. The site
presently is closed.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, local
and potentially responsible parties'
actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and leachate on site are contaminated with VOCs from former
disposal practices. A sedimentation pond and off-site well are contaminated with
VOCs. Potential threats exist from accidentally ingesting or coming in direct
contact with contaminated soil or water or from inhaling contaminants that
evaporate from polluted water.
151
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1985, South Whitehall Township extended its water line to
two homes near the landfill that were subject to contamination.
Entire Site: Under EPA monitoring, the parties potentially responsible for the
site contamination began an intensive study of problems at the landfill in 1988.
This study is exploring the nature and extent of soil and water pollution and will
recommend the best strategies for final cleanup. The study is slated for completion late in
1992.
Site Facts: The potentially responsible parties are conducting a study of the contamination
under an Administrative Consent Order dated December 1988.
Environmental Progress
The extension of the water line will help to ensure the safety of those living by the site, while
the potentially responsible parties, under EPA monitoring, conduct further investigations and
begin cleanup activities at the Novak Sanitary Landfill site.
Site Repository
Parkland Community Library, 4422 Walbert Avenue, Allentown, PA 18104
March 1992 152 NOVAK SANITARY LANDFILL
-------
OCCIDENTA
CHEMICAL
CORP./FIRES;
TIRE & RUBBEFTCOM
PENNSYLVANIA
PA REGION 3
ontgomery County
rer Pottsgrove Township
EPA ID# PAD980229298
Site Description
Three consecutive owners disposed of industrial wastes at the 30-acre Occidental Chemical
Corp./Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. site. From 1942 to 1945, the Jacobs Aircraft and Engine
Company manufactured aircraft engines; from 1945 to 1980, the Firestone Tire and Rubber
Company made tires and polyvinyl chloride (PVC); and from 1980 to the present, the
Occidental Chemical Company has produced PVC. The disposal area has several components.
From 1942 to 1985, operators dumped wastes, including cutting oils, metal filings, tires, and
PVC sludge resins, into a 17-acre landfill. In 1985, with State approval, the owner closed this
landfill, capping it with a rubber cover and 2 feet of earth. A 6-acre landfill, currently active,
was opened in 1973 to receive PVC sludges and fly ash. In 1974, two lined lagoons were
constructed to receive the plant effluent, some of which is discharged to the municipal
sanitary sewer system. The site also encompasses four inactive, unlined seepage lagoons. The
area is both agricultural and urban. Pottstown, with an approximate population of 22,000, is a
major town in the area. Approximately 31,000 people live within a 2-mile radius of the site.
The site is in the flood plain of the Schuylkill River, which is used for water supply and
recreational activities.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
including trichloroethylene (TCE) and vinyl chloride from former site
manufacturing activities. Possible health threats include drinking the contaminated
groundwater. Local agricultural lands depend on water from the Schuylkill River
for irrigation; contaminated water use therefore may threaten crops and livestock.
Also, nearby wildlife and wetlands are threatened by the contamination from the
site.
153
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the
entire site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The parties potentially responsible for the groundwater
contamination are conducting an intensive study of problems at the site. The
investigation is exploring the nature and extent of the contamination and will
recommend the best approach for final cleanup. It is slated for completion in 1993.
Site Facts: A Consent Order between the EPA and the potentially responsible parties was
signed in 1989, requiring the latter to conduct the site investigation activities.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary investigations at the
Occidental Chemical Corp./Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. site and determined that the site
currently is safe while waiting for completion of the investigation and for the final cleanup
activities to begin.
Site Repository
Pottstown Public Library, 500 High Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
March 1992
154
OCCIDENTAL CHEMICAL CORP./
FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER CO.
-------
OHIO RIVER
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID#PAD980508816
EPA REGION 3
Allegheny County
the western end of Neville Island
Site Description
The 32-acre Ohio River Park site, located on Neville Island, served as a municipal waste
landfill for Neville Township from the 1930s until the mid-1950s. The site was owned by
Pittsburgh Coke & Iron Co. (later named Pittsburgh Coke & Chemical Co.) from the 1920s
until 1970, when the property was transferred to a wholly owned subsidiary, Neville Land Co.
From 1952 until 1965, trenches were dug on site to dispose of wastes including coking sludges
(often containing benzene and toluene), cement production wastes, and pesticides. Other
industrial wastes, including plant demolition materials and slag, also were disposed of on site.
In 1976, the property was donated to the County. In 1978, Allegheny County began
developing the site as a park, but stopped construction after industrial waste was found. After
it was determined that a public health threat existed at the site, the land was returned to
Neville Land Co. An estimated 40,000 people obtain drinking water from public and private
wells within 3 miles of the site. Seven municipal wells are 600 to 1,200 feet from the site. An
outfall from a storm sewer system that drains a small portion of the northeastern quadrant of
the site reportedly is contaminated with pesticides. This outfall discharges to the Ohio River.
Sewickley Water Works draws water from the river approximately 2 miles downstream from
the contaminated outfall. The intake provides drinking water to an estimated 8,000 people.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, local, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/26/89
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
On-site groundwater and soils are contaminated with volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) including benzene and toluene and various pesticides. Potential health
threats to people include drinking, accidental ingestion, and direct contact with
contaminated groundwater and soil.
155
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a single long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: Neville Land Co. performed a site evaluation that included the
installation of an additional 27 multi-level monitoring wells, extensive sampling,
excavation of test pits, analysis of aerial photographs, and lexicological and
hydrogeological evaluations. Other activities included the removal of a container of almost
pure dichlorophenoxy acetic acid, a pesticide; removal of the surrounding soil; stabilization of
a section of shoreline where sulfur-contaminated waste was exposed; the installation of a
fence; and posting warning signs to keep people off the site.
Entire Site: An investigation began in 1991 that will define the contaminants of
concern and will recommend alternatives for site cleanup. The investigation is
scheduled to be completed in mid-1993.
Bridge Construction Area: During the studies for a proposed bridge
replacement project by Allegheny County, the nature and extent of soil
contamination will be explored. The studies are scheduled for completion in late
1992.
Environmental Progress
The removal of the pesticide and contaminated soil, stabilization of the shoreline, and
installation of the fence and warning signs have reduced the potential for the nearby
population to come into direct contact with contaminants while the investigation leading to
the selection of a final cleanup remedy is being planned at the Ohio River Park site.
Site Repository
Not established.
March 1992 156 OHIO RIVER PARK
-------
OLD CITY OF
YORK LAN
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD98069242I
EPA REGION 3
York County
ust outside Seven Valleys
Other Names:
Seven Valleys Landfill
Site Description
The 178-acre Old City of York Landfill site, 56 acres of which was a landfill, was owned and
operated by the City of York from 1961 to 1975. Industrial wastes reportedly were disposed
of at the site. In 1981, EPA and State investigators found that the landfill was contaminating
groundwater in the area with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Local wells were
contaminated, and the State advised affected residents to find other sources of drinking water
or to treat the well water before consuming it. The surrounding area is rural and residential.
The closest well is 10 feet away, and about 460 people live within a mile of the site. About
2,000 people live within 3 miles of the site and draw groundwater from wells; some residents
live on the site itself. The City of York water supply intake is 8 miles downstream of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and domestic wells are contaminated with VOCs including
trichloroethylene (TCE) from former waste disposal practices. Surface water on
site contains, iron, magnesium, and beryllium. Potential health risks exist if
contaminated groundwater is accidentally ingested.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in a long-term remedial phase directed at cleanup of the entire
site.
157
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Entire Site: Under EPA monitoring, the parties potentially responsible for site
contamination completed an intensive study of contamination at the landfill. The
study explored the nature and extent of site contamination and recommended the
best alternatives for final cleanup. Workers drilled monitoring wells on- and off-site, and
sampled soil and groundwater. The EPA selected a remedy in 1991. The selected remedy for
the site includes restoration of a portion of the soil cover; groundwater extraction and
treatment; removal of contaminated sediment from on-site leachate collection vaults; and
continuous monitoring. Design of the selected remedy is planned to begin in late 1992.
Site Facts: A Consent Order for a study to determine the nature and extent of
contamination and to identify alternatives for cleanup was entered into with the City of York,
Rite-Way Services, and the Macke Company in 1987.
Environmental Progress
The EPA has assessed the conditions at the Old City of York Landfill and has found that the
site currently poses no immediate threat to public health or the environment while the design
of the final cleanup remedy is being planned.
Site Repository
Springfield Area Village Library, 35-C North Main Street, Jacobus, PA 17407
March 1992
158
OLD CITY OF YORK LANDFILL
-------
OSBORNE
LANDFILL
PENNSYLVANIA!
EPA ID# PAD9807126
EPA REGION 3
Mercer County
1/2 mile east of Grove City
Other Names:
ooper Bessmer Landfill
Site Description
The 15-acre Osborne Landfill is located on an abandoned strip mine. The landfill was used
for waste disposal from the 1950s until 1978, when the State closed it for accepting industrial
wastes without a permit. These waste materials included spent paint, asbestos, solvents, waste
coolants, waste sand, waste acid, scrap metal, cooling system sludge, slag, and waste oils.
More than 600 drums had been left at the site; many were crushed, rusted, or bulging.
Wastes were dumped, scattered, and piled in the strip mine area and near one of three
lagoons on the site. Nearby Grove City has approximately 8,100 residents. The closest home
is 1/4 mile away. Two private wells are located downgradient of the site; municipal wells are
located upgradient. Both types of wells are within a mile of the site. The property is
surrounded by woods, wetlands, light residential development, and farmland. Several
intermittent streams flow across the site and into Swamp Run, a local fishing area, which
then flows into Wolf Creek. Nearby wetlands serve as wildlife habitat and as a site for
migratory waterfowl and other birds.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
Z1S
On-site groundwater and leachate are contaminated with various heavy metals,
volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and pentachlorophenol (PCP) from the
former waste disposal practices. The soil contains heavy metals including arsenic
and lead, VOCs, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). On-site surface water is
contaminated with VOCs. Possible health hazards include accidentally ingesting or
touching contaminated groundwater, soil, or surface water. Wetlands and a swamp
near the site are contaminated with very low levels of PCBs.
159
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the entire site and the wetlands and deep aquifer.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Cooper Industries, Inc., one of the parties potentially
responsible for the site contamination, voluntarily conducted some cleanup
activities in 1983. Workers built a security fence around the site and posted it
with warnings to prevent unauthorized access. They also removed and disposed of 83 filled
drums, 460 empty drums, and 45 cubic yards of contaminated soil.
Entire Site: In 1988, the EPA took over an intensive study of site conditions
begun by Cooper Industries in 1984. In 1990, the EPA chose an innovative
remedy to cleanup the fill material, the on-site water table, and the shallow
aquifer. A slurry wall will be built around the perimeter of the fill area, along with the
installation of a clay cap and revegetation of the site. In addition, water will be extracted
from the fill area, treated, and reinjected into the on-site mine pool. Groundwater from the
shallow aquifer also will be extracted, treated, and reinjected into the on-site mine pool.
Initial studies for the engineering designs indicate a problem with the groundwater extraction
and treatment. The remainder of the design is expected to be completed in late 1993.
Wetlands and the Deep Aquifer: In 1992, the EPA expects to begin an
investigation into the nature and extent of contamination of the wetlands and the
deep aquifer.
Site Facts: After negotiating with the EPA and the State of Pennsylvania, Cooper
Industries, Inc., which is responsible for some wastes at the site, voluntarily performed some
cleanup actions and signed a Consent Order with the State to conduct the study to determine
the nature and extent of site contamination. Cooper began the study, and the EPA has
completed it. A Unilateral Administrative Order was issued to the potentially responsible
parties, requiring them to perform the cleanup activities.
Environmental Progress
By building a fence around the site to limit access and removing contaminated drums and
soil, the potentially responsible parties have reduced the risk of exposure to contaminants for
the areas surrounding the Osborne Landfill site while the final cleanup activities and
investigations leading to cleanup of the wetlands and of the deep aquifer are planned.
Site Repository
Grove City Community Library, 125 West Main Street, Grove City, PA 16127
March 1992 160 OSBORNE LANDFILL
-------
PALMERTO
ZINC PILE
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD0023958
EPA REGION 3
Carbon County
Palmerton
Other Names:
New Jersey Zinc (Gulf & Western)
Site Description
The Palmerton Zinc Pile site covers over 2,000 acres and was used formerly by a zinc smelter.
The site encompasses the Blue Mountain area and much of the valley. During the past 70
years, the New Jersey Zinc Company has dumped 32 million tons of residue at the site,
creating a cinder bank that extends for 21/2 miles and measures about 200 feet high and 500
to 1,000 feet wide. The smelting operations emitted huge quantities of heavy metals
throughout the valley. As a result, approximately 2,000 acres on Blue Mountain, which is
adjacent to the smelter, have been defoliated, leaving a barren mountain site. Soil on the
defoliated area of the mountain has contaminated the water flowing across it. The runoff and
erosion have carried contaminants into Aquashicola Creek. Approximately 850 people live
within 1 mile of the site; the population of the town of Palmerton is 7,000. The Palmerton
Water Company has four production wells at the foot of Blue Mountain that supply water to
the towns of Palmerton and Aquashicola.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
zra
The air is contaminated with heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and zinc from
former process wastes. Nearby wells and soils are contaminated with zinc and
cadmium from the former site operations. Aquashicola Creek is contaminated with
zinc and cadmium from surface runoff. People who come in direct contact with or
accidentally ingest contaminated groundwater or surface water may be at risk.
Contaminants have been found in soil and garden vegetables and may pose a
health threat to people who eat the vegetables. Children in Palmerton have been
found to have elevated levels of cadmium and lead in their hair and blood. Fish in
Aquashicola Creek contain bioaccumulated contaminants, and eating them poses a
health threat. Horses and cattle that graze in the area have high concentrations of
lead and cadmium, which has caused substantiated cases of illness and fatigue.
161
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in five stages: initial actions and four long-term remedial phases
focusing on cleanup of Blue Mountain, the Cinder Bank area, soil cleanup, and groundwater
and surface water cleanup.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1983, the New Jersey Zinc Company placed material
containing lime at the base of the cinder bank to control runoff. The company
also graded and seeded a portion of the bank in an effort to control erosion.
Blue Mountain: In 1987, the EPA selected a remedy to clean up Blue Mountain,
which included installing a concrete pad with berms to mix sewage sludge and fly
ash, spreading lime and potash on the areas to be revegetated, and planting grass
seed or seedlings on the area. Horsehead Resource Development, Co. has conducted
plantings on several experimental plots to design the full scale cleanup. The cleanup activities
provide a fertilizer base to encourage the regrowth of forested areas. Construction for the
full-scale cleanup began in 1991. An additional 30-acre experimental plot was completed in
1991. This first phase construction was completed in 1991. The second phase construction
is due to be completed in 1992.
Cinder Bank: In 1988, the EPA selected a remedy to clean up the cinder bank,
which includes revegetating the area and extinguishing the subsurface smoldering
fire. Engineering and cost analysis of this selected remedy is under review. Review
of this analysis may result in selecting an alternative remedy. Horsehead Resource
Development, Co. is presently preparing a workplan for additional studies. Those studies are
due to be completed in 1993.
Soil: Under the EPA's supervision, the party potentially responsible for the site
contamination is studying the nature and extent of the soil contamination.
Alternatives for the cleanup will be recommended, and the EPA will select the
final cleanup strategy. A review of the study currently is underway. The potentially
responsible parties have been ordered to do additional sampling and to reevaluate the results
of the risk assessment.
Groundwater and Surface Water: The EPA is searching for additional
potentially responsible parties to study the type and extent of the contamination in
groundwater, site streams and creeks. The EPA has completed a research
document and is preparing a workplan for this investigation.
Site Facts: In 1985, the EPA and the potentially responsible parties signed a Consent
Order. Under the terms of the agreement, the parties will conduct a study to determine the
type and extent of the contamination. In 1989, EPA and the potentially responsible parties
signed a Consent Decree to design and construct the remedial action for Blue Mountain.
The community, however, is concerned about the financial well-being of the plant, prompting
several residents to request that the site be exempt from further investigations.
March 1992 162 PALMERTON ZINC PILE
-------
Environmental Progress
The EPA and the potentially responsible parties are conducting experimental revegetation
techniques to effectively control erosion and contaminant runoff from Blue Mountain. Once
the extensive studies into permanent cleanup alternatives have been completed, the EPA will
select the final cleanup remedies for the Palmerton Zinc Pile site.
Site Repository
Palmerton Library, 402 Delaware Avenue, Palmerton, PA 18071
PALMERTON ZINC PILE
163
March 1992
-------
PAOLI RAIL
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD98069259
PA REGION 3
Chester County
Paoli
Other Names:
Conrail Paoli
Conrail Repair Shop
Paoli PCB Site
Paoli Railcar Facility
Site Description
The Paoli Rail Yard site covers approximately 28 acres. The site consists of an electric train
repair facility and a commuter rail station owned by Amtrak and has been operated by the
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) for over 30 years. Commuter
trains are serviced, repaired, and stored at this facility. Routine maintenance and repair of
railroad cars involved electrical equipment that contains poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).
Until 1986, the site was unsecured and easily accessible; residents and commuters regularly
used it as a shortcut to reach both the train station and the commercial properties. In the
late 1970s, both the EPA and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources
(PADER) inspected the Paoli Rail Yard. Amtrak and SEPTA were required to determine
the extent of contamination and to correct any problem areas. Amtrak and SEPTA collected
samples, cleaned up, and further studied the area. In 1985, samples taken in 1984 were made
available to the EPA, indicating a severe PCB problem. These sample results were verified,
and in 1986, the EPA filed a complaint seeking an order to require Amtrak and SEPTA to
limit access to the yard, control the movement of PCBs from the site, conduct sampling and
analysis, and to clean up the yard. The site is surrounded on three sides by residential
communities, and on the fourth side, by commercial facilities. Approximately 1,480 people live
within 1 mile of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
Valley Creek sediments are contaminated with PCBs. PCB contamination in the
on-site soil ranges as high as 9 percent and occurs as deep as 3 feet. The yards of
several residences in the area also were found to be contaminated. Car shop
workers had elevated levels of PCBs in their blood. Direct contact with the soil is
the main health threat to the general public. This threat has been substantially
reduced by limiting access to the site by fencing, installed in 1986, and by soil
excavation in 1989. The State banned fishing in nearby Valley Creek when PCBs
were found in fish and creek sediment.
164
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Extensive sampling of the site by the owner, the State, and
the EPA has characterized the contamination. Three basins were constructed by
the EPA to prevent erosion of contaminated soils, and about 3500 cubic yards of
contaminated soils were excavated from 35 yards in the nearby residential area. The
excavated areas were backfilled. The EPA paved the parking lot and other high-use areas of
the car shop in 1987 to prevent off-site seepage or movement of the PCB-contaminated soils
from vehicular and foot traffic.
Entire Site: A study is underway to determine the extent and nature of
contamination. The soil, car shop, streams, sediments, and biota of the area have
been sampled. The drainage area also is under investigation. The alternatives for
cleanup will be assessed, and the final remedy is expected to be selected in mid-1992.
Site Facts: The owner was asked to study the nature and extent of contamination and to
develop cleanup strategies at the site in 1986, as a result of an EPA complaint filed in
Federal Court.
Environmental Progress
The construction of the erosion-prevention basins, the paving of high traffic areas, and the
removal of contaminated soils at the Paoli Rail Yard site have reduced the risk of exposure
to contaminants while the site awaits the outcome of the investigation into cleanup
alternatives and the selection of a final remedy.
Site Repository
Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road, Paoli, PA 19301
PAOLI RAIL YARD 165 March 1992
-------
PRESQUE
ISLE
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980508865I
EPA REGION 3
Erie County
Erie
Other Names:
Presque Isle Gas Well
Site Description
The Presque Isle site is located on the Presque Isle State Park peninsula. In the early 1970s,
the Erie County Health Department noted a seep, near Beach No. 7, that was discharging a
noxious hydrogen sulfide-bearing black liquid. The discharge released hydrogen sulfide into
the air and a black fluid containing hazardous substances into the soil and shallow
groundwater. This discharge continued until the early 1980s. The source of the discharge was
found to be an unplugged natural gas well that had been dug in 1910 and was abandoned in
1920. The well intercepts a geologic formation known as the Bass Island Formation. It is
unclear whether the fluid discharging from the Bass Island Formation is a natural brine or is
related to the deep well injection of wastes by the Hammermill Paper Company, located near
the State Park. The Hammermill Paper Company operated three underground injection wells
between 1964 and 1971 and injected 1 billion gallons of neutral sulfite pulping liquor waste
into the Bass Island Formation. Eleven residential wells in the area were sampled in 1982 and
were found to be uncontaminated. The City of Erie has a population of 119,000. Presque Isle
is a public recreational area used for picnicking, swimming, and fishing. The park contains an
ecological reservation and is a natural habitat for deer, squirrels, waterfowl, and many
plant-eating species. The annual average number of visitors to Presque Isle State Park is 4
million. Lake Erie and its associated bays are the major bodies of surface water that have
been affected by discharges from the well.
Site Responsibility: This site was addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Deleted Date: 02/13/88
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and soils contained volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
inorganic compounds. People and animals visiting the area around the well could
have been exposed to contaminated soil and surface water. The well stem is fenced
and there are no physical hazards associated with the site. Exposure to swimmers
and municipal water users was unlikely, because any contaminants would be diluted
in the large volumes of water in Lake Erie.
166
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site has been addressed in a single long-term remedial phase designed to plug the natural
gas well at the site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: The well stem has a fence around it and there are no physical
hazards associated with the site. In 1982, the well was plugged by the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Resources (PADER) with cement down to 900
feet, sealing the Bass Island formation. The site was placed on the NPL in 1983 because of
the possibility for releases from other improperly plugged oil and gas wells in the surrounding
area. An inspection in 1987 detected no odors nor any evidence of dissolved sand or of
stressed vegetation. No discharge has been observed since 1982. Investigations by the EPA
and the PADER found no contamination in the air, surface water, groundwater, or soil. The
EPA and the PADER determined that the release poses no significant threat to public health
or the environment and that any threat to the public was eliminated when the well was
plugged in 1982. The site was deleted from the NPL on February 13, 1988.
Environmental Progress
The EPA and the PADER have determined that the Presque Isle site currently poses no
threat to the public or the environment and have deleted the site from the NPL. The EPA
and the State are continuing to monitor the area in the event of further possible releases
from similar natural gas wells in the vicinity.
Site Repository
Information is no longer available.
PRESQUE ISLE
167
March 1992
-------
PUBLICKER
INDUSTRIES
PENNSYLVANIA
EPAID#PAD98193920d
Site Description —
EPA REGION 3
Philadelphia County
Southeast Philadelphia
Other Names:
puyahoga Wrecking Plant
The 37-acre Publicker Industries, Inc. site housed a liquor and industrial alcohol distillation
process from 1912 to 1985. As production declined in the late 1970s, the company used some
of its tanks to store fuel oils for other companies. In 1986, the owner sold the property to
Overland Corporation, a subsidiary of Cuyahoga Wrecking Corporation. Shortly after
Overland Corporation began demolition operations, they declared bankruptcy and abandoned
the facility. The site includes nearly 440 tanks, storage drums, product stock, warehouses, a
power plant, and an estimated several hundred miles of aboveground and underground
process lines. Some of these process lines are covered with asbestos. One hundred and eighty
cylinders contain toxic, flammable, and reactive gases. Electrical equipment containing
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) also is located on site. Two million gallons of hazardous
materials were found on site when the facility was abandoned. Many vessels and transfer lines
containing hazardous materials were in various stages of disrepair, [n 1987, the portion of the
facility using carbon dioxide was destroyed in a multi-alarm fire. Numerous explosions and fire
flares were reported. Shallow, on-site groundwater is contaminated, as is the
Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer, which supplies drinking water to 185,000 people. The
nearest public well is about 1 1/2 miles away. An estimated 3,600 people live within a mile of
the site, and 100,000 live within 2 miles. The site is located along the Delaware River, which
is used for recreation; and Peregrine Falcons nest on the Walt Whitman Bridge near the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NIPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 05/05/89
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
Routine air monitoring revealed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from former
site activities in the air on site in 1988. Shallow on-site groundwater is
contaminated with toluene. The deep on-site groundwater in the
Potomac-Raritan-Magothy Aquifer contains VOCs such as toluene and xylene.
VOCs and heavy metal contamination also have been detected in on-site soils.
Accidentally ingesting or coming into direct contact with contaminated
groundwater or soil poses a threat to the public.
168
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: emergency actions and two long-term remedial
phases.
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: From 1987 through 1988, the EPA significantly stabilized
conditions on site by addressing fire and explosion threats on the surface. Solid
and liquid gas streams were bulked and stored on site and were disposed in 1990,
and highly reactive lab wastes and gas cylinders were transported to EPA-approved facilities.
Site Stabilization: Actions selected for the cleanup of the remaining on-site
contamination include: completion of site stabilization activities started as an
emergency action; transportation and off-site disposal of bulked waste streams;
demolition of above-grade process lines, including recovery and off-site disposal of the
contents of the lines; and removal and proper packaging and storage of pipe insulation
materials, which may contain asbestos, for future off-site disposal. Cleanup actions began in
1989. All stabilization activities were completed in 1990.
Asbestos: In 1991, the EPA selected a remedy to remove staged asbestos.
Engineering designs, which were delayed by a fire in early 1992, are nearly
complete.
Groundwater and Soil: A study into the source and extent of groundwater and
soil contamination is expected to be completed in 1993. Pending the results of this
study, future project phases to address additional contamination areas may be
implemented.
Site Facts: On July 7, 1987, the EPA and Bruga Corporation entered into a Consent Order.
Under the Order, Bruga is dismantling and decontaminating personal property in two
portions of the site it had purchased from the bankrupt estate. On December 8, 1988, the
EPA and AAA Warehousing Inc. entered into a separate Consent Order. Under the order,
AAA removed some stainless steel tanks and rail tank cars it owns.
Environmental Progress
By removing highly flammable materials from the site, the EPA has stabilized reactive wastes
located on site and reduced the immediate threats to the surrounding residents at the
Publicker Industries, Inc. site while the studies leading to cleanup activities are taking place.
PUBLICKER INDUSTRIES, INC. 169 March 1992
-------
Site Repository
EPA Region 3, Public Reading Room, 9th Floor, 841 Chestnut Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19107
March 1992
170
PUBLICKER INDUSTRIES, INC.
-------
RAYMARK
PENNSYLVANI
EPAID# PAD0390176S
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
Hatboro
Other Names:
ilford Rivet and Machine Co.,
Hatboro Plant
Jacksonville Road
Penn Fasteners Inc.
Site Description
The 7-acre Raymark site previously was owned by the Penn Rivet and Machine Company
from 1947 until 1954. A series of name changes, mergers, incorporations, and title
conveyances have occurred since 1954. The present operator, Penn Fasteners, Inc., has
manufactured rivets and fasteners at the site since 1980. From 1948 to 1972, treated wastes
and untreated wastewater from electroplating and degreasing operations were disposed of in
four unlined lagoons on site. In 1972, the accumulated sludge was removed, and the lagoons
were filled with clean soil and berm material. During the same period, trichloroethylene
(TCE) was stored in outdoor, aboveground tanks; however, TCE no longer is used at the
facility. Building drains are a suspected major source of existing soil contamination. The
Raymark site was identified as the source of contamination in the Stockton Aquifer, which
supplies drinking water to approximately 920,000 people through public and private wells
within 3 miles of the site. Since 1979, eight Hatboro Water Authority wells near the site were
contaminated with TCE. Of these eight wells, some were taken out of service, while others
were equipped with treatment systems. Pennypack Creek is used for recreation and is 6,800
feet downgradient of the site; however, no contamination in the creek has been detected.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
The site has been determined to be a source of TCE contamination in the
Stockton Aquifer. Wells within 250 feet from the site are contaminated with TCE,
as is the soil. Public water supply wells provide the public with treated water. Due
to low contaminant concentrations, exposure to the soil on site does not present a
human health risk.
171
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: immediate actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the soil and source control and groundwater cleanup.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Lagoons that once stored wastewater from the site have
been backfilled with clean soil fill. When the lagoons were closed in 1972 and
1973, the remaining waste sludge was removed by a potentially responsible party
Soil and Source Control: In late 1991, the EPA chose a remedy for the soil
and source control which entails soil vapor extraction and a low permeability cap.
The design of the remedy selected by the EPA is underway and scheduled for
Groundwater: The cleanup remedy chosen by the EPA in 1990 will include the
use of vapor phase carbon adsorption at air stripper towers in existing
contaminated drinking wells and the installation of source control wells equipped
with air strippers and vapor phase carbon adsorption capabilities. Treated groundwater will be
discharged to a nearby creek. The design of the cleanup technologies is underway and is
scheduled for completion in 1992.
Environmental Progress
The removal of contaminated sludge from the lagoon areas and the closure or treatment of
contaminated drinking supply wells have reduced the potential for exposure to
TCE-contaminated sludges and groundwater at the Raymark site while cleanup activities
begin and further studies continue.
Site Repository
Union Library Company of Hatboro, 243 South York Road, Hatboro, PA 19040
March 1992
172
RAYMARK
-------
RECTICON/A
STEEL CORP.
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD002353969
EPA REGION 3
Chester County
Parkerford
Site Description
The 5-acre Recticon/Allied Steel Corp. manufactured silicon wafers from 1974 to 1981.
Recticon is a subsidiary of Rockwell International. As early as 1979, the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Resources (PADER) detected trichloroethylene (TCE) in the
groundwater. In 1980, a Recticon contractor found TCE in the plant drain lines, in sludge
trapped within buried waste lines, and in soils. In addition to the Recticon portion of the site,
Allied Steel Corporation has fabricated steel since 1972 on a property 100 feet to the
southeast of Recticon. In 1984, an Allied contractor determined that leakage in the area of
Allied's compressor room had released TCE to the ground. Also, high levels of TCE were
found in Allied's on-site well. The area around the site is residential, industrial, and
agricultural. An estimated 17,300 people obtain drinking water from public and private wells,
which are within 3 miles of the site. Runoff from the site reaches the Schuylkill River 2,400
feet downstream. The local water company blends water from the river with well water to
serve its 11,500 customers.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
On-site and private wells sampled by the EPA in 1990 and 1991 were found to be
contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including TCE. Runoff from
the site reaches the Schuylkill River and may be contaminated with TCE.
Accidentally ingesting or coming into direct contact with contaminated
groundwater, sludge, or surface water would threaten the health of people in the
area.
173
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1981, Recticon removed contaminated soil from the site
and transported it to an EPA-approved facility for disposal. Recticon pumped and
treated the groundwater, but the process did not resolve the contamination at the
site. In 1990, the potentially responsible parties agreed to install activated carbon filtration
units in each of the homes and businesses that have been affected by groundwater
contamination. To date, five businesses and one residence have had water treatment units
installed. Testing of water supplies will continue until a final remedy is selected.
Entire Site: Under EPA monitoring, the parties potentially responsible for the
site contamination are conducting a study to determine the nature and extent of
the contamination and the possible alternative technologies for cleanup. The study
began in 1990 and is scheduled to conclude in 1992. Once the investigation has been
completed, the EPA will evaluate the findings and select a final cleanup remedy for site
contamination.
Site Facts: The PADER and Recticon entered into a Consent Order in 1981 to undertake
initial actions at the site. The potentially responsible parties have provided an alternate
drinking water supply to residents whose wells are contaminated beyond acceptable EPA
levels as a result of a Consent Order with the EPA signed in 1990. An additional Consent
Order with the EPA required the potentially responsible parties to conduct site investigations.
Environmental Progress
By removing contaminated soil from the site and providing an alternate drinking water supply,
the potentially responsible parties and the EPA have reduced the potential for exposure to
contaminants at the Recticon/Allied Steel Corp. site while investigations and cleanup activities
are taking place.
Site Repository
East Coventry Township Building, 855 Ellis Woods Road, Pottstown, PA 19464
March 1992 174 RECTICON/ALLIED STEEL CORP.
-------
REESER'S
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD98082926
EPA REGION 3
Lehigh County
5 miles west of Allentown
Site Description
The 15-acre Reeser's Landfill site is an inactive unlined dump for municipal wastes near
Haafsville, in Upper Macungie Township. The lessee, Reeser's Hauling Service, never
received a State license to operate a disposal facility at the site. The State believes that
wastes were dumped into a water-filled quarry and into excavated trenches, thus threatening
the groundwater. When the landfill site was placed on the NPL, it was inadequately covered.
Soil at the landfill was stained by leachate. The EPA conducted sampling at the site and
discovered that a nearby local well appeared to be contaminated with heavy metals. The
owner appealed when the State ordered closure of the landfill in 1979 and 1981. Operations
ceased in 1980, and the landfill has not reopened; however, the State is seeking proper
closure by the owner. Homes in the immediate area of the site rely on private wells for
drinking water. Public wells serve an estimated 3,400 people and are located approximately
2,000 feet from the site. Most of the landfill rainwater runoff drains to Iron Run, a tributary
to the Lehigh River. The closest residence and well is 800 feet from the site. The population
within a mile of the site is 265; the population within 3 miles is 2,400. There are 268 wells
within 3 miles of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site was addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 04/01/85
Final Date: 07/01/87
Deleted Date: 05/31/90
Threats and Contaminants
HGJ
Zinc and lead, allegedly from former waste disposal practices, were found in
monitoring wells. Local wells were contaminated with low levels of zinc, mercury,
cadmium, and lead. Soils and sediments also contained evidence of heavy metals.
Concentrations of these chemicals were found to be within established safety
standards. The EPA has determined the site does not pose any health threats.
175
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
Intensive investigations of site conditions showed that the site does not pose a threat to
people or the environment.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: Between 1987 and 1989, the EPA undertook an intensive study of
groundwater contamination and conditions at the site. This study showed
conclusively that the landfill is not contaminating the groundwater. The EPA
found no evidence of hazardous waste dumping nor any adverse effects on human health or
future land use plans. Based on the results of the study, the EPA determined that no cleanup
actions were required at the site to address the alleged contamination of the groundwater
and deleted the site from the NPL in May 1990. The State is seeking final closure of the
landfill to ensure there are no future threats posed by the site.
Environmental Progress
The Reeser's Landfill site was intensively studied and was shown not to be a source of
groundwater contamination. The site was deleted from the NPL in 1990.
Site Repository
Information is no longer available.
March 1992
176
REESER'S LANDFILL
-------
RESIN DISP
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD063766
EPA REGION 3
Allegheny County
Jefferson Borough near the
Monongahela River
Other Names:
Pennsylvania Industrial
Chemical Company
ercules Inc. - PICCO Resins
Site Description
The 26-acre Resin Disposal site is privately owned and consists of a 2-acre landfill situated in
a gully between two residential areas. From 1949 to 1964, the landfill received about 85,000
tons of industrial waste that contained organic solvents, resin cakes, filter materials, and oils
from a resin manufacturing process. The landfill was filled and covered with soil. Some of the
monitoring wells and leachate seeping from the site are contaminated with organic chemicals.
The landfill is located in a strip mine valley and was created by constructing an earthen dike
across the floor of the valley. When the area behind the dike was filled with waste materials,
a second dike was constructed 250 feet farther down the valley from the initial dike.
Although access to the site is restricted, there is evidence that people trespass on it.
Approximately 50 people live within 1/2 mile of the site, but about 25,000 people reside within
a mile. All but four residences use municipal water. The site lies 1/2 mile from the
Monongahela River.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
On-site groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including benzene and toluene from former disposal practices. Sludges are polluted
with VOCs and heavy metals including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and selenium.
Threats to human health include direct contact with leachates and airborne soil on
the site. The owner of one well refused to test water that is believed to be used
for drinking.
177
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: an immediate action and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the source area and the groundwater.
Response Action Status
Immediate Action: The parties potentially responsible for the site contamination
installed a leachate collection system in 1973 and upgraded it in 1983.
Source Control: In 1992, the EPA selected a remedy for the source area that
includes the installation of a landfill cap and an improved oil/water
separator and fencing of the entire site. Engineering designs are underway and
cleanup activities are scheduled to begin in late 1993.
Groundwater: A study to investigate the nature and extent of on-site
groundwater contamination is scheduled to begin mid-1992. This study also will
recommend the best strategies for final groundwater cleanup.
Site Facts: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania successfully negotiated a Consent Order in
November 1987 with the potentially responsible party, whereby they agreed to perform a
study to identify the nature and extent of contamination. In 1992, the EPA successfully
negotiated a Consent Decree with a responsible party to conduct the design and cleanup of
the source area remedy.
Environmental Progress
By installing and upgrading a leachate collection system, exposure to hazardous materials at
the Resin Disposal site is less likely while investigations take place and cleanup activities are
being designed.
Site Repository
Jefferson Borough Municipal Building, 3008 Old Clairton Road, Clairton, PA 15025
March 1992 178 RESIN DISPOSAL
-------
REVERE
CHEMICAL
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD051395
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Bucks County
Route 611, just north of Route
412 in Nockamixon Township
The Ill-acre Revere Chemical Co. facility, located near Routes 611 and 412 , was an acid,
metal, and plating waste processing operation also suspected of accepting organic solvent
waste. While the plant operated, wastes containing chromic acid, copper sulfate, and other
heavy metals, as well as sulfuric acid and ammonia, were stored on site in unlined earthen
lagoons. A U.S. District Court ordered the facility to close in 1969 for causing contamination
of a tributary of Rapp Creek. The company abandoned full and empty drums, waste-filled
lagoons, and piles of solid waste. In 1970, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH)
treated and removed 3 million gallons of liquid wastes. About 520 people reside within a mile
of the site, with the closest home being less than 1/4 mile away. There are approximately 650
private wells within 3 miles of the site, the nearest one being 1,000 feet away. The area
surrounding the site includes recreational streams, forests, fields, and State game lands. The
Delaware River is 7 miles from the site and is a water supply source for Philadelphia.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/85
Final Date: 07/01/87
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater has been found to contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
and heavy metals including nickel, lead, and arsenic from former metal plating
process wastes. Sediments on the site are contaminated with benzoic acid, and
heavy metals and VOCs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and plastics
have been detected off the site. The soil and surface water contain contaminants
similar to those found in the groundwater and sediments, as well as mercury,
cadmium, and phthalates. Potential health threats include accidental ingestion of
contaminated groundwater, surface water, soils, and sediment. Direct contact with
contaminated surface water and eating fish, waterfowl, or other wildlife from the
contaminated area also can be a threat to health.
179
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: emergency actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: In 1970 to 1971, the Pennsylvania DOH consolidated
drummed materials in the lagoons, treated them with lime, pumped out
approximately 3,000,000 gallons of waste, and then removed them. About 1,000
empty drums were crushed and buried on site. In 1984, an EPA emergency team removed 22
drums of waste chromic acid and excavated 30 cubic yards of sludge containing copper and
chromium. All materials were sent to an EPA-approved hazardous waste facility. Site
conditions were stabilized, and all readily accessible hazardous substances were removed.
Entire Site: The parties potentially responsible for site contamination, under EPA
monitoring, currently are undertaking an intensive study of problems at the site.
The study will determine the nature and extent of contamination and will identify
alternatives for cleanup. The study is scheduled to be completed in 1993. The EPA is
reviewing this investigation. Once the review has been completed, the EPA will select a
cleanup remedy.
Site Facts: The EPA executed a Consent Order with the potentially responsible parties in
1988 to conduct a study into site contamination at the Revere Chemical Co.
Environmental Progress
The immediate removal of the contaminated drums and wastes at the Revere Chemical Co.
site has reduced the potential for exposure to hazardous materials and has made the site
safer while it awaits further cleanup activities.
Site Repository
Bucks County Library, Center County Branch, 150 South Pine Street, Doylestown, PA 18901
March 1992 180 REVERE CHEMICAL CO.
-------
RIVER ROAD
(WASTE
MANAGEMEN
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD000439083
PA REGION 3
Mercer County
Pymatuning and
rmitage Townships
Other Names:
Road Enterprises
Disposal Company
Site Description
The 102-acre River Road Landfill site is an inactive landfill that operated from 1962 until
1986. The landfill accepted municipal and industrial wastes, including foundry and metal
processing waste, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) wastes, asbestos, and residues from tank car
cleaning. Ownership of the landfill has been transferred over the years; the current owner,
Waste Management of Pennsylvania, Inc. (WMPA), purchased it in 1980. Although WMPA
considered using the landfill for the disposal of hazardous wastes, only non-hazardous
industrial wastes were disposed of. The State has fined WMPA for several waste disposal
violations, including discharging leachate into surface waters and operating a solid waste
disposal area without a permit. The facility received a permit in 1984 for solid waste disposal
but stopped receiving waste in May 1986. Closure activities in 1987 were comprehensive, and
the site now is fenced, and access is restricted. Approximately 4,500 people live within a mile
of the site, and 9,000 people live within 3 miles. The closest residents live less than 1/2 mile
away. Two sedimentation ponds catch runoff from the site. These ponds have controlled
spillways draining into the Shenango River, next to the landfill's southern border. This river is
a water source for 75,000 industrial, commercial, and residential customers in Pennsylvania
and Ohio, and the Shenango Valley Water Company's water intake is 2 miles downstream of
the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and
lead from wastes disposed of at the landfill. Soil in diversion ditches draining to the
Shenango River contains detectable amounts of PCBs and other phenolic
compounds. People may be at risk if they accidentally ingest or come in direct
contact with contaminated groundwater or soil.
181
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1987, WMPA carried out a landfill closure program that
entailed placing a cap over the landfill to keep rainwater and runoff from
spreading contaminants, installing a leachate collection system and a groundwater
dam, controlling erosion and sedimentation, revegetating the site, and fencing the area.
Entire Site: Under EPA supervision, WMPA is currently undertaking an intensive
study of problems at the site. The investigation will explore their nature and extent
and will recommend the best approaches for final cleanup. It is scheduled to be
completed in 1994.
Site Facts: The EPA sent notice letters to the potentially responsible parties in 1989. The
EPA and WMPA signed a Consent Order in 1990, in which WMPA agreed to conduct a
study of the site.
Environmental Progress
The actions associated with the landfill closure described above reduced the potential for
exposure to hazardous wastes and stabilized conditions at the River Road Landfill site while
studies are being conducted that will lead to final cleanup activities.
Site Repository
Buhl-Henderson Community Library, 11 North Sharpsville Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146
March 1992 182 RIVER ROAD LANDFILL
(WASTE MANAGEMENT, INC.)
-------
RODALE
MANUFAC1
CO., INC.
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD981033285
EPA REGION 3
Lehigh County
rough of Emmaus
Site Description
The Rodale Manufacturing Co., Inc. plant, approximately 4,000-square feet in size, is
surrounded by industrial and residential areas. From the 1930s to 1975, Rodale manufactured
wiring devices and electrical connectors. Operations were taken over by Square D Co. in
1975. Square D manufactured wiring devices and electrical connections until 1986, when
operations on site ceased. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Response (PADER), site contamination was caused by the disposal of electroplating waste
and rinse water into three on-site wells. PADER determined that the disposal of
contaminated materials into the first of these wells, Well No. 1, took place from at least 1961
to 1967. Trichloroethylene (TCE) and possibly cyanide wastes were dumped into Well No. 2.
Well No. 3 received TCE, oil, sodium phosphate cleaner, and possibly cyanide wastes. In
1981, wastes from these three wells were removed and disposed of in hazardous waste
facilities regulated under Subtitle C of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
(RCRA). TCE contamination has been a continuous problem in Emmaus Borough—varying
levels of TCE contamination have been detected in seven wells of the Emmaus Municipal
Water Works since 1981. Borough Well No. 5 was closed in 1981 and later abandoned in
1988 due to constant TCE contamination. In 1990, air strippers were installed in three wells
by the Borough; monitoring of the wells continues. Public and private wells and springs within
4 miles of the site provide drinking water to an estimated 21,000 people; the closest Borough
well is within a half mile of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and local actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/29/91
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater is contaminated with heavy metals, TCE, oil, sodium phosphate, and
possibly cyanide wastes. People could be at risk from drinking or touching
contaminated groundwater.
183
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and one long-term phase
focusing on cleaning up the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Wastes were removed from the three contaminated wells
on site and disposed of in Federally-approved hazardous waste facilities by Square
D.
Entire Site: A site investigation workplan for soil and groundwater is being
developed. This plan calls for aquifer testing, temporary extraction and treatment
of groundwater if needed, and design of a permanent groundwater extraction and
treatment system and soil cleanup plan.
Environmental Progress
The removal of wastes from the contaminated wells has reduced health and safety risks for
the nearby population while site investigations are underway and cleanup activities are being
planned.
Site Repository
Not established.
March 1992
184
RODALE MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
-------
ROUTE 940
DRUM DUM
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD981034630
N ^
EPA REGION 3
Monroe County
ocono Summit in Tobyhanna
Township
Other Names:
Pocono Summit
Site Description
In the 1970s, as many as 600 drums of unknown materials were stored on the 2 1/2-acre
Route 940 Drum Dump site in Pocono Summit. In early 1983, the State was informed that
some drums may have been buried on site. Later that year, the State detected volatile
organic chemicals (VOCs) in on-site soils. Several organic chemicals also were detected in
on-site groundwater. Thirty buried drums containing VOCs and heavy metals subsequently
were discovered. Access to the site is restricted by a fence. Approximately 4,200 people
depend on private wells and small public wells within 3 miles of the site as their sole source of
drinking water. Indian River Creek, about a mile from the site, is used for fishing.
Recreational fishing and hunting occur in the area surrounding the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/85
Final Date: 07/01/87
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and soil were contaminated with various VOCs that leaked from
buried drums on the site. The possibility of high concentrations of VOCs in the soil
being transmitted through the air posed a threat to area residents. In addition,
direct contact with contaminated areas or contamination of the drinking water
supply posed a risk to the nearby public. The potential for fire or explosion of
volatile gases at the site also was of concern.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed through immediate actions; further investigations showed that no
other cleanup actions are required.
185
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Under State supervision in 1983, the potentially responsible
parties installed monitoring wells, excavated and removed 100 drums, and
stockpiled contaminated soils on site. In 1983 to 1984, the EPA carried out an
emergency removal of buried containers suspected to contain pathogenic organisms. Also, the
EPA removed 131 full bottles and hundreds of broken containers from the site and disposed
of them in an approved landfill. Ten drums of non-hazardous waste also were landfilled. The
stockpiled soil was treated with a soil shredder and was rendered neutral in 1988.
Entire Site: In 1989, the potentially responsible parties began an intensive study
of site contamination. In 1990, the EPA took over the investigation. This
investigation, which was completed in 1992, explored the nature and extent of soil
and groundwater problems. The EPA has determined that, because of the immediate actions
performed by the potentially responsible parties, the EPA, and the State, no further cleanup
actions are needed at the site. The site will be monitored for the next five years to ensure the
effectiveness of the remedies.
Site Facts: In 1987, the State of Pennsylvania and the potentially responsible parties signed
a Consent Order to conduct a study into the site contamination. In 1990, the EPA took over
the investigation from the potentially responsible parties because of delays in their
performance of the work.
Environmental Progress
The removal of contaminated soil, drums, and other containers from the site by the
potentially responsible parties and the EPA, in addition to fencing the site, have addressed
the source of site contamination. These actions have eliminated the potential for
contamination of water supplies from the Route 940 Drum Dump site. The EPA will monitor
the effectiveness of the remedies for the next five years.
Site Repository
Tobyhanna Township Building, State Avenue, Pocono Pines, PA 18350
March 1992 186 ROUTE 940 DRUM DUMP
-------
SAEGERTOW
INDUSTRIAL
AREA
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980692487
Site Description —
EPA REGION 3
Crawford County
Saegertown
Other Names:
legertown Borough
Saegertown Well #2
The Saegertown Industrial Area site covers about 100 acres that contain several industrial
operations. In 1980, State analysts discovered volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the
Saegertown Municipal Water Authority's Well #2. Several potential sources of VOCs and
lead contamination have been identified on site. GATX cleaned and repaired railroad tank
cars here from the mid-1950s to 1965, disposing of wash water, solvents, sludge, and tanker
waste on site. EPA tests in 1984 found VOCs and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
in on-site pond sediments and soil. On-site monitoring wells also revealed contamination from
lead and other heavy metals. Saegertown Manufacturing Co. has produced small steel
components in the area since 1964. In 1981, the Commonwealth detected lead and VOC
products in the company's septic tank and on-site wells. Since 1969, Spectrum Control, Inc.
manufactured ceramic capacitors here, using VOCs in the cleaning process. VOCs also were
found in on-site monitoring wells. The Lord Corporation produced adhesives, urethane
coatings, and "rubber chemicals" on the site. Manufacturing processes use various VOCs.
Other potential sources have been identified and currently are being evaluated.
Approximately 1,200 people draw drinking water from municipal wells and a private well
within 3 miles of the site. There are approximately 3,400 people living within a 3-mile radius
of the site, and 1,100 people live within a 1-mile radius.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 02/21/90
Threats and Contaminants
The town's municipal well is contaminated with various VOCs and on-site
monitoring wells and industrial septic tanks are contaminated with VOCs and
heavy metals including lead. The municipal well was removed from service, but was
put back into use again in 1984 because the contamination levels fell below the
levels of health concerns. Soil and pond sediments are polluted with VOCs and
PAHs. Possible health threats include accidentally ingesting or coming into direct
contact with contaminated soils, groundwater, and surface water. Since access to
the site is open, workers and trespassers are most at risk. Ten to 20 acres of
farmland in the area are irrigated with well water.
187
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in a single long-term remedial phase focusing on cleanup of the
entire site.
Response Action Status
Entire Site: In 1990, the parties potentially responsible for the site contamination
began conducting an investigation into the nature and extent of contamination at
the site. Selection of the final cleanup remedy is expected by the end of 1992.
Site Facts: A Consent Order between the EPA and the potentially responsible parties was
signed on January 31, 1990, requiring the potentially responsible parties to conduct site
investigations.
Environmental Progress
After adding this site to the NPL, the EPA performed preliminary site evaluations and
determined that the Saegertown Industrial Area site does not pose an immediate threat to
the public or the environment while waiting for cleanup activities to begin. A fence has been
erected around the on-site former GATX pond area to restrict access to the contaminants
present in the sediment and sludge in this area.
Site Repository
Saegertown Area Library, 320 Broad Street, Saegertown, PA 16433
March 1992 188 SAEGERTOWN INDUSTRIAL AREA
-------
SALFORD
QUARRY
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980693204
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
n Quarry Road in Lower
Salford Township
Other Names:
American Olean
Site Description
The 3-acre Salford Quarry is an abandoned stone quarry, purchased for waste disposal in
1963 by American Olean Tile Company, a subsidiary of the National Gypsum Company.
Recent investigations have revealed waste disposal as far back as 1948. Waste tiles, unfused
tile slurry, and other production wastes were disposed of at the site until 1980, when the
State received complaints that tanks were buried there. In 1981, the owner discovered two
10,000-gallon tanks containing boron and fuel oil. After the company pumped out the oil, the
site officially was closed in 1982, in accordance with a State-approved plan. Approximately
54,000 people draw drinking water from public and private wells within 3 miles of the site.
Three private wells exist near the site, but most local residents receive water from a public
supply. A private well 650 feet from the site contains high concentrations of boron
contamination.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
Small amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals including
arsenic and cyanide and large amounts of boron from former waste disposal
practices have been detected in the groundwater. Residential wells to the south of
the site are contaminated with boron. Possible health risks include the ingestion of
or direct contact with contaminated groundwater, surface water, or soil.
189
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on soil and groundwater cleanup at the site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The site was closed in 1982 with the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Resources (PADER) approval. The closure plan
involved providing bottled water to residents, installing a soil cap, grading, and
revegetating the site.
Soil and Groundwater: Under an agreement with the EPA, the parties
potentially responsible for the site contamination have been conducting an
intensive study of soil and groundwater contamination. The investigation is
evaluating the nature and extent of the pollution and will identify the best cleanup strategies.
The study was nearly completed, however, the discovery of high boron concentrations in
residential wells southwest of the site has prompted the need for additional studies.
Completion is now slated for 1993.
Site Facts: American Olean signed a Consent Agreement in 1988 to conduct a study of the
site and its contamination. The potentially responsible parties contended that VOCs were not
part of their manufacturing wastes. American Olean was purchased by National Gypsum,
which filed for bankruptcy in 1990.
Environmental Progress
The bottled water supplied to residents and the site stabilization activities performed by the
potentially responsible parties during closure of the site stabilized the Salford Quarry site and
have eliminated immediate threats to nearby residents while studies and cleanup activities are
taking place.
Site Repository
Indian Valley Public Library, 100 East Church Avenue, Telford, PA 18969
March 1992 190 SALFORD QUARRY
-------
SHRIVER'S
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD9808308
COR
EPA REGION 3
Adams County
Route 394 in Straban Township
Other Names:
Gulp Property
estinghouse #1 & #4
Site Description
The Shriver's Corner site is composed of two areas covering about 10 acres. Both areas have
accepted drums of liquid wastes from the Westinghouse Elevator Plant, a site in Cumberland
Township that also is on the NPL. Westinghouse workers disposed of drums containing
volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Liquid wastes, paint sludges, solvents, and VOCs
reportedly were dumped at the southern edge of the property. Approximately 5,000 people
use wells within 3 miles of the site as a source of drinking water. Approximately 250 people
live within a mile of the site; the nearest residence is 100 feet away, and the nearest well is
10 feet from the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/84
Final Date: 06/01/86
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with VOCs including toluene and xylene from
former waste disposal practices. Threats to the public include drinking
contaminated well water and coming into direct contact with any remaining
contaminated wastes left on the site. Westinghouse has provided carbon filters for
affected residential wells in the area.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on groundwater cleanup at the site.
191
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1984, Westinghouse removed about 80 surface drums
and 250 cubic yards of contaminated soils and sent the materials to an
EPA-approved disposal site. A 2-inch soil cover was placed in the Shealer area of
the site. The company also provided carbon filters for some residential wells. These actions
eliminated the immediate threats to the affected public and are controlling further site
contamination.
Groundwater: Under EPA supervision, Westinghouse is conducting an intensive
study into groundwater contamination at the site. This investigation, scheduled for
completion in late 1992, will explore the nature and extent of the problem and will
identify the best approaches for final cleanup.
Site Facts: In April 1984, under a Consent Order, Westinghouse removed drums and soils
and provided well filters. Westinghouse agreed to conduct the investigation of the site
contamination under a Consent Order with the EPA signed in March 1987.
Environmental Progress
By removing contaminated drums and soil, providing well filters to affected residents, and
placing a cap on soils, Westinghouse and the EPA have reduced the risk of exposure to
contaminants for residents near the Shriver's Corner site while investigations are taking place
and cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Adams County Public Library, 59 High Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325
March 1992
192
SHRIVER'S CORNER
-------
STANLEY
PENNSYLVAN
EPAID# PAD01426
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
King of Prussia
Other Names:
Weldwire Kessler
ssler Stanley & Co. Inc.
Site Description
Metal recycling operations were carried out in the one building of the Stanley Kessler site in
King of Prussia from the 1960s through the early 1980s. Workers disposed of cooling water
contaminated with organic solvents in an underground septic tank and into a cesspool with no
structural bottom. An "acid waste neutralization system" was used on site prior to 1963. The
site currently is an active wire respooling facility. Organic compounds such as
trichloroethylene and tetrachlorethane were detected in the Upper Merion Reservoir about
1/2 mile away from the site. The reservoir is a major source of drinking water for the
Philadelphia Suburban Water Company, which serves an estimated 800,000 people. The EPA
filed suit against the company in 1980, citing violations of environmental laws governing waste
disposal and drinking water. Approximately 5,000 people live within a mile of the site. A
school is located about 2,000 feet south of the site. The area surrounding the site is
industrial, with private residences situated beyond the neighboring industrial facilities.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Threats and Contaminants
ZL3
Groundwater on site is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
including TCE from the former waste disposal practices. On-site soils also were
found to contain VOCs including ethyl benzene, methylene chloride, and toluene.
VOCs have been detected in the drinking water reservoir. People may be at risk
by drinking contaminated groundwater or by accidentally ingesting or coming in
direct contact with contaminated soil. Environmental exposure also is possible if
the adjacent stream receives contaminated runoff from the site.
193
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1981, Stanley Kessler removed liquid wastes and 60 to
80 cubic yards of contaminated soil from the cesspool and septic tank and
removed them from the site. The tank areas were then backfilled. The company
also has drilled five monitoring wells on the site. In 1984, the company installed a small
groundwater recovery and treatment system on site. The company has conducted limited
groundwater monitoring since 1985.
Entire Site: The Stanley Kessler Company, under EPA monitoring, has begun an
intensive study of site contamination as ordered under a 1991 Consent Decree.
Soil and sediment sampling has been completed and three groundwater monitoring
wells have been installed. This study is scheduled for completion in 1993, at which time a
remedy for the site will be selected.
Site Facts: In January 1991, the EPA issued a Consent Decree to the potentially responsible
parties to perform site studies and to pay for past costs associated with the site.
Environmental Progress
The removal of the contaminated soil and liquid waste and the installation of a groundwater
treatment system have reduced the potential for exposure to or migration of contaminated
materials at the Stanley Kessler site while studies leading to a final selection of the cleanup
alternatives are taking place. The EPA has determined that contamination at the site
currently does not pose an immediate threat to neighboring residents or the environment.
Site Repository
Not established.
March 1992 194 STANLEY KESSLER
-------
STRASBUR
LANDFILL
PENNSYLVANI
EPAID# PAD0004413I
EPA REGION 3
Chester County
ar Coatsville in West Bradford
and Newlin Townships
Site Description
The 222-acre Strasburg Landfill site was bought in 1973 by Strasburg Associates and received
a permit in 1975 to accept municipal wastes. Strasburg Landfill Associates purchased the site
in 1978 and eventually began operations, using 22 acres near the center of the site. In 1979,
the landfill was licensed to receive industrial waste under a new permit. Records show that
Diamond Shamrock Chemicals Company sent 500 to 600 tons of polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
wastes to the landfill in 1979, and that Gichner Mobile Systems disposed of heavy-metal
sludge there. The Commonwealth prohibited the landfill from receiving an industrial waste
permit in 1980. Early in 1983, the Commonwealth found volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
and heavy metals in on-site monitoring wells and various VOCs in an off-site private well
downgradient of the landfill. The same contaminants were discovered in liquids leaching from
the site. In 1983, the Commonwealth closed the operation. The site is in a rural area. About
800 people draw drinking water from municipal wells within 3 miles of the landfill; however,
the homes downgradient of the site use private wells. The Brandywine Creek flows within 1/2
mile from the landfill. Briar Run Creek, which flows into the Brandywine Creek, is within 300
feet of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 03/31/89
Threats and Contaminants
Soil and an on-site well are contaminated with VOCs and heavy metals including
lead and copper from former disposal practices. Drinking water in three private
off-site wells downgradient of the site contains VOCs. Briar Run Creek contains
various VOCs. Consumption of contaminated groundwater and direct contact with
contaminated liquids on the site pose potential health risks. Access to the site is
unrestricted, making it possible for people and animals to come into direct contact
with contaminated liquids.
195
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in four stages: immediate actions and three long-term remedial
phases focusing on cleanup of the entire site, installation of a fence, and on cleanup of the
landfill area.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: When the landfill was closed in 1983, the parties potentially
responsible for the site contamination covered the area with 2 feet of soil above a
plastic liner, stabilized the site, and planted it. In addition, they installed a system
to collect liquids leaching from the site. Currently, about 8,000 to 11,500 gallons of leachate
are collected daily and are treated on-site before being discharged through a permitted
outfall.
Landfill: In 1992, a remedy was selected for the landfill which calls for
replacement of the existing landfill cap with a multilayered cap, a new landfill vent
system for gases, and a subsurface leachate collection and treatment system.
Designs of this remedy are scheduled to begin in 1993.
Leachate and Drinking Water: In 1989, the potentially responsible parties
provided an alternate drinking water supply to all homes downgradient of the site
with wells found to be contaminated with VOCs, directed discharge from the
large seep southeast of the landfill into existing collection systems, and constructed an on-site
air stripper system to handle all leachate generated by the collection system.
Fence: In 1991, the EPA determined that a fence was required around 22 acres
of the landfill to eliminate direct contact threats. This fence is scheduled to be
constructed by the potentially responsible parties in late 1992.
Southfield Area: In early 1992, the EPA began an investigation of the nature
and extent of contamination at the Southfield Area. This study is scheduled to be
completed in mid-1993, at which time a remedy will be selected.
Site Facts: In June 1989, the EPA issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to the
potentially responsible parties to haul the leachate off-site and to provide and install water
filters in two residences.
Environmental Progress
The continued daily removal of leachate, the provision of an alternate drinking water supply,
and the additional completed cleanup activities have reduced contamination and have limited
the potential for exposure to contaminants at the Strasburg Landfill site while other cleanup
activities are taking place and studies are being completed.
March 1992
196
STRASBURG LANDFILL
-------
Site Repository
Coatsville Area Public Library, 501 East Lincoln Highway, Coatsville, PA 19320
STRASBURG LANDFILL
197
March 1992
-------
TAYLOR B
DUMP
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD9806939C
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Lackawanna County
Taylor Borough, 3 miles south
of City of Scranton
Other Names:
Old City of Scranton Landfill #
Taylor Borough Dump is a privately owned, inactive landfill that covers 125 acres in Taylor.
The City of Scranton, located about 3 miles north of the site, used the former underground
and strip mine as a municipal dump from 1964 through 1968. The unfenced site was placed
on the NPL because approximately 1,200 drums containing hazardous organic chemicals and
heavy metals had been dumped illegally there. Drums were found in six main areas on the
site. Wastes had escaped from the drums and contaminated the soil, surface water, sediments,
groundwater, and the surrounding air. Even after the EPA built a fence around the area,
trespassers breached it to bike, jog, and hunt on the site. The landfill is near a residential
area and a community park. It is estimated that 1,000 people live within a 1-mile radius of the
site, and 10,000 people live within 3 miles of the site. A residential development borders the
southeastern edge of the landfill, but the nearest dwelling is several hundred feet from the
closest area used for drum waste disposal. Residents obtain water from a surface water supply
that does not receive runoff from the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/83
Final Date: 09/01/84
Threats and Contaminants
Ambient air on the site and at a nearby residence showed the presence of volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) and chlordane, a pesticide. There was a potential for
methane and waste-contaminated gases to migrate to nearby residences.
Contaminants in the groundwater on site included phthalic acid esters,
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chlordane, and arsenic. Contaminants detected
in sediments included antimony, arsenic, lead, and PCBs. On-site soils contained
phthalic acid esters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), arsenic, and lead.
Off-site surface water contained lead, chlordane, and PCBs. People who came in
direct contact with, inhaled, or accidentally ingested contaminants were at risk.
Residents using ponds located on the site for recreation and fishing may have been
at risk from contact with contaminated water or from eating contaminated fish.
198
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on source control and groundwater monitoring.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1983, the EPA removed 250 tons of hazardous solids
and 1,595 gallons of liquid, as well as approximately 850 drums from the site.
Workers built security gates across the roads to prevent unauthorized dumping
and vehicular access. In 1987, the EPA conducted a removal operation that featured disposal,
drum repacking, organization of materials, control of contaminant movement, excavation,
security, restoration, and sampling.
Source Control and Groundwater Monitoring: The selected remedy for this
site featured removal and off-site disposal of 125 drums and remnants; collection
and treatment of contaminated water in ponds; excavation and off-site disposal of
contaminated soils; and construction of a soil cover over the area. This cleanup work was
completed in 1988. Source control actions were effective in preventing further release of
contaminants to the groundwater. Testing of groundwater following removal of contaminated
soils and treatment of pond water showed that groundwater was within safety levels.
Therefore, no additional groundwater cleanup was required. The parties potentially
responsible for the site contamination, under EPA oversight, have implemented a
groundwater monitoring program to ensure that future contamination is not occurring. In
addition, the EPA and the State are conducting operation and maintenance activities of the
soil cover, as well as groundwater monitoring, using a fund set up by the EPA with money
obtained from the potentially responsible parties. A five year review of the site is underway
and the site is scheduled for deletion in mid-1993.
Environmental Progress
Numerous cleanup actions have been completed at the Taylor Borough Dump, including the
removal of hazardous solids, liquids and drums. The source control actions proved to be
effective in eliminating contaminants from entering the groundwater. No further actions were
required to cleanup the groundwater because testing showed that it was within established
safety levels. In preparation for deleting the site from the NPL, EPA and the State are
monitoring the groundwater to ensure that no further contamination results from the site.
Site Repository
Taylor Borough Municipal Building, 122 Union Street, Taylor, PA 18517
TAYLOR BOROUGH DUMP
199
March 1992
-------
TOBYHANNA
ARMY DEPO
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID#PA5213820892
PA REGION 3
Monroe County
Tobyhanna
Site Description
The Tobyhanna Army Depot site is a communication-electronics maintenance and supply
facility assigned to the U.S. Army Depot System Command. The 2 square miles on which the
site is located include landfills, a manufacturing area, and other disposal areas. Two pits were
used to dispose of solvents and waste oils through burning activities. The pits subsequently
were filled in with soil and were revegetated. Groundwater on and off site has been shown to
be contaminated from past disposal practices. Approximately 4,000 people live within a 3-mile
radius of the site.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 07/14/89
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
Specific contaminants detected in the on- and off-site groundwater and soil include
trichloroethylene (TCE) and lead. Drinking contaminated groundwater poses a
threat to the health of area residents. There are wetlands adjacent to the site, and
wildlife also may be affected by contaminants from the site.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
directed at cleanup of source areas A and B and groundwater.
200
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: The Army provided bottled drinking water to 65 homes in
the area of the site until 1991, when they extended a permanent water line to
those homes previously provided bottled water.
Source Areas A and B and Groundwater: In 1990, the Army began an
intensive study of the site, exploring the nature and extent of groundwater
contamination, and the source of contamination. This study, scheduled for
completion in 1993, will help define recommendations for cleanup strategies. Additional
studies to determine contamination at other areas of the site are scheduled to begin in 1993.
Site Facts: A Federal Facilities Agreement, which outlines how the Army and the EPA will
proceed in investigating the site, has been signed. The Tobyhanna site is participating in the
Installation Restoration Program, a specially funded program established by the Department
of Defense (DOD) in 1978 to identify, investigate, and control the migration of hazardous
contaminants at military and other DOD facilities.
Environmental Progress
The Army's provision of an alternate drinking water source has reduced the immediate threat
of exposure to contaminants while studies are being conducted and a final remedy selection is
made at the Tobyhanna Army Depot site.
Site Repository
Coolbaugh Township Municipal Building, Route 611, Tobyhanna, PA 18466
TOBYHANNA ARMY DEPOT
201
March 1992
-------
TONOLL1 C
PENNSYLVANI
EPAID# PAD0736136&
EPA REGION 3
Carbon County
long Rte. 54 in Nesquehoning
Site Description
The Tonolli Corp. site is situated on 30 acres and operated as a secondary lead smelter and
lead battery recycling facility between 1974 and 1985. The recycling operations included
crushing the batteries and recovering the lead and plastics from them. The site has a lined
landfill containing about 84,700 cubic yards of waste and a surface impoundment for storing
contaminated water from plant operations. In 1985, the owner and the State detected arsenic
and cadmium in on-site monitoring wells. The same year, Tonolli filed for bankruptcy. The
EPA completed a preliminary assessment of the site in 1987 and identified it as a candidate
for emergency response action. The site is in a valley, in a sparsely populated area. An
estimated 13,000 people obtain drinking water from the Lansford/Coaldale Joint Water
Authority wells within 3 miles of the site. The nearest well is within a mile of the site.
Nesquehoning Creek, which is adjacent to the site property, has been contaminated with
heavy metals since 1985.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through
Federal and potential^ responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 10/04/89
Threats and Contaminants
Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and chromium from the former smelter and recycling
operations have been found in on-site soils and monitoring wells. Nesquehoning
Creek also contains levels of arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Drinking water supply
wells could be potentially threatened by contamination from the site.
Contaminated soils and battery casings remaining on the site. Potential threats to
trespassers include accidental ingestion or direct contact with contaminated water,
soil or debris.
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
202
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1989, the EPA completed removal actions involving the
excavation and treatment of liquids and sludges in a lagoon, treatment and
disposal of liquids in the site's storage tank, construction of a surface water
collection and treatment system, and repair of the fence to limit site access. The site
conditions were stabilized, hazardous substances were removed, the lagoon was filled, the
area was regraded, and security measures were taken.
Entire Site: The potentially responsible parties are performing an intensive site
study with EPA oversight. This investigation will determine the nature and extent
of contamination at the site and will recommend cleanup strategies. The first
phase of the investigation was completed in 1990. A second round of limited sampling is
planned in 1992. A report summarizing all results will be delivered after the study is
completed, at which time the EPA will select the final remedies.
Site Facts: In 1989, the EPA executed a Consent Order with 46 potentially responsible
parties for a study to determine the nature and extent of contamination and to identify
alternatives for cleanup. In 1991, the EPA issued a Unilateral Order to the 46 potentially
responsible parties requiring them to takeover operation of the on site treatment plant.
Environmental Progress
The timely removal of contaminated liquids and sludges from the site and the construction of
a water collection and treatment system have reduced the potential for exposure to
hazardous materials at the Tonolli Corp. site while it awaits results of the investigation into
cleanup alternatives and the final selection of a remedy for cleanup of the site.
Site Repository
Not established.
TONOLLI CORP.
203
March 1992
-------
TYSONS DU
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD98069202
EPA REGION 3
Montgomery County
Upper Merion Township
Site Description
This privately owned dump, a former sandstone quarry, covers 4 acres in Upper Merion
Township. The site received wastes from 1962 to 1970; both septic and chemical wastes were
disposed of in a series of unlined lagoons. In the 1970s, sludges and liquid wastes, primarily
chlorinated and other organic solvents, were dumped into the lagoons. Water leaching from
the site flowed into the nearby Schuylkill River, which provides drinking water to more than
30,000 people in Norristown and other communities. The State ordered the facility closed in
1973. During closure, the lagoons reportedly were emptied of standing water, backfilled,
vegetated, and the contents were transported off site, although contaminated soils remained
on site. In early 1983, the EPA received a citizen complaint about noxious odors emanating
from the site; an investigation determined that immediate removal measures were necessary.
An estimated 26,000 people live in the residential area of Upper Merion. Water intakes for
Norristown and Philadelphia are downstream of the site on the Schuylkill River. The site
regularly has been used for motorbiking and other recreation. Approximately 1,000 people
live or work within 1/4 mile of the site.
Site Responsibility:
This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/83
Final Date: 09/01/84
Threats and Contaminants
Groundwater and soils on the site are contaminated with chlorinated and other
organic solvents including benzene, xylene, and chlorobenzene. Surface water was
contaminated with trichloropropane. Possible health risks include touching,
inhaling, or accidentally ingesting contaminated soil. No drinking water wells exist
between the site and the Schuylkill River, so groundwater ingestion is unlikely. A
wetland and deep aquifer are threatened by contaminant runoff from the site.
204
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in three stages: emergency actions and two long-term remedial
phases focusing on soil cleanup and cleanup of the groundwater.
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: In 1983, the following emergency responses were
performed by the EPA: monitoring wells were installed, a leachate collection and
treatment system were constructed, and a security fence was erected around the
lagoon areas, which also were covered with a soil cap. Portions of the site were reseeded and
regraded to control drainage. The threat of direct contact with contaminants on site has been
reduced through these measures.
Soil: While the lagoons were emptied and backfilled when the dump was closed in
1973, the contaminated soil at the bottom was never removed and continued to
pollute the area. Thus, in 1984, the EPA recommended excavation of these
materials and disposal at an EPA-approved landfill. The engineering design was begun in
spring 1985. However, this approach was suspended in 1987, when Ciba-Geigy and other
parties potentially responsible for the site contamination proposed financing a different
cleanup strategy. This proposal formally became the selected on-site remedy and includes an
innovative soil-cleaning technology called vacuum extraction, in place of excavation. Full-line
start-up of the soil vacuum extraction system began in fall 1988, but in early 1989, the well
screens became clogged with a tar-like substance. Later in 1989, the EPA evaluated the
feasibility of screen cleaning by steam injection and solvent washing and changed the screen
cleaning method to hot air injection. This method and solvent washing appear to be keeping
the well screens open. The EPA has been monitoring progress, and target cleanup levels have
not yet been met. Therefore, the Agency extended the cleanup period to late 1992. To date,
approximarely 150,000 pounds of organic contaminants have been removed from the soil.
Groundwater: In the fall of 1988, the EPA chose pumping and treating
groundwater as the remedy for off-site contamination. The groundwater is being
pumped and treated by a steam stripping system to remove contamination. The
off-site groundwater treatment system began operating in the fall of 1989.
Barbadoes Island Groundwater: In 1990, the EPA determined that there was
a need to install additional extraction wells along the southern bank of the river
and Barbadoes Island in the middle of the river. The chosen remedy also called
for additional studies to be performed before cleanup was initiated. These studies were
completed in early 1992 and are currently being evaluated. Engineering designs are scheduled
to get underway in early 1993.
Site Facts: A partial Consent Decree was signed in June 1988 by the EPA, the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Resources, Ciba-Geigy Corp., Wyeth Labs, Smith-Kline
Beckman Corp., and Essex Group, Inc. to conduct the cleanup of the site.
TYSONS DUMP 205 March 1992
-------
Environmental Progress
The numerous emergency actions taken at the Tysons Dump site immediately addressed the
areas of greatest concern while further cleanup technologies were studied and designed. The
soil and groundwater cleanup systems currently are operative, and their effectiveness will be
closely monitored by the EPA.
Site Repository
Upper Merion Library, 175 West Vally Forge Road, King of Prussia, PA 19406
March 1992
206
TYSONS DUMP
-------
VOORTMA
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD98069271
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Lehigh County
Upper Saucon Township, 1 mile
southwest of Ladark
The contamination area on the 43-acre Voortman Farm consisted of a large sinkhole,
measuring 48 feet wide by 100 feet deep. When the site was placed on the NPL in 1982, it
was reported that 10,000 battery casings had been dumped into the sinkhole. The State
detected elevated concentrations of heavy metals in the sinkhole in 1983. Analyses of nearby
domestic wells showed heavy metals below maximum permissible limits. A fire in the sinkhole
in the fall of 1986 was extinguished by the State and the battery cases were removed. The
area surrounding the site is primarily agricultural. About 9,700 people live in Upper Saucon
Township. The closest dwellings are to the west of the site, along Vera Cruz Road. A public
golf course is located toward the southeastern end of the Voortman Farm.
Site Responsibility: This site was addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Deleted Date: 06/01/89
Threats and Contaminants
The air may have been temporarily contaminated with lead during the sinkhole fire
in 1986, and people may have been exposed to airborne lead at the time of the
fire. Battery casings contaminated the soil prior to excavation of the wastes and
soil.
Cleanup Approach
The site was addressed through emergency actions; further investigations showed that no
other cleanup actions were required.
207
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: The State excavated the sinkhole and removed the
burning battery cases. The fire was extinguished within a month. After the fire
was extinguished in 1986, the State managed the excavation of the sinkhole and
the removal of 230 cubic yards of wastes and contaminated soil to an authorized landfill. This
action resulted in the elimination of the sources of contamination.
Entire Site: Studies conducted in 1987 and 1988, which included sampling of
residential tap water, soil, and surface water, demonstrated that the 1986 cleanup
had been effective. The EPA selected the remedy "No Further Action, with
continued monitoring" in 1988, and the site was deleted from the NPL on June 1, 1989. The
State of Pennsylvania will continue to monitor the site to ensure the absence of
contaminants.
Site Facts: Citizens' complaints in 1980 prompted the immediate prohibition of dumping at
the Voortman Farm and the subsequent site investigation.
Environmental Progress
The State and the EPA have been successful in removing all sources of contamination from
the sinkhole on the Voortman Farm site. As a result of these actions, the EPA, in
consultation with the State, has determined that the site no longer poses a threat to human
health or the environment and has deleted the site from the NPL. The State will continue to
monitor the site to ensure that no further contamination is detected in the area groundwater.
Site Repository
Information is no longer available.
March 1992
208
VOORTMAN FARM
-------
WADE (A
PENNSYLVAN
EPA ID# PAD98053
EPA REGION 3
Delaware County
rare River in Chester, 9 miles
south of Philadelphia
Site Description
The 3-acre Wade site operated as a rubber recycling facility from around 1950 to the early
1970s, and then was converted to an illegal industrial waste storage and disposal facility.
Workers stored drums on site, or dumped their contents either directly onto the ground or
into trenches, severely contaminating soil and groundwater. Wastes include toxic chemicals
and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), as well as acid and cyanide salts. In 1978, a fire at the
operation destroyed one building and caused extensive damage to two others used for
stockpiling drummed wastes. Forty-seven firefighters were hospitalized. Burned building
debris, exploded drums, tires, shredded rubber, and contaminated earth littered the property.
About 150,000 gallons of waste materials remained on site after the fire. Most of the wastes
were in 55-gallon drums stored in the fire-damaged buildings. The site is located in a light
industrial area; the nearest residential area is about 1,000 feet from the site.
Site Responsibility: This site was addressed through
Federal and State actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/81
Final Date: 09/01/83
Deleted Date: 03/22/89
Threats and Contaminants
ZI3
The groundwater and soil were contaminated with heavy metals including arsenic,
chromium, mercury, and lead; PCBs; plastic resins; and volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) from past disposal activities. Since this is an ecologically sensitive area,
numerous threats existed not only to area residents and workers, but also to
surrounding wetlands, wildlife, and marine animals.
Cleanup Approach
This site was addressed in two stages: emergency actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
209
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
Emergency Actions: In 1981 and 1982, the EPA undertook two separate
emergency actions to clean up this site. Workers removed 5,000 gallons of
PCB-contaminated waste and 10,000 gallons of other hazardous wastes for
incineration. They also removed 155 tons of contaminated solids.
Entire Site: Remedies selected for the site included: removing, decontaminating,
and disposing of tires, tankers, waste piles, and buildings; site leveling, filling, and
grading; removing soil down to the depth at which the first sample with in
acceptable levels was found; and covering the site with topsoil and seeding this soil cover to
minimize erosion. The State managed the site cleanup, which started in 1987, and was
completed in the same year. The EPA, in conjunction with the State, deleted the site from
the NPL in 1989.
Site Facts: In 1985, an enforcement settlement was reached with one of the parties
potentially responsible for the site contamination. The State of Pennsylvania and the EPA
undertook partial cleanup, and the State completed the remainder of cleanup activities with
the money contributed by the potentially responsible parties.
Environmental Progress
All cleanup activities have been completed at the Wade site, eliminating the threat to human
health and the environment. The EPA has determined that the site and its surroundings are
now safe, allowing the site to be deleted from the NPL.
Site Repository
Information is no longer available.
March 1992
210
WADE (ABM)
-------
WELSH LA
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD980829
EPA REGION 3
Chester County
On Welsh Road in
Honey Brook Township
Other Names:
Barkman Landfill
Honeybrook
Site Description
The Welsh Landfill site is situated on 8 acres along a forested ridge about 2 miles north of
Honey Brook. It was operated as a sanitary landfill from before 1970 until 1977, but no State
permit ever was issued for the disposal of solid waste. Investigations in the 1980s revealed
that the facility had accepted industrial and hazardous waste, as well as municipal trash, and
that several monitoring and domestic wells in the area were contaminated with both organic
and inorganic compounds. Abandoned vehicles, appliances, 55-gallon drums, and other debris
are scattered over the site. It continues to operate as salvage yard, garage, and office
complex for a trash disposal company. Access to the site is virtually unrestricted. The
surrounding area is rural and residential, with 300 homes or occupied buildings within a
3-mile radius of the site and 40 residences within 1/2 mile. All use private wells for drinking
water. Approximately 1,200 people live within 3/4 mile of the site is about 1,200. The site is
bordered to the south by a narrow band of trees, beyond which are farmlands.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 09/01/83
Final Date: 09/01/84
Threats and Contaminants
Sampling of the on-site air indicated the presence of volatile hydrogen chloride and
chloroform. The on-site groundwater contains mercury, toluene, and other volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) from former disposal practices. Residential well water
off site was found to contain chloromethane, chloroform, xylenes, and other
VOCs, as well as lead, mercury, and zinc. The sediments off site are contaminated
with cadmium and lead. Direct contact with or drinking contaminated groundwater,
as well as inhaling volatile contaminants that evaporate from groundwater or that
occur in gases or vapors, may threaten the health of those in the area. Trespassers
could be exposed to chemicals by coming in direct contact with soils, sediments, or
the waste containers remaining on the site.
211
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in four stages: immediate actions and three long-term remedial
phases directed at cleanup of the landfill, groundwater and extension of the waterline, and
site clearing.
Response Action Status
Immediate Action: In 1985, the EPA approved the funds to start removing
contaminated materials. The work was divided between the EPA and the owner,
who conducted on-site cleanup and disposed of 26 drums. The EPA performed
soil sampling and off-site well monitoring to determine the extent of contamination.
Drummed wastes were removed from the site. The owner currently is removing the remaining
debris and salvage materials. Bottled water has been provided by the State since 1989 to 44
homes.
Landfill: From 1984 to 1990, the State conducted a study to determine the
nature and extent of contamination and to identify alternatives for cleanup. The
EPA's final decision was prepared to address the cleanup of the contaminated
drinking water supply and the landfill as a source of contamination. A proposed plan was
released in 1990 for public comment, and the final decision calls for the extension of the
municipal water line to the affected areas, capping the landfill, resource recovery, and
restrictions on the use of the land. The landfill cap design is expected to be completed in late
1992. The remainder of the remedy is addressed in the following actions.
Groundwater and Waterline: A focused investigation began in 1990 to
characterize groundwater flow and to assess remedies for the site. The
investigation is scheduled for completion in late 1992. In addition to the
groundwater studies, the EPA selected an interim remedy calling for the extension of the
municipal waterline to affected areas. The design of the waterline is completed and
construction is slated for late 1993.
Site Clearing: In 1991, under a Unilateral Administrative Order, the owner of
the site has been clearing the site of all vehicles, debris., and buildings. The work
is scheduled for completion in late 1993.
Site Facts: Odor episodes have been reported by local residents. In spring 1990, the EPA
issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to the site owner, requiring him to remove all debris
and salvage materials from the surface of the landfill in an environmentally sound manner.
The owner is complying with the Order, and the site is expected to be cleared by fall 1991.
March 1992 212 WELSH LANDFILL
-------
Environmental Progress
The removal of drums and contaminated wastes from the Welsh Landfill site, as well as the
provision of temporary drinking water to the homes affected by contaminated groundwater,
have reduced the exposure potential while the site awaits final solutions for the cleanup of
contaminated groundwater.
Site Repository
Honey Brook Library, Pequea Avenue, Honey Brook, PA 19344
WELSH LANDFILL
213
March 1992
-------
WESTINGHO
ELECTRIC
CORP.
(SHARON P
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD005000575
Site Description —
REGION 3
ercer County
Sharon
The 50-acre Westinghouse plant in Sharon produced and repaired transformers from 1922 to
1984. From 1936 to 1976, Westinghouse used polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as a
conducting fluid in some of the transformers. PCBs were spilled in certain areas during
routine operations. At least 6,000 gallons of solvents and oil leaked from an underground
tank in 1984. In 1985, the EPA detected PCBs at two of the four points where the plant
discharges wastewater to the Shenango River. The company had a discharge permit under the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). The Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Resources (PADER) detected PCBs in river sediments between the site and a
water intake for the Shenango Valley Water Company, which provides drinking water to
approximately 75,000 people. The water intake is 1,600 feet downstream of the plant's
discharge points.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 06/16/88
Final Date: 08/30/90
Threats and Contaminants
The sediments and surface water of the Shenango River are contaminated with
PCBs from the former site operations. People who come into direct contact with
or accidentally ingest contaminated sediments or surface water may be at risk.
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in three stages: initial actions and two long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site and the oil recovery unit.
214
March 1992
-------
Response Action Status
cleanup.
Initial Actions: In 1976, approximately 48,000 gallons of PCBs and 15,000
gallons of organic solvents were removed from the site and were incinerated.
Entire Site: Westinghouse currently is conducting a study to determine the nature
and extent of contamination at the site. The study, scheduled to be completed in
1992, will identify the contaminants and will identify alternatives for the final
Oil Recovery Unit: The EPA began studies of the oil recovery unit in 1992. The
studies will determine the feasibility of extracting a floating oil phase which is
contaminated with PCBs. A final remedy is expected to be selected in late 1992.
Site Facts: In 1985, the PADER issued Westinghouse an Administrative Order to conduct a
study of conditions at the site and to submit a cleanup plan.
Environmental Progress
The removal and incineration of contaminated materials from the Westinghouse Electric
Corp. (Sharon Plant) site has reduced the potential for exposure to contamination while
studies are taking place and final cleanup activities are being planned.
Site Repository
Buhl-Henderson Community Library, 11 North Sharpsville, Sharon, PA 16146
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP.
(SHARON PLANT)
215
March 1992
-------
WESTINGHOUS
ELEVATOR
PLANT
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD043882281
Site Description —
EPA REGION 3
Adams County
Cumberland Township
X,
Other Names:
Westinghouse #3
The Westinghouse Elevator Co. Plant manufactured elevators on this 85-acre site. The plant
has been leased to Schindler Elevator Corporation. The elevators are processed through a
paint and degreasing line that uses chlorinated solvents. Until 1980, the company practice was
to put the waste solvents and sludges into drums and dispose of them through a local hauler,
with no direction given as to proper disposal procedures. In 1983, in response to concerns
presented by the Adams County Community Environmental Control, the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Resources (PADER) conducted an investigation that
identified three contaminated sites in the Gettysburg area, including the Westinghouse plant.
Further studies found that private wells around the plant also were contaminated. Plant
contamination has been attributed to solvent spills. The population within 3 miles of the site
is approximately 13,500. Adjacent to the site are streams that flow into Rock Creek, which
may be used for irrigation and swimming.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and potentially
responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/84
Final Date: 06/01/86
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater and surface water are contaminated with trichloroethane and
dichloroethylene from the painting and degreasing operations on the site.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) has been detected in groundwater at levels greatly
exceeding safety levels and has contaminated nearby wells. Volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) have been detected in neighboring stream samples. Very low
levels of metals and PCEs were detected in some surface soils. Soils contaminated
with VOCs were removed, but some deep soils may still pose a threat to
groundwater from leaching. Nearby residents using wells for drinking water would
be at risk.
216
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
aimed at cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Action: In 1983, Westinghouse removed 43 drums of contaminated
soil areas at the Plant. In 1984, Westinghouse installed water mains to the areas
with contaminated wells and offered residents the opportunity to be connected to
the public water supply. In 1984, Westinghouse also installed extraction wells to control the
migration of contaminated groundwater from the plant. The water is treated with an air
stripper and discharged to a nearby stream. Westinghouse also installed a limited number of
monitoring wells, and continues to sample and analyze groundwater.
Entire Site: Westinghouse has completed an investigation of the nature and
extent for groundwater, surface water and sediments. The EPA issued a proposed
plan for groundwater cleanup in mid-1992 and plans to select a final remedy in the
summer of 1992. Additional soil sampling will be performed and a supplemental study will be
issued in the future.
Site Facts: The EPA and Westinghouse signed a Consent Order in 1988, under which
Westinghouse is responsible for investigating site contamination.
Environmental Progress -f.
The provision of an alternative drinking water source to affected residents has eliminated the
major threat posed by the domestic use of contaminated groundwater on the site. Ongoing
groundwater extraction and treatment will continue to reduce the amount of contaminated
groundwater migrating from the site while further investigations are underway.
Site Repository
Adams County Public Library, 59 East High Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325
WESTINGHOUSE ELEVATOR CO. PLANT
217
March 1992
-------
WESTLINE
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD9806925
EPA REGION 3
McKean County
Westline
Site Description
This 40-acre site on the northern side of Westline once contained a lumber processing facility
that operated for the first half of the century. Its chemical plant converted lumber into
charcoal, methanol, and acetic acid, until a fire and explosion caused its closure in 1952. The
plant's foundation, demolition debris, and a tar-like production waste containing high levels of
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and various phenolic compounds were left behind
by the previous facility operators. The waste material was disposed of, or flowed into, natural
or excavated depressions located hundreds of feet away within the town. The site consists of
most of Westline and its adjacent streams, including Kinzua Creek and Turnip Run. The
dispersed waste tar deposits range in area and some are up to 9 feet thick. A
1,500-square-foot, 6-inch thick deposit is located behind the Westline Church; an even larger
deposit was removed in 1983. Plant-related contaminants have been detected mainly in
surface soils and groundwater. As of 1988, however, domestic wells no longer were being
used. Westline's water supply now is a spring, which has not been polluted, located to the
north of the town. The surrounding area is rural, and the town is surrounded by the
Allegheny National Forest. Westline has a small, permanent resident population of about 100,
which increases seasonally. Hunting and fishing camps are located throughout the town.
Site Responsibility: This site was addressed through
Federal actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 12/01/82
Final Date: 09/01/83
Deleted Date: 01/16/92
Threats and Contaminants
The contaminant causing the most concern in the groundwater was benzene.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected in one monitoring well. PAHs
from tar deposits, rainwater infiltration, migration in surface water, and movement
in the air posed a threat to people who came in direct contact with, inhaled, or
ingested contaminated materials. Water and food chain contamination were
negligible since the town began using the nearby spring as a new drinking water
supply. The town is located in a 100-year flood plain; areas containing tar could
have been subject to erosion if a flood had occurred, possibly causing contaminants
to enter the Allegheny Reservoir. Low levels of VOCs were found in Kinzua
Creek, which discharges into the Allegheny Reservoir.
218
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site was addressed in two stages: initial actions and a long-term remedial phase focusing
on source control.
Response Action Status
Initial Actions: In 1983, the property owners placed a fence and warning signs
around the property. Also in 1983, the EPA conducted two emergency actions at
the site. Workers capped the largest tar deposit with clay and then covered and
graded the area with clean fill that was seeded and mulched. Cracks soon appeared in the
cover, however, and liquids again began leaching from the area. At this point, the EPA
excavated and removed 2,000 tons of tar and contaminated soils from the site.
Source Control: The cleanup actions recommended for source control featured:
excavating tar from all known deposits and any that were discovered during the
work; removing contaminated soils; backfilling and revegetating excavations;
transporting contaminated materials to an EPA-licensed facility for incineration; conducting
groundwater studies; and checking the flood plain area periodically for tar deposits newly
exposed by erosion. Removal of tar deposits was completed in 1990. The activities included
further, but not total, removal of the major tar deposit partially which had been excavated in
1983. This area has been cleaned up to levels that do not pose a threat to human health or
the environment.
Groundwater Monitoring: The EPA has determined that no further action is
required to clean up the groundwater. Since Westline now is obtaining drinking
water from an unpolluted source, and groundwater is not severely contaminated,
the natural processes that gradually clear groundwater pollution will be allowed to take their
course. This process is estimated to take from five to ten years. The EPA will continue to
monitor groundwater for four more years to ensure that natural processes are effective. In
addition, deed restrictions prohibit the construction of any new drinking water wells in the
vicinity.
Environmental Progress
By constructing a fence to limit access to the site and removing tar and contaminated soil
from the areas of greatest pollution, the potential for exposure to hazardous materials at the
Westline Site has been eliminated. The EPA has completed all planned cleanup activities and
will continue to monitor the site to ensure that safety levels are maintained. The site was
deleted from the NPL in 1992.
WESTLINE SITE 219 March 1992
-------
Site Repository
Bradford Area Public Library, 67 West Washington Street, Bradford, PA 16701
March 1992
220
WESTLINE SITE
-------
WHITMOYE
LABORATO
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD00300501
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Lebanon County
mile southwest of Myerstown
Other Names:
Whltmoyer Laboratories
The Whitmoyer Laboratories (WHI) site occupies 22 acres on Fairlane Avenue. The
company manufactured veterinary Pharmaceuticals between 1934 and 1984 and produced and
stored aniline and soluble arsenic compounds. Arsenic wastes were disposed of in concrete
vaults, holding tanks, and unlined lagoons. As much as 4 million pounds of soluble arsenic
wastes may have been placed in the lagoons during the 1960s. The site itself features 17
buildings, 23 storage tanks, a concrete storage vault, 2 lagoons, a waste pit, a petroleum
products pipeline and pump station, and a railroad spur. All have been abandoned except for
one building, which is operated as a food warehouse, and the pipeline and pump station. The
laboratory changed ownership from Whitmoyer to Rohm & Haas in 1964, to Smith-Kline
Beecham in 1978, and to Stafford Laboratories in 1982. In 1964, Rohm & Haas detected
arsenic pollution in the soils, groundwater, and surface water that had been caused by
previous waste disposal in the unlined lagoons. A concrete vault was constructed to accept
the lagoon sludges and other contaminated materials. About 4,700 people use wells within 3
miles of the site. The closest home is within 200 feet of the site, and 1,300 people live within
a 1-mile radius. A grade school stands 1/2 mile away. Tulpehocken Creek, which has been
proposed as part of Pennsylvania's scenic river system, flows a few yards from the site. In
addition, very small pockets of ecologically significant wetlands exist along the creek.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through
Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 10/01/84
Final Date: 06/01/86
Threats and Contaminants
On- and off-site groundwater and surface water contain arsenic and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) from former disposal practices. Soil and on- and
off-site sediments are contaminated with arsenic and some organics. Wastes in the
concrete vault and lagoon are polluted with arsenic and aniline. Health risks exist
from drinking or inhaling contaminated groundwater. This risk, however, has been
reduced by supplying bottled water. Potential risks also exist from direct contact,
accidental ingestion, or inhalation of on-site soils, surface waters, or sediments, or
inhalation of airborne contaminants. Consumption of crops or livestock raised in
the adjoining fields also is of concern.
221
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in seven stages: immediate actions and six long-term remedial
phases focusing on the cleanup of the concentrated liquids, buildings and structures, soils and
sediments, the vault, the lagoons, and the groundwater.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: Rohm & Haas, new owners of the site in 1964, excavated
arsenic sludges from unlined lagoons and deposited them in a specially built
concrete lagoon on site. The EPA took emergency action in 1987 to provide
bottled water to 20 homes with contaminated wells. An EPA emergency action during 1988
and 1989 removed abandoned drums and laboratory chemicals. In addition, this action
included connecting residences to the Myerstown municipal water supply, which currently is
being carried out by the potentially responsible parties.
Concentrated Liquids: The EPA selected an early-action remedy in 1989, which
determined that the bulk liquids stored on site needed to be removed and disposed
of quickly. Workers consolidated the waste liquids into three general categories,
transported them off site for treatment, and eventually disposed of the treated liquids into an
off-site surface water body and disposed of solid residues in an off-site landfill. Organic
compounds in the liquids were destroyed via heat or biological treatment or were recycled.
Tanks, vessels, and piping were cleaned and removed.
Buildings and Structures:In late 1990, the EPA selected a remedy to address
contaminated buildings and structures at the site. The remedy calls for
incineration of the buildings and off-site disposal of the remaining materials. The
design is underway and cleanup activities are scheduled to begin in late 1993.
Soils and Sediments: The parties potentially responsible for soil and sediment
contamination currently are designing the remedy selected for cleanup. The
remedy entails treatment with cement fixation, proper disposal of heavily
contaminated soils, and capping of lightly contaminated soils. Cleanup activities are
scheduled to begin in mid-1993.
Vault: The parties potentially responsible for contamination at the site are
currently designing the remedy for the vault wastes. The selected remedy entails
cement fixation and incineration of the vault wastes. Cleanup activities are
Lagoons: The remedy selected to address contamination at the lagoons includes
iron fixation of the lagoon wastes. The potentially responsible parties are
currently preparing the engineering designs and expect to begin cleanup activities
in late 1993.
March 1992 222 WHITMOYER LABORATORIES
-------
Groundwater: The parties potentially responsible for site contamination are
currently designing a groundwater extraction and treatment system. The final
cleanup activities are scheduled to begin in mid-1993.
Site Facts: In 1985, Whitmoyer Laboratories submitted a revised Hazardous Waste
Treatment and Storage Plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources
(PADER). Very little of the plan was implemented, and the plant was abandoned in 1987.
The PADER returned the lead for the site cleanup to the EPA in 1987.
Environmental Progress
The construction of the concrete vault for the storage of contaminated sludges, the removal
of abandoned drums and laboratory chemicals, and the provision of a safe drinking water
source have made the Whitmoyer Laboratories site safer while it awaits the start of the
planned remedies for cleanup of the entire site and of the soil and groundwater.
Site Repository
Whitmoyer Community Library, 199 North College Street, Myerstown, PA 17067
WHITMOYER LABORATORIES
223
March 1992
-------
WILLIAM Dl
LAGOONS
PENNSYLVANI
EPA ID# PAD9805377
Site Description
EPA REGION 3
Chester County
West Cain Township
From the late 1950s to 1970, three unlined lagoons on the 4 1/2-acre William Dick Lagoons
site in West Cain Township were used for waste disposal. Chemical Leaman Tank Lines, Inc.
cleaned petroleum products, latexes, and resins from its tank trailers and dumped the final
rinsewater, and possibly residual chemical product, into the lagoons. The lagoons, about 2
acres in total area, contained more than 4 million gallons of wastewater. Site soils are
contaminated and are moderately permeable, resulting in the contamination of groundwater.
The lagoons were not adequately diked, and two were breached in 1970, releasing about
300,000 gallons into the nearby area and a small tributary. In 1971, some degree of cleanup
was conducted by Chemical Leaman, under an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department
of Health. Chemical Leaman collected solids from the materials in the lagoons, sprayed the
liquid that remained over the land, and filled the remaining lagoon pits with soil and
vegetation. In 1987, the EPA sampled private wells and springs used by local residents and
found several to be contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE). Chemical Leaman agreed to
provide alternate water supplies to affected homes and to perform other cleanup activities.
The Chickies Formation, within 3 miles of the site, is the sole source of water for private
wells serving 1,400 people. Numerous residential wells surround the site, the nearest lying 400
feet to the north. A water supply intake at Birch Run, approximately 3 miles downstream of
the site, is used as an emergency source of water for the approximately 13,600 residents of
the city of Coatsville. Two trailer parks are 1/2 and 3/4 mile away from the site.
Site Responsibility:
The site is being addressed through
Federal and potentially responsible
parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 01/22/87
Final Date: 07/01/87
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with TCE, chloroform, and other volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds from former waste
disposal activities. The soil is contaminated with a variety of VOCs and
semi-VOCs, as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and pesticides.
Drinking contaminated groundwater, inhaling volatile emissions from local wells,
and coming into direct contact with contaminated soil poses a health risk to
residents.
224
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
The site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the soils and groundwater.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: When local springs and wells were found to be
contaminated with TCE in 1987, Chemical Leaman agreed to provide treatment
of private well water for homes with contaminant levels above health-based
criteria. More recently, the company agreed to provide bottled water to residences with any
level of TCE in their private well water. The company continues to sample and analyze local
residential wells, and is providing carbon treatment units and bottled water when needed. The
company also has installed a fence around the site. To date, 12 homes have been provided
with full house carbon treatment units.
Groundwater: In mid-1991 the EPA chose a remedy to address groundwater
contamination at the site. A water line will be extended to service residences
affected or potentially affected by the site. The groundwater will be extracted and
treated for up to five years. In addition, a hydrogeologic study will be completed to further
assess site conditions. Upon completion of these measures, the EPA will determine if further
work is necessary.
Soils: The parties potentially responsible for site contamination began performing
a feasibility study of vacuum extraction in 1992. This study is expected to be
completed by late 1992, at which time a remedy will be selected.
Site Facts: In late 1987, the EPA and Chemical Leaman entered into a Consent Agreement
whereby the company would take initial actions to secure the site and provide safe drinking
water to affected residents. In 1988, the EPA entered into a second Consent Agreement with
Chemical Leaman for the performance of a study to determine the nature and extent of site
contamination.
Environmental Progress
Provision of a safe drinking water source and the installation of a fence to restrict access to
the site have reduced the risk of exposure to contaminated materials at the William Dick
Lagoons site while selection of the final cleanup remedy is underway.
Site Repository
West Cain Township Building, Route 340, Wagentown, PA 19376
WILLIAM DICK LAGOONS
225
March 1992
-------
YORK COUN
SOLID WAS
AND REFU
AUTHORI
LANDFILL
PENNSYLVANIA
EPA ID# PAD980830715
EPA REGION 3
York County
Hopewell Township
Other Names:
>York County Refuse Authority
Site Description
The York County Solid Waste and Refuse Authority Landfill has been in operation since
1974. About 135 of the site's 300 acres are used for municipal and industrial waste disposal in
an unlined landfill. The operation receives an average of 400 tons of waste each day. The site
is fenced, but public access is not restricted. Off-site groundwater contamination with several
organic chemicals has been documented since 1983. The County has installed pumping wells
and water treatment operations to control runoff and groundwater migration. Approximately
330 people live within a 1-mile radius of the site. The closest residence is less than 1,000 feet
from the site. Approximately 2,200 people living within 3 miles of the site continue to receive
their drinking water from groundwater being monitored by the County's Solid Waste and
Refuse Authority.
Site Responsibility: This site is being addressed through a
combination of Federal, State, and
potentially responsible parties' actions.
NPL LISTING HISTORY
Proposed Date: 04/01/85
Final Date: 07/01/87
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater is contaminated with various volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
from past disposal practices. The potential health threats to area residents include
drinking or coming in contact with contaminated groundwater.
226
March 1992
-------
Cleanup Approach
This site is being addressed in two stages: immediate actions and a long-term remedial phase
focusing on cleanup of the entire site.
Response Action Status
Immediate Actions: In 1984, the State ordered the York County Solid Waste
and Refuse Authority to continue groundwater monitoring, provide bottled water
to affected residents, and develop plans for groundwater cleanup. The owner
provided bottled water to 25 homes in the immediate vicinity of the site. In 1985, the State
requested the installation of additional groundwater monitoring wells and the completion and
operation of a groundwater extraction and treatment system via air stripping and lining the
active portion of the landfill. The groundwater treatment system currently is active and its
effectiveness is being evaluated. In 1986, York County purchased the Eppley Trailer Park,
which contained 21 homes, and condemned it to eliminate future residential use.
Entire Site: Under EPA supervision, the parties potentially responsible for the
site contamination are performing an intensive study of site conditions, which
explores the extent and nature of contamination and will result in
recommendations for groundwater cleanup strategies. The parties also will examine methods
for monitoring the aquifer to detect any movement of the contaminants. The investigation is
scheduled for completion in late 1992. Groundwater currently is being extracted and treated
to control migration of the contaminants.
Site Facts: In May 1984, the State entered into a Consent Agreement with the Solid Waste
and Refuse Authority to continue groundwater monitoring, provide bottled water to affected
residents, and develop plans for cleaning groundwater. In November 1987, the State and the
potentially responsible parties negotiated a Consent Order for conducting a study at the site.
Environmental Progress
Monitoring groundwater and providing bottled water to affected residents, as well as closing
down the trailer park area, have reduced the potential for exposure to contaminants in the
areas surrounding the York County Solid Waste Landfill while further investigations leading
to the final cleanup activities are taking place.
Site Repository
Not established.
YORK COUNTY SOLID WASTE 227 March 1992
AND REFUSE AUTHORITY LANDFILL
-------
GLOSSARY
Terms Used in the NPL Book
This glossary defines terms used throughout the NPL Volumes. The terms and
abbreviations contained in this glossary apply specifically to work performed
under the Superfund program in the context of hazardous waste management. These
terms may have other meanings when used in a different context. A table of common
toxic chemicals found at NPL sites, their sources, and their potential threats is located
on page G-15
Acids: Substances, characterized by low pH
(less than 7.0), that are used in chemical manu-
facturing. Acids in high concentration can be
very corrosive and react with many inorganic
and organic substances. These reactions possi-
bly may create toxic compounds or release
heavy metal contaminants that remain in the
environment long after the acid is neutralized.
Administrative Order On Consent: A
legal and enforceable agreement between the
EPA and the parties potentially responsible for
site contamination. Under the terms of the
Order, the potentially responsible parties (PRPs)
agree to perform or pay for site studies or
cleanups. It also describes the oversight rules,
responsibilities, and enforcement options that
the government may exercise in the event of
non-compliance by potentially responsible
parties. This Order is signed by PRPs and the
government; it does not require approval by a
judge.
Administrative Order [Unilateral]: A
legally binding document issued by the EPA,
directing the parties potentially responsible to
perform site cleanups or studies (generally, the
EPA does not issue Unilateral Orders for site
studies). This type of Order is not signed by the
PRPs and does not require approval by a judge.
Aeration: A process that promotes breakdown
of contaminants in soil or water by exposing
them to air.
Agency for Toxic Substances and Dis-
ease Registry (ATSDR): The Federal
agency within the U.S. Public Health Service
charged with carrying out the health-related
responsibilities of CERCLA.
Air Stripping: A process whereby volatile
organic chemicals (VOCs) are removed from
contaminated material by forcing a stream of ail-
through the contaminated material in a pressur-
ized vessel. The contaminants are evaporated
into the air stream. The air may be further
treated before it is released into the atmosphere.
Ambient Air: Any unconfined part of the
atmosphere. Refers to the air that may be
inhaled by workers or residents in the vicinity of
contaminated air sources.
Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate
Requirements (ARARs): Federal, State, or
local laws which apply to Superfund activities at
NPL sites. Both emergency and long-term
actions must comply with these laws or provide
sound reasons for allowing a waiver. ARARs
must be identified for each site relative to the
characteristics of the site, the substances found
at the site, or the cleanup alternatives being
considered for the site.
G-1
-------
GLOSSARY
Aquifer: An underground layer of rock, sand,
or gravel capable of storing water within cracks
and pore spaces, or between grains. When
water contained within an aquifer is of sufficient
quantity and quality, it can be tapped and used
for drinking or other purposes. The water
contained in the aquifer is called groundwater.
A "sole source aquifer" supplies 50 percent or
more of the drinking water of an area.
Artesian (Well): A well made by drilling into
the earth until water is reached, which, due to
internal pressure, flows up like a fountain.
Asbestos: A mineral fiber that can pollute air
or water and is known to cause cancer or
asbestosis when inhaled.
Attenuation: The naturally occurring process
by which a compound is reduced in concentra-
tion over time through adsorption, degradation,
dilution, or transformation.
Background Level: The amount of a sub-
stance typically found in the air, water, or soil
from natural, as opposed to human, sources.
Baghouse Dust: Dust accumulated in
removing particulates from the air by passing it
through cloth bags in an enclosure.
Bases: Substances characterized by high pH
(greater than 7.0), which tend to be corrosive in
chemical reactions. When bases are mixed with
acids, they neutralize each other, forming salts.
Berm: A ledge, wall, or a mound of earth used
to prevent the migration of contaminants.
Bioaccumulate: The process by which some
contaminants or toxic chemicals gradually
collect and increase in concentration in living
tissue, such as in plants, fish, or people, as they
breathe contaminated air, drink contaminated
water, or eat contaminated food.
Biological Treatment: The use of bacteria
or other microbial organisms to break down
toxic organic materials into carbon dioxide and
water.
Bioremediation: A cleanup process using
naturally occurring or specially cultivated
microorganisms to digest contaminants and
break them down into non-hazardous compo-
nents.
Bog: A type of wetland that is covered with
peat moss deposits. Bogs depend primarily on
moisture from the air for their water source, are
usually acidic, and are rich in plant residue [see
Wetland].
Boom: A floating device used to contain oil
floating on a body of water or to restrict the
potential overflow of waste liquids from
containment structures.
Borehole: A hole that is drilled into the
ground and used to sample soil or ground-water.
Borrow Pit: An excavated area where soil,
sand, or gravel has been dug up for use else-
where.
Cap: A layer of material, such as clay or a
synthetic material, used to prevent rainwater
from penetrating and spreading contaminated
materials. The surface of the cap generally is
mounded or sloped so water will drain off.
Carbon Adsorption: A treatment system in
which contaminants are removed from ground-
water and surface v/ater by forcing water
through tanks containing activated carbon, a
specially treated material that attracts and holds
or retains contaminants.
Carbon Disulfide: A degreasing agent
formerly used extensively for parts washing.
This compound has both inorganic and organic
G-2
-------
GLOSSARY
properties, which increase cleaning efficiency.
However, these properties also cause chemical
reactions that increase the hazard to human
health and the environment.
Carbon Treatment: [see Carbon Adsorp-
tion].
Cell: In solid waste disposal, one of a series of
holes in a landfill where waste is dumped,
compacted, and covered with layers of dirt.
CERCLA: [see Comprehensive Environmen-
tal Response, Compensation, and Liability Act].
Characterization: The sampling, monitoring,
and analysis of a site to determine the extent and
nature of toxic releases. Characterization
provides the basis for acquiring the necessary
technical information to develop, screen, ana-
lyze, and select appropriate cleanup techniques.
Chemical Fixation: The use of chemicals to
bind contaminants, thereby reducing the poten-
tial for leaching or other movement.
Chromated Copper Arsenate: An insecti-
cide/herbicide formed from salts of three toxic
metals: copper, chromium, and arsenic. This
salt is used extensively as a wood preservative
in pressure-treating operations. It is highly toxic
and water-soluble, making it a relatively mobile
contaminant in the environment
Cleanup: Actions taken to eliminate a release
or threat of release of a hazardous substance.
The term "cleanup" sometimes is used inter-
changeably with the terms remedial action,
removal action, response action, or corrective
action.
Closure: The process by which a landfill stops
accepting wastes and is shut down under Federal
guidelines that ensure the protection of the
public and the environment.
Comment Period: A specific interval during
which the public can review and comment on
various documents and EPA actions related to
site cleanup. For example, a comment period is
provided when the EPA proposes to add sites to
the NPL. Also, there is minimum 3-week
comment period for community members to
review and comment on the remedy proposed to
clean up a site.
Community Relations: The EPA effort to
establish and maintain two-way communication
with the public. The goals of community
relations programs include creating an under-
standing of EPA programs and related actions,
assuring public input into decision-making
processes related to affected communities, and
making certain that the Agency is aware of, and
responsive to, public concerns. Specific com-
munity relations activities are required in
relation to Superfund cleanup actions [see
Comment Period].
Comprehensive Environmental Re-
sponse, Compensation, and Liability
Act (CERCLA): Congress enacted the
CERCLA, known as Superfund, in 1980 to
respond directly to hazardous waste problems
that may pose a threat to the public health and
the environment. The EPA administers the
Superfund program.
Confluence: The place where two bodies of
water, such as streams or rivers, come together.
Confined Aquifer: An aquifer in which
groundwater is confined under pressure that is
significantly greater than atmospheric pressure.
G-3
-------
GLOSSARY
Consent Decree: A legal document, ap-
proved and issued by a judge, formalizing an
agreement between the EPA and the parties
potentially responsible for site contamination.
The decree describes cleanup actions that the
potentially responsible parties are required to
perform, or the costs incurred by the govern-
ment that the parties will reimburse, and the
roles, responsibilities, and enforcement options
that the government may exercise in the event of
non-compliance by potentially responsible
parties. If a settlement between the EPA and a
potentially responsible party includes cleanup
actions, it must be in the form of a Consent
Decree. A Consent Decree is subject to a public
comment period.
Consent Order: [see Administrative Order
on Consent].
Containment: The process of enclosing or
containing hazardous substances in a structure,
typically in a pond or a lagoon, to prevent the
migration of contaminants into the environment.
Contaminant: Any physical, chemical,
biological, or radiological material or substance
whose quantity, location, or nature produces
undesirable health or environmental effects.
Contingency Plan: A document setting
out an organized, planned, and coordinated
course of action to be followed in case of a
fire, explosion, or other accident that releases
toxic chemicals, hazardous wastes, or radioac-
tive materials into the environment.
Cooperative Agreement: A contract
between the EPA and the States, wherein a State
agrees to manage or monitor certain site cleanup
responsibilities and other activities on a cost-
sharing basis.
Cost Recovery: A legal process by which
potentially responsible parties can be required
to pay back the Superfund program for money
it spends on any cleanup actions [see Poten-
tially Responsible Parties].
Cover: Vegetation or other material placed
over a landfill or other waste material. It can
be designed to reduce movement of water into
the waste and to prevent erosion that could
cause the movement of contaminants.
Creosotes: Chemicals used in wood pre-
serving operations and produced by distilla-
tion of tar, including polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons and polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons [see PAHs and PNAs]. Con-
taminating sediments, soils, and surface
water, creosotes may cause skin ulcerations
and cancer through prolonged exposure.
Culvert: A pipe used for drainage under a
road, railroad track, path, or through an embank-
ment.
Decommission: To revoke a license to
operate and take out of service.
Degradation: The process by which a chemi-
cal is reduced to a less complex form.
Degrease: To remove grease from wastes,
soils, or chemicals, usually using solvents.
Deletion: A site is eligible for deletion from
the NPL when Superfund response actions at the
site are complete. A site is deleted from the
NPL when a notice is published in the Federal
Register.
De minimis: This legal phrase pertains to
settlements with parties who contributed small
amounts of hazardous waste to a site. This
process allows the EPA to settle with small, or
de minimis contributors, as a single group rather
than as individuals, saving time, money, and
effort.
Dewater: To remove water from wastes, soils,
or chemicals.
G-4
-------
GLOSSARY
Dike: A low wall that can act as a barrier to
prevent a spill from spreading.
Dioxin: An organic chemical by-product of
pesticide manufacture which is known to be one
of the most toxic man-made chemicals.
Disposal: Final placement or destruction of
toxic, radioactive, or other wastes; surplus or
banned pesticides or other chemicals; polluted
soils; and drums containing hazardous materials.
Disposal may be accomplished through the use
of approved secure landfills, surface impound-
ments, land farming, deep well injection, or
incineration.
Downgradient: A downward hydrologic
slope that causes groundwater to move toward
lower elevations. Therefore, wells downgradi-
ent of a contaminated groundwater source are
prone to receiving pollutants.
Ecological Assessment: A study of the
impact of man-made or natural activity on living
creatures and their environment
Effluent: Wastewater, treated or untreated,
that flows out of a treatment plant, sewer, or
industrial outfall. Generally refers to wastes
discharged into surface waters.
Emission: Pollution discharged into the
atmosphere from smokestacks, other vents, and
surface areas of commercial or industrial facili-
ties.
Emulsifiers: Substances that help in inking
materials that do not normally mix; e.g., oil and
water.
Endangerment Assessment: A study
conducted to determine the risks posed to public
health or the environment by contamination at
NPL sites. The EPA or the State conducts the
study when a legal action is to be taken to direct
the potentially responsible parties to clean up a
site or pay for the cleanup. An endangerment
assessment supplements an investigation of the
site hazards.
Enforcement: EPA, State, or local legal
actions taken against parties to facilitate
settlements; to compel compliance with laws,
rules, regulations, or agreements; or to obtain
penalties or criminal sanctions for violations.
Enforcement procedures may vary, depending
on the specific requirements of different
environmental laws and related regulatory
requirements. Under CERCLA, for example,
the EPA will seek to require potentially
responsible parties to clean up a Superfund
site or pay for the cleanup [see Cost Recov-
ery].
Erosion: The wearing away of land surface
by wind or water. Erosion occurs naturally
from weather or surface runoff, but can be
intensified by such land-related practices as
farming, residential or industrial develop-
ment, road building, or timber-cutting. Ero-
sion may spread surface contamination to off-
site locations.
Estuary (estuarine): Areas where fresh
water from rivers and salt water from
near shore ocean waters are mixed. These
areas may include bays, mouths of rivers, salt
marshes, and lagoons. These water ecosys-
tems shelter and feed marine life, birds, and
wildlife.
Evaporation Ponds: Areas where sewage
sludge or other watery wastes are dumped and
allowed to dry out.
Feasibility Study: The analysis of the
potential cleanup alternatives for a site. The
feasibility study usually starts as soon as the
remedial investigation is underway. In this
volume, the feasibility study is referred to as a
site study [see also Remedial Investigation].
G-5
-------
GLOSSARY
Filtration: A treatment process for remov-
ing solid (particulate) matter from water by
passing the water through sand, activated
carbon, or a man-made filter. The process is
often used to remove particles that contain
contaminants.
Flood Plain: An area along a river, formed
from sediment deposited by floods. Flood
plains periodically are innundated by natural
floods, which can spread contamination.
Flue Gas: The air that is emitted from a
chimney after combustion in the burner
occurs. The gas can include nitrogen oxides,
carbon oxides, water vapor, sulfur oxides,
particles, and many chemical pollutants.
Fly Ash: Non-combustible residue that results
from the combustion of flue gases. It can
include nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, water
vapor, sulfur oxides, as well as many other
chemical pollutants.
French Drain System: A crushed rock drain
systein constructed of perforated pipes, which is
used to drain and disperse wastewater.
Gasification (coal): The conversion of soft
coal into gas for use as a fuel.
General Notice Letter: [See Notice Letter].
Generator: A facility that emits pollutants
into the air or releases hazardous wastes into
water or soil.
Good Faith Offer: A voluntary offer, gener-
ally in response to a Special Notice letter, made
by a potentially responsible party, consisting of
a written proposal demonstrating a potentially
responsible party's qualifications and willing-
ness to perform a site study or cleanup.
Groundwater: Water that fills pores in soils
or openings in rocks to the point of saturation.
In aquifers, groundwater occurs in sufficient
quantities for use as drinking and irrigation
water and other purposes.
Groundwater Quality Assessment: The
process of analyzing the chemical characteris-
tics of groundwater to determine whether any
hazardous materials exist.
Halogens: Reactive non-metals, such as
chlorine and bromine. Halogens are very
good oxidizing agents and, therefore, have
many industrial uses. They are rarely found
by themselves; however, many chemicals
such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
some volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
and dioxin are reactive because of the pres-
ence of halogens.
Hazard Ranking System (HRS): The
principal screening tool used by the EPA to
evaluate relative risks to public health and the
environment associated with abandoned or
uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The HRS
calculates a score based on the potential of
hazardous substances spreading from the site
through the air, surface water, or groundwater
and on other factors such as nearby popula-
tion. The HRS score is the primary factor in
deciding if the site should be on the NPL.
Hazardous Waste: By-products of society
that can pose a substantial present or potential
hazard to human health and the environment
when improperly managed. Hazardous waste
possesses at least one of four characteristics
(ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxic-
ity), or appears on special EPA lists.
Heavy Metals: Metallic elements with high
atomic weights, such as arsenic, lead, mercury,
and cadmium. Heavy metals are very hazardous
even at low concentrations and tend to accumu-
late in the food chain.
Herbicide: A chemical pesticide designed to
control or destroy plants, weeds, or grasses.
G-6
-------
GLOSSARY
Hot Spot: An area or vicinity of a site contain-
ing exceptionally high levels of contamination.
Hydrocarbons: Chemical compounds that
consist entirely of hydrogen and carbon.
Hydrology: The properties, distribution, and
circulation of water.
Hydrogeology: The geology of groundwater,
with particular emphasis on the chemistry and
movement of water.
Impoundment: A body of water or sludge
confined by a dam, dike, floodgate, or other
barrier.
Incineration: A group of treatment technolo-
gies involving destruction of waste by controlled
burning at high temperatures, e.g., burning
sludge to reduce the remaining residues to a
non-burnable ash that can be disposed of safely
on land, in some waters, or in underground
locations.
Infiltration: The movement of water or
other liquid down through soil from precipita-
tion (rain or snow) or from application of
wastewater to the land surface.
Influent: Water, wastewater, or other liquid
flowing into a reservoir, basin, or treatment
plant.
Injection Well: A well into which waste
fluids are placed, under pressure, for purposes
of disposal.
Inorganic Chemicals: Chemical sub-
stances of mineral origin, not of basic carbon
structure.
Installation Restoration Program: The
specially funded program established in 1978
under which the Department of Defense has
been identifying and evaluating its hazardous
waste sites and controlling the migration of
hazardous contaminants from those sites.
Intake: The source from where a water supply
is drawn, such as from a river or water body.
Interagency Agreement: A written agree-
ment between the EPA and a Federal agency
that has the lead for site cleanup activities,
setting forth the roles and responsibilities of the
agencies for performing and overseeing the
activities. States often are parties to interagency
agreements.
Interim (Permit) Status: Conditions under
which hazardous waste treatment, storage,
and disposal facilities, that were operating
when regulations under the RCRA became
final in 19X0, are temporarily allowed by the
EPA to continue to operate while awaiting
denial or issuance of a permanent permit. The
facility must comply with certain regulations
to maintain interim status.
Lagoon: A shallow pond or liquid waste
containment structure. Lagoons typically are
used for the storage of wastewaters, sludges,
liquid wastes, or spent nuclear fuel.
Landfarm: To apply waste to land or incor-
porate waste into the surface soil, such as
fertilizer or soil conditioner. This practice
commonly is used for disposal of composted
wastes and sludges.
Landfill: A disposal facility where waste is
placed in or on land. Sanitary landfills are
disposal sites for non-hazardous solid wastes.
The waste is spread in layers, compacted to the
smallest practical volume, and covered with soil
at the end of each operating day. Secure chemi-
cal landfills are disposal sites for hazardous
waste. They are designed to minimize the
chance of release of hazardous substances into
the environment [see Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act].
Leach, Leaching [v.t.]: The process by
which soluble chemical components are dis-
solved and carried through soil by water or
some other percolating liquid.
G-7
-------
GLOSSARY
Leachate [n]: The liquid that trickles through
or drains from waste, carrying soluble compo-
nents from the waste.
Leachate Collection System: A system
that gathers liquid that has leaked into a landfill
or other waste disposal area and pumps it to the
surface for treatment.
Liner: A relatively impermeable barrier
designed to prevent leachate (waste residue)
from leaking from a landfill. Liner materials
include plastic and dense clay.
Long-term Remedial Phase: Distinct,
often incremental, steps that are taken to solve
site pollution problems. Depending on the
complexity, site cleanup activities can be
separated into several of these phases.
Long-term Response Action: An action
which requires a continuous period of on-site
activity before cleanup goals are achieved.
These actions typically include the extraction
and treatment of groundwater and monitoring
actions.
Marsh: A type of wetland that does not
contain peat moss deposits and is dominated by
vegetation. Marshes may be either fresh or
saltwater and tidal or non-tidal [see Wetland].
Migration: The movement of oil, gas, con-
taminants, water, or other liquids through porous
and permeable soils or rock.
Mill Tailings: [See Mine Tailings].
Mine Tailings: A fine, sandy residue left from
mining operations. Tailings often contain high
concentrations of lead, uranium, and arsenic or
other heavy metals.
Mitigation: Actions taken to improve site
conditions by limiting, reducing, or controlling
toxicity and contamination sources.
Modeling: A technique using a mathematical
or physical representation of a system or theory
that tests the effects that changes on system
components have on the overall performance of
the system.
Monitoring Wells: Special wells drilled at
specific locations within, or surrounding, a
hazardous waste site where groundwater can be
sampled at selected depths and studied to obtain
such information as the direction in which
groundwater flows and the types and amounts of
contaminates present.
National Priorities List (NPL): The
EPA's list of the most serious uncontrolled or
abandoned hazardous waste sites identified
for possible long-term cleanup under Super-
fund. The EPA is required to update the NPL
at least once a year.
Natural Attenuation: [See Attenuation].
Neutrals: Organic compounds that have a
relatively neutral pH, complex structure and,
due to their organic bases, are easily absorbed
into the environment. Water is the most
commonly known neutral, however, naphtha-
lene, pyrene, and tiichlorobenzene also are
examples of neutrals.
Nitroaromatics: Common components of
explosive materials, which will explode if
activated by very high temperatures or pres-
sures; 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a
nitroaromatic.
Notice Letter: A General Notice Letter
notifies the parties potentially responsible for
site contamination of their possible liability. A
Special Notice Letter begins a 60-day formal
period of negotiation during which the EPA is
not allowed to start work at a site or initiate
enforcement actions against potentially respon-
sible parties, although the EPA may undertake
certain investigatory and planning activities.
G-8
-------
GLOSSARY
The 60-day period may be extended if the EPA
receives a good faith offer from the PRPs
within that period. [See also Good Faith Offer].
On-Scene Coordinator (OSC): The
predesignated EPA, Coast Guard, or Depart-
ment of Defense official who coordinates and
directs Superfund removal actions or Clean
Water Act oil- or hazardous-spill corrective
actions.
Operation and Maintenance: Activities
conducted at a site after a cleanup action is
completed to ensure that the cleanup or
containment system is functioning properly.
Organic Chemicals/Compounds:
Chemical substances containing mainly
carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Outfall: The place where wastewater is
discharged into receiving waters.
Overpacking: Process used for isolating
large volumes of waste by jacketing or encap-
sulating waste to prevent further spread or
leakage of contaminating materials. Leaking
drums may be contained within oversized
barrels as an interim measure prior to removal
and final disposal.
Pentachlorophenol (PCP): A synthetic,
modified petrochemical that may be used as a
wood preservative because of its toxicity to
termites and fungi. It is a common component
of creosotes and can cause cancer.
Perched (groundwater): Groundwater
separated from another underlying body of
groundwater by a confining layer, often clay or
rock.
Percolation: The downward flow or filtering
of water or other liquids through subsurface
rock or soil layers, usually continuing down-
ward to groundwater.
Pesticide: A substance or mixture of sub-
stances intended to prevent, destroy, or repel any
pest. If misused, pesticides can accumulate in
the foodchain and contaminate the environment.
Petrochemicals: Chemical substances
produced from petroleum in refinery operations
and as fuel oil residues. These include
fluoranthene, chrysene, mineral spirits, and
refined oils. Petrochemicals are the bases from
which volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
plastics, and many pesticides are made. These
chemical substances often are toxic to humans
and the environment.
Phenols: Organic compounds that are used in
plastics manufacturing and are by-products of
petroleum refining, tanning, textile, dye, and
resin manufacturing. Phenols are highly poison-
ous.
Physical Chemical Separation: The
treatment process of adding a chemical to a
substance to separate the compounds for further
treatment or disposal.
Pilot Testing: A small-scale test of a pro-
posed treatment system in the field to determine
its ability to clean up specific contaminants,
Plugging: The process of stopping the flow of
water, oil, or gas into or out of the ground
through a borehole or well penetrating the
ground.
Plume: A body of contaminated groundwater
flowing from a specific source. The movement
of the groundwater is influenced by such factors
as local groundwater flow patterns, the character
of the aquifer in which groundwater is con-
tained, and the density of contaminants [see
Migration].
Pollution: Generally, the presence of matter
or energy whose nature, location, or quantity
produces undesired health or environmental
effects.
G-9
-------
GLOSSARY
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons or
Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs):
PAHs, such as pyrene, are a group of highly
reactive organic compounds found in motor oil.
They are a common component of creosotes and
can cause cancer.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): A
group of toxic chemicals used for a variety of
purposes including electrical applications,
carbonless copy paper, adhesives, hydraulic
fluids, microscope immersion oils, and caulking
compounds. PCBs also are produced in certain
combustion processes. PCBs are extremely
persistent in the environment because they are
very stable, non-reactive, and highly heat
resistant. Chronic exposure to PCBs is believed
to cause liver damage. It also is known to
bioaccumulate in fatty tissues. PCB use and
sale was banned in 1979 with the passage of the
Toxic Substances Control Act.
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons
(PNAs): PNAs, such as naphthalene, and
biphenyls, are a group of highly reactive organic
compounds that are a common component of
creosotes, which can be carcinogenic.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): A plastic made
from the gaseous substance vinyl chloride. PVC
is used to make pipes, records, raincoats, and
floor tiles. Health risks from high concentra-
tions of vinyl chloride include liver cancer and
lung cancer, as well as cancer of the lymphatic
and nervous systems.
Potable Water: Water that is safe for drink-
ing and cooking.
Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs):
Parties associated with a Superfund site who
may be liable for the cost of remedying the
release of hazardous substances. This may
include owners or operators of the site or trans-
porters who disposed of materials at the site.
PRPs may admit liability, or liability may be
determined by a court of law. PRPs may sign a
Consent Decree or Administrative Order on
Consent to participate in the site cleanup without
admitting liability.
Precipitation: The removal of solids from
liquid waste so that the solid and liquid portions
can be disposed of safely; the removal of
particles from airborne emissions. Electro-
chemical precipitation is the use of an anode or
cathode to remove the hazardous chemicals.
Chemical precipitation involves the addition of
some substance to cause the solid portion to
separate.
Preliminary Assessment: The process of
collecting and reviewing available information
about a known or suspected waste site or release
to determine if a threat or potential threat exists.
Pump and Treat: A groundwater cleanup
technique involving the extracting of contami-
nated groundwater from the subsurface and the
removal of contaminants, using one of several
treatment technologies.
Radionuclides: Elements, including radium
and uranium-235 and -238, which break down
and produce radioactive substances due to their
unstable atomic structure. Some are man-made,
and others are naturally occurring in the envi-
ronment. Radon, the gaseous form of radium,
decays to form alpha particle radiation, which
cannot be absorbed through skin. However, it
can be inhaled, which allows alpha particles to
affect unprotected tissues directly and thus cause
cancer. Radiation also occurs naturally through
the breakdown of granite.
RCRA: [See Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act].
Recharge Area: A land area where rainwater
saturates the ground and soaks through the earth
to reach an aquifer.
G-10
-------
GLOSSARY
Record of Decision (ROD): A public
document that explains which cleanup
alternative(s) will be used to clean up sites
listed on the NPL. It is based on information
generated during the remedial investigation
and feasibility study and consideration of
public comments and community concerns.
Recovery Wells: Wells used to withdraw
contaminants or contaminated groundwater.
Recycle: The process of minimizing waste
generation by recovering usable products that
might otherwise become waste.
Remedial Action (RA): The actual con-
struction or implementation phase of a
Superfund site cleanup following the remedial
design [see Cleanup].
Remedial Design: A phase of site cleanup
where engineers design the technical specifi-
cations for cleanup remedies and technolo-
gies.
Remedial Investigation: An in-depth
study designed to gather the data necessary to
determine the nature and extent of contamina-
tion at a Superfund site, establish the criteria
for cleaning up the site, identify the prelimi-
nary alternatives for cleanup actions, and
support the technical and cost analyses of the
alternatives. The remedial investigation is
usually done with the feasibility study. In this
volume, the remedial investigation is referred
to as a site study [see also Feasibility Study].
Remedial Project Manager (RPM): The
EPA or State official responsible for oversee-
ing cleanup actions at the site.
Remedy Selection: The selection of the
final cleanup strategy for the site. At the few
sites where the EPA has determined that
initial response actions have eliminated site
contamination, or that any remaining con-
tamination will be naturally dispersed without
further cleanup activities, a "No Action"
remedy is selected [see Record of Decision],
Removal Action: Short-term immediate
actions taken to address releases of hazardous
substances [see Cleanup].
Residual: The amount of a pollutant re-
maining in the environment after a natural or
technological process has taken place, e.g.,
the sludge remaining after initial wastewater
treatment, or the particulates remaining in air
after the air passes through a scrubber.
Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act (RCRA): A Federal law that established
a regulatory system to track hazardous sub-
stances from the time of generation to dis-
posal. The law requires safe and secure
procedures to be used in treating, transport-
ing, storing, and disposing of hazardous
substances. RCRA is designed to prevent
new, uncontrolled hazardous waste sites.
Retention Pond: A small body of liquid
used for disposing of wastes and containing
overflow from production facilities. Some-
times retention ponds are used to expand the
capacity of such structures as lagoons the
store waste.
Runoff: The discharge of water over land
into surface water. It can carry pollutants
from the air and land and spread contaminants
from its source.
Scrubber: An air pollution control device
that uses a spray of water or reactant or a dry
process to trap pollutants in emissions.
Sediment: The layer of soil, sand, and
minerals at the bottom of surface waters such
as streams, lakes, and rivers, that absorbs
contaminants.
G-11
-------
GLOSSARY
Seeps: Specific points where releases of
liquid, usually leachate, form from waste
disposal areas, particularly along the lower
edges of landfills.
Seepage Pits: A hole, shaft, or cavity in
the ground used for the storage of liquids,
usually in the form of leachate, from waste
disposal areas. The liquid gradually leaves
the pit by moving through the surrounding
soil.
Septage: Residue remaining in a septic tank
after the treatment process.
Sinkhole: A hollow depression in the land
surface in which drainage collects; associated
with underground caves and passages that
facilitate the movement of liquids.
Site Characterization: The technical pro-
cess used to evaluate the nature and extent of
environmental contamination, which is neces-
sary for choosing and designing cleanup mea-
sures and monitoring their effectiveness.
Site Inspection: The collection of informa-
tion from a hazardous waste site to determine
the extent and severity of hazards posed by the
site. It follows, and is more extensive than, a
preliminary assessment. The purpose is to
gather information necessary to score the site,
using the Hazard Ranking System, and to
determine if the site presents an immediate
threat that requires a prompt removal action.
Slag: The fused refuse or dross separated
from a metal in the process of smelting.
Sludge: Semi-solid residues from industrial
or water treatment processes that may be
contaminated with hazardous materials.
Slurry Wall: Barriers used to contain the flow
of contaminated groundwater or subsurface
liquids. Slurry walls are constructed by digging
a trench around a contaminated area and filling
the trench with an impermeable material that
prevents water from passing through it. The
groundwater or contaminated liquids trapped
within the area surrounded by the slurry wall
can be extracted and treated.
Smelter: A facility that melts or fuses ore,
often with an accompanying chemical change,
to separate the metal. Emissions from smelters
are known to cause pollution.
Soil Gas: Gaseous elements and compounds
that occur in the small spaces between par-
ticles of soil. Such gases can move through
or leave the soil or rock, depending on
changes in pressure.
Soil Vapor Extraction: A treatment
process that uses vacuum wells to remove
hazardous gases from soil.
Soil Washing: A water-based process for
mechanically scrubbing soils in-place to remove
undesirable materials. There are two ap-
proaches: dissolving or suspending them in the
wash solution for later treatment by conven-
tional methods, and concentrating them into a
smaller volume of soil through simple particle
size separation techniques [see Solvent Extrac-
tion].
Stabilization: The process of changing an
active substance into inert, harmless material,
or physical activities at a site that act to limit
the further spread of contamination without
actual reduction of toxicity.
Solidification/Stabilization: A chemical
or physical reduction of the mobility of
hazardous constituents. Mobility is reduced
through the binding of hazardous constituents
into a solid mass with low permeability and
resistance to leaching.
G-12
-------
GLOSSARY
Solvent: A substance capable of dissolving
another substance to form a solution. The
primary uses of industrial solvents are as
cleaners for degreasing, in paints, and in
Pharmaceuticals. Many solvents are flam-
mable and toxic to varying degrees.
Solvent Extraction: A means of separating
hazardous contaminants from soils, sludges,
and sediment, thereby reducing the volume of
the hazardous waste that must be treated. It
generally is used as one in a series of unit
operations. An organic chemical is used to
dissolve contaminants as opposed to water-
based compounds, which usually are used in
soil washing.
Sorption: The action of soaking up or
attracting substances. It is used in many
pollution control systems.
Special Notice Letter: [See Notice Let-
ter].
Stillbottom: Residues left over from the
process of recovering spent solvents.
Stripping: A process used to remove volatile
contaminants from a substance [see Air Strip-
ping]-
Sumps: A pit or tank that catches liquid
runoff for drainage or disposal.
Superfund: The program operated under the
legislative authority of the CERCLA and
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization
Act (SARA) to update and improve environ-
mental laws. The program has the authority to
respond directly to releases or threatened re-
leases of hazardous substances that may endan-
ger public health, welfare, or the environment.
The "Superfund" is a trust fund that finances
cleanup actions at hazardous waste sites.
Surge Tanks: A holding structure used to
absorb irregularities in flow of liquids, including
liquid waste materials.
Swamp: A type of wetland that is dominated
by woody vegetation and does not accumulate
peat moss deposits. Swamps may be fresh or
saltwater and tidal or non-tidal [see Wetlands].
Thermal Treatment: The use of heat to
remove or destroy contaminants from soil.
Treatability Studies: Testing a treatment
method on contaminated groundwater, soil, etc.,
to determine whether and how well the method
will work.
Trichloroethylene (TCE): A stable, color-
less liquid with a low boiling point. TCE has
many industrial applications, including use as
a solvent and as a metal degreasing agent.
TCE may be toxic to people when inhaled,
ingested, or through skin contact and can
damage vital organs, especially the liver | see
Volatile Organic Compounds].
Unilateral [Administrative] Order: [see
Administrative Order].
Upgradient: An upward hydrologic slope;
demarks areas that are higher than contaminated
areas and, therefore, are not prone to contamina-
tion by the movement of polluted groundwater.
Vacuum Extraction: A technology used to
remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
from soils. Vacuum pumps are connected to a
series of wells drilled to just above the water
table. The wells are sealed tightly at the soil
surface, and the vacuum established in the soil
draws VOC-contaminated air from the soil
pores into the well, as fresh air is drawn down
from the surface of the soil.
G-13
-------
GLOSSARY
Vegetated Soil Cap: A cap constructed with
graded soils and seed for vegetative growth, to
prevent erosion [see Cap].
Vitrification: The process of electrically
melting wastes and soils or sludges to bind the
waste in a glassy, solid material more durable
than granite or marble and resistant to leaching.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs):
VOCs are manufactured as secondary petro-
chemicals. They include light alcohols, acetone,
trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene,
dichloroethylene, benzene, vinyl chloride,
toluene, and methylene chloride. These poten-
tially toxic chemicals are used as solvents,
degreasers, paints, thinners, and fuels. Because
of their volatile nature, they readily evaporate
into the air, increasing the potential exposure to
humans. Due to their low water solubility,
environmental persistence, and widespread
industrial use, they are commonly found in soil
and groundwater.
Waste Treatment Plant: A facility that
uses a series of tanks, screens, filters, and
other treatment processes to remove pollut-
ants from water.
Wastewater: The spent or used water from
individual homes or industries.
Watershed: The land area that drains into a
stream or other water body.
Water Table: The upper surface of the
groundwater.
Weir: A barrier to divert water or other liquids.
Wetland: An area that is regularly saturated
by surface or groundwater and, under normal
circumstances, is capable of supporting
vegetation typically adapted for life in satu-
rated soil conditions. Wetlands are critical to
sustaining many species of fish and wildlife.
Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes,
and bogs. Wetlands may be either coastal or
inland. Coastal wetlands have salt or brackish
(a mixture of salt and fresh) water, and most
have tides, while inland wetlands are non-
tidal and freshwater. Coastal wetlands are an
integral component of estuaries.
Wildlife Refuge: An area designated for
the protection of wild animals, within which
hunting and fishing are either prohibited or
strictly controlled.
G-H
-------
GLOSSARY
Some Common Contaminants at NPL Sites
Contaminant
Category
Example
Chemical Types
Sources
Potential Health
Threats*
Heavy Metafe
Volatile Organic
Compounds
..(VOGs)
Herbicides
Poiychlorinated
RadMfon
(Racffonudkfes)
Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium,
Cadmium, Cobalt, Copper,
Chromium, Lead, Manga-
nese, Mercury, Nickel,
Silver, Selenium, Zinc
Trichloroethylene (TCE),
Perchloroethylene (PCE),
Acetone, Benzene,
Ketone, Methyl chloride,
Toluene, Vinyl Chloride,
Dichlorethylene
Chlordane, DDT 4-4, DDE,
Heptachlor, Aldrin, Endrin,
Atrazine, Dieldrin, Toxa-
phene
Polyaromatic hydrocar-
bons (PAHs), Polynuclear
aromatics (PNAs),
Phenolic Tars, Pentachlo-
rophenol (PCP)
Radium-226, Radon,
Uranium-235, Uranium-
238
Electroplating, batteries,
paint pigments, photogra-
phy, smelting, thermom-
eters, fluorescent lights,
solvent recovery
Solvents and degreasers,
gasoline octane enhanc-
ers, oils and paints, dry
cleaning fluids, chemical
manufacturing.
Agricultural applications,
pesticide and herbicide
production
Electric transformers and
capacitors, insulators and
coolants, adhesives,
caulking compounds,
carbonless copy paper,
hydraulic fluids.
Wood preserving, fossil
fuel combustion
Mine tailings, radium
products, natural decay of
granites
Tumors, cancers, and kidney,
brain, neurological, bone and
liver damage
Cancers, kidney and liver
damage, impairment of the
nervous system resulting in
sleepiness and headaches,
leukemia
Various effects ranging from
nausea to nervous disorders.
Dioxin is a common by-product
of the manufacture of pesti-
cides and is both highly toxic
and a suspected carcinogen.
Cancer and liver damage.
Cancers and skin ulcerations
with prolonged exposure
Cancer
Sources: Toxic Chemicals—What They Are, How They Affect You (EPA, Region 5)
Glossary of Environmental Terms (EPA, 1988)
'The potential for risk due to these contaminants is linked to a number of factors; for example, the length and level of exposure
and environmental and health factors such as age.
•if US GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1993 — 3 41-835/83020
G-15
------- |