Return to Use Initiative
2009 Demonstration Project
Whitmoyer Laboratories:
Jackson Township, Pennsylvania
THE SITE: Whitmoyer Laboratories manufactured veterinary
Pharmaceuticals from 1934 until 1984 on 22 acres in rural Lebanon
County, Pennsylvania. Until 1964, the company stored wastes on site in
unlined lagoons. When the company changed hands in 1964, arsenic
was detected in the ground water, soil, and surface waters. A concrete
vault was subsequently built on site to contain lagoon sludge and other
contaminants. In 1984, the company filed for bankruptcy and closed its
doors. The same year, EPA added the site to its National Priorities List.
Initial cleanup actions provided bottled water to nearby residents and
removed drums of contaminated chemicals left on site. Remedial
activities included removing carbon, tar, sludge, soil, and debris
contaminated with arsenic, volatile organic compounds, and aniline
from the vault. Other actions included demolishing abandoned
structures, transporting contaminated materials off site for incineration,
burying and capping moderately or lightly contaminated soil on site
beneath 2 feet of clean soil, and ground water treatment.
THE OPPORTUNITY: The Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) at
the site funded its cleanup, including maintaining responsibility for long
term Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs. To be released from
these costs and attract a buyer, the PRP was willing to go beyond
minimum cleanup measures to fully prepare the site for future use. The
site is located in a rapidly developing area in Lebanon County near local
schools, and Jackson Township expressed interest in redeveloping it.
THE BARRIERS: Before the property could be transferred to the
Township, an agreement between EPA, the PRP, and Township needed
to be reached. To this end, it was important that EPA, the PRP, and the
Township collaborate closely regarding cleanup activities, land use
restrictions, and reuse plans. Aligning stakeholders' remediation and
reuse goals could be challenging.
THE SOLUTION: EPA signed a Prospective Purchaser Agreement
(PPA) with Jackson Township and the PRP that limited the PRP's
liability once Jackson Township purchased the land. The PPA also
Abandoned infrastructure at the Whitmoyer
site prior to remediation.
Barrier: Coordinating cleanup
activities and reuse plans
Solution: Close collaboration
between EPA, PRP, and Jackson
Township
Soccer game underway at the recreational
fields at the Whitmoyer site.
Before: Highly contaminated,
abandoned, industrial site
After: Recreational park in
rapidly growing area of Lebanon
County
niled States
nvironmental Protect
Agency
-------
established appropriate institutional controls and land use restrictions at the site. In return, the PRP fully
incorporated the Township's plans for reuse into their remedial activities. EPA played an important role in
brokering this arrangement, meeting regularly with the Township to discuss cleanup activities on site. They
also worked with the PRP to ensure that all hazardous waste was moved off site and nonhazardous soil was
safely contained beneath 2 feet of clean soil. During the cleanup, the PRP installed infrastructure to support
recreational reuse, including sewer, electrical and water lines, the foundation for a concession stand, walking
trails along the river, and landscaping. US Soccer Foundation representatives visited the location to ensure that
grading onsite would allow the soccer fields to drain properly.
THE SITE NOW: Jackson Township's recreational park opened at the Whitmoyer site in 2005 and offers ball
fields and nature trails to community members and nearby middle and high schools. The Township has
successfully maintained the site's remedy and activity on the site deters potential trespassers. Over the last
several years, the number of residences surrounding the property have notably increased, which could be
attributed to the new park. EPA remains in regular contact with the Township regarding the site's status.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Bhupi Khona, Remedial Project Manager, at (215)
814-3213 or khona.bhupi@epa.gov: or Chris Corbett, Region 3 Superfund Redevelopment Coordinator, at
(215) 814-3220 or corbett.chris@epa.gov.
Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
------- |