Celebrating	Suc
Ryeland Road Arsenic Site
Heidelberg Township, Pennsylvania
Superfund
Redevelopment
Initiative
- United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, Pennsylvania Field Office
project fact sheet
At the Ryeland Road Arsenic site in Fleidelberg Township,
Pennsylvania, EPA tested an innovative phytoremediation
method for reducing arsenic in shallow soils and wetlands
saturated by springs. Arsenic contamination originating from a
former pesticides manufacturing facility contaminated several
residential properties, as well as a forested wetland area and
plant nursery, located downgradient from the facility's waste
disposal area.
The site was added to the Superfund National Priorities List in
2004. Conventional methods for remediating this area would
have likely included clear-cutting of the forested area, soil
excavation and construction of an extensive riprap drainage
system. Instead, EPA chose to preserve the existing habitat. In
February 2009, EPA vacuum dredged the spring-fed creek on
the site to minimize the impact on both the stream and the
adjacent woods and wetlands. A pond that was adjacent to the
headwater area of the spring-fed creek was fed by a large spring
contaminated with arsenic. The water from the pond then
flowed into the spring-fed creek. Arsenic-contaminated ground
water seeps also drain into the spring-fed creek (most of which
are downstream of the pond's original location). Region 3 chose
to use Chinese brake ferns to remediate the residual arsenic
contamination adjacent to (and resulting from) the seeps. The
pond was filled in and diverted via braided channels throughout
the new meadow wetland.
At the site, ferns have been shown to effectively reduce arsenic
concentrations in shallow soils and in saturated soils such as the
wet meadow wetland area. With arsenic concentrations in soil
continuing to decline, EPA has continued fern plantings and
harvests at the site and an additional three to five growing
seasons are planned.
Today, the ferns are capturing arsenic and preventing
contamination from moving downstream. Their effectiveness
has eliminated the need for more invasive approaches, protected
adjacent forested wetlands and improving habitat through the
creation of a new wet meadow wetland.
Before: The stream at the Ryeland Road site
prior to fern planting. Source: EPA
"The innovative techniques being used at
the Ryeland Road site demonstrate that
contaminated areas can be cleaned
without destroying habitat. This site is a
model of how interagency cooperation
can solve cleanup/habitat conflicts to
benefit both humans and wildlife."
September 2011
For more information, please contact
Melissa Friedland at
friedland.melissa@epa.gov or (703) 603-
8864; or Frank Avvisato at
avvisato.frank@epa.gov or (703) 603-
8949.

-------