RETURN TO USE INITIATIVE
2010 Demonstration Project
CENTRE COUNTY KEPONE:
State College, Pennsylvania
THE SITE: The Centre County Kepone site includes
a 33-acre property located approximately 2.25 miles
northeast of the Borough of State College, Centre County,
Pennsylvania. Beginning in 1958, the Site was utilized as
a manufacturing facilityfor organic chemical intermediates
and products used in the detergent, pharmaceutical,
agriculture, metal plating and plastics industries. Former
wastewater disposal practices associated with the
chemical manufacturing facility contaminated ground
water and soils with volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
and pesticides. The Site was listed on the Superfund
National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983.
Cleanup at the Site has been addressed under four
operable units (OUs): ground water (OU1), former spray
field soils (OU2), processing and storage area pesticide-
impacted soils (OU3), and VOC-impacted soils (OU4).
Two Records of Decision (RODs) have been issued
for the Site: in 1995 for ground water remediation and
in 2009 for soil remediation. Construction of the ground
water extraction and treatment remedy was completed
in 2000 and the treatment system has continued to
operate. Pesticide-contaminated soils were excavated
and disposed of off site, while a soil vapor extraction
system is addressing VOC contamination in accordance
with a 2001 ROD Amendment. The 2009 ROD addressed
cleanup actions for the OU2 former spray field soils
and negotiations for a Consent Decree to carry out the
selected remedy are underway.
HE OPPOR UNI Following an announcement
in 2003 that manufacturing activities at the Site would cease
in March 2004, potentially responsible party, RUTGERS
Organics Corporation (ROC), approached EPA to discuss
potential actions that could support the future reuse of the
property. Since ROC was already looking for a potential
buyer, EPA suggested looking at reuse possibilities within
the context of selecting the remedy fortheformer spray field
soils. Discussions regarding the extent of contamination
and reuse possibilities resulted in ROC dividing the Site
into three parcels: 1) the Administration Parcel, 2) the
Remediation Parcel and 3) the Redevelopment Parcel.
PICTURED: Frontage of the former ROC property along
State Route 26 (Administration Parcel), (source: EPA)
POTENTIAL BARRIER: Planning a remedy that incorporated
future land use considerations required clear and consistent
communication between all stakeholders.
SOLUTION: Regular communication and a clear understanding
of the Site's reuse potential allowed for transparent planning and
interim reuse during cleanup.
PICTURED: Former ROC warehouse building on the Site
being reused by Quality Roofing Supply Co. (source: EPA)
BEFORE: Vacant former industrial property in an active
commercial and industrial area.
AFTER: Subdivided Site already supporting reuse activities
on two parcels. One parcel has been purchased by an area
developer. While negotiations for implementation of the remedy
and final reuse planning are underway, a second parcel is being
used by a roofing company for sales and storage.
United States
Environmental Protection	Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
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Updated: August 2010 1

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POTENTIAL BARRIER: Several key stakeholders, including College Township, ROC, the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and EPA were interested in supporting
the Site's return to beneficial use. In order for reuse to be possible, stakeholders needed to have a clear
understanding of the Site's remedy and how Site conditions might inform reuse opportunities across
different parts of the Site. Merging expectations with realistic reuse planning could have posed a barrier
to Site redevelopment; however, clear communication among stakeholders has allowed for informed
decisions and progress towards the Site's reuse.
THE SOLUTION: The nine-acre Administration Parcel was never used for manufacturing purposes
and is located upgradient from ground water contamination. After confirmation sampling determined
there were no site-related contaminants at or above cleanup goals, EPA deleted the Administration
Parcel from the NPL in November 2004. Nineteen acres of the remaining 33-acre ROC property,
including the former spray field area and the non-manufacturing areas of the Site, were set aside as
the Redevelopment Parcel. The Redevelopment Parcel may be used for non-residential activities, such
as offices, warehousing or other non-manufacturing uses. The Site's 2009 ROD selected a flexible
remedy for the former spray field area, allowing a combination of approaches (soil cover, pavement
and/or a building cover, or excavation and off-site disposal) consistent with supporting light industrial
or commercial uses of the property. By selecting a flexible remediation approach, EPA has maintained
a broad scope for the types of reuse that can be supported by the property, while ensuring the remedy
remains fully protective of human health and the environment. Institutional controls (in the form of
an environmental covenant running with the land) will ensure the protectiveness of the remedy and
prevent inappropriate future land uses. The final 14-acre portion of the ROC property, the Remediation
Parcel, houses the Site's ground water treatment and soil vapor extraction systems and will continue to
be used to support long-term remediation activities.
THE SITE NOW: After being deleted from the NPL, the Administration Parcel was sold to an area
developer. In 2009, ROC entered into an Agreement of Saleforthe Redevelopment Parcel. The agreement
limits future uses to those consistent with the requirements of the Site's RODs and allows for continued
access by ROC and EPA for remediation and
monitoring purposes. EPA is presently negotiating
a Consent Decree with ROC to address GU2's
remedial design and construction.
During these Consent Decree negotiations, ROC
approached EPA about allowing a tenant to use
a portion of the Redevelopment Parcel. EPA
approved of the proposed use by a roofing company
for a storage and sales facility because it was
consistent with Township requirements and deed
restrictions and would not impact site remediation.
As a result, interim uses are underway at the Site
even before long-term redevelopment plans have
been finalized.
PICTURED: View of the Centre County Kepone site from a nearby street.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Frank Klanchar, Remedial Project
Manager, at (215) 814-3218 or klanchar.frank@epa.aov: or Kristine Matzko, Region 3 Superfund
Redevelopment Coordinator, at (215) 814-5719 or matzko. kristine@epa.gov.
pp|j| United States
Environmental Protection	Superfund Redevelopment Initiative
I—J jr % Agency
kAgency
Updated: August 2010 2

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