Michael Bubb
Analysis of Environmental Problems
2.1 #1
Publicker Industries Inc.
This site is a 37-acre area along the Delaware River adjacent to the Walt Whitman Bridge in Philadelphia. It had been an operating chemical plant from the early 1900s till 1986 when Publicker sold the site to a company called Overland. It was only shortly after the sale that Overland began demolitions but declared bankruptcy in late 1986 and abandoned the site. At the time of abandonment the site housed over 400 tanks and rail cars that contained over 2 million gallons of hazardous materials. Among these; 7,000 containers of acids, explosive compounds, and flammable compounds; 5,000 containers of unknown content; and 180 containers of hazardous gasses; among other things lab wastes and aboveground circulation pipes. The majority of these containers were in poor condition. In 1987 a multi-alarm fire in the facility aroused EPA interest and an investigation was launched.
The results indicated that a shallow aquifer below the site was slightly contaminated with toluene. However the deep water groundwater aquifer, which supplies drinking water to over 180,000 people, was contaminated with VOCs such as toluene and xylene. Also other heavy metals were detected. Cleanup began in 1987 and ended in 1997. It entailed packaging and storing above ground materials and sealing of wells that were contaminated. However the aquifer contamination was deemed to moderate to require cleansing of the aquifer. In 1997 the site was declared safe for industrial use.
2.1 #3
Note: Complete list attached
1. A.I.W Frank/Mid-County Mustang, Exton PA
This site was used in the 1980s as an auto repair shop for Mustang. Solvents used for cleaning engine parts were dumped into floor drains which spilled out into a nearby drain field. It was found that an aquifer, which supplied water to over 70,000, was contaminated with TCE. Cleanup resulted in containing and pumping out the majority of the TCE but the sight is still being monitored.
2. Avco Lycoming, Williamsport PA
This site has been used since the early 1950s to produce aircraft engines. It has also been used as a waste treatment facility. It appears that a large field southwest of the 27-acre site was used as a waste dump for the site. That field was located in such a position that it bled into local streams and ground water supplies. EPA investigation led to the discovery of TCE in groundwater and local streams that supply over 30,000 people. Cleanup began in 1997 and was completed in just a few years
3. Bendix Flight Systems Divisions, South Montrose PA
This site was used form for the construction of aircraft instruments since the 1950s. From 1952-58 industrial solvent wastes were dumped in a lagoon in a series of trenches. These contaminants eventually drained from the lagoon basin into the local water supply. In the 1990s cleanup began on the site. VOCs and TCE were found to be contaminating a vast amount of the local aquifer and wells. Local residents were given special filters for their wells but cleanup of the aquifer could not be completed. As such the migration of contaminants is not under control and unfiltered water would be hazardous to health.
2.2 # 1 & 2
1. The local drinking water comes to my house from the Delaware River which is the main provider of water for our basin, The Delaware River Basin.
2. See attached sheet.