Hazardous Waste Cleanup: AERC.Com Incorporated in Allentown, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
In 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and its contractor (Baker) conducted a site inspection at the facility. The inspection evaluated two key environmental indicators (EIs): (1) current human exposures and (2) migration of contaminated groundwater to determine whether any unacceptable risk to human health and/or the environment is ongoing at the facility. No obvious areas of concern were identified during the visit. Based on the site visit and the comprehensive file review, there appears to be no indications of spills or releases that have negatively impacted soil, groundwater, surface water, or air that would lead to adverse impacts to human health or the environment at this time. On February 6, 2013, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final decision of “Corrective Action Complete without Controls”, which states that no further action or land use controls are necessary at the Facility at this time.
AERC currently operates under the Hazardous Waste Storage Permit (permit number PAD PAD987367216) issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) for the treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) of hazardous wastes. The Pennsylvania permit became effective on August 19, 2006 and will remain in effect until August 19, 2016 at which point the permit will be renewed or replaced with a similar State mechanism.
Site Description
The facility is situated on a 3.2 acre parcel located at 2591 Mitchell Avenue, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The property is located in the South Allentown Industrial Area. This area has been designated by the City of Allentown (City) as an Enterprise Zone. The Enterprise Zone is a continuous belt of generally industrial areas extending from Interstate 78/Route 309 on the southwest to the Jordan Creek and Lehigh River areas to the northeast, covering approximately 2,500 acres. The property is zoned general industrial.
AERC is a full-service environmental recycling company specializing in the reclamation of hazardous materials and electronic equipment recycling. The facility processes metallic mercury, fluorescent lamps, spent batteries, thermostats, pesticides, and other mercury-containing wastes. Incoming waste materials are accepted in the shipping and receiving area and stored indoors in one of the facility’s six permitted waste storage areas until processed. On October 31, 2012, Recycling Holdings, LLC acquired majority ownership of AERC.com, Inc.
Contaminants at this Facility
EPA has determined that the Facility met there is no contamination problem that creates an unacceptable risk to human health nor is there any evidence of adverse groundwater contamination impact
to the environment.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Institutional Controls were not required at the site.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The site's future use is yet to be determined.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3.