Hazardous Waste Cleanup: American Color and Chemical in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
American Color and Chemical, L.L.C. (ACC) is performing ongoing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Corrective Action activities at the site. These activities include groundwater remediation, quarterly monitoring, reporting, financial assurance, and maintenance of institutional and engineering controls.
ACC is performing the above described activities under a combination of an EPA Administrative Order on Consent [RCRA-III-082-CA] (AOC) effective March 25, 1997 and its Hazardous Waste Post-Closure Care Permit (permit) issued by PADEP on February 20, 2015 and in effect until February 20, 2025. The AOC and permit describe all the requirements of ACC to perform post-closure operation and maintenance at the facility.
Institutional Controls described in the permit require ACC to record a notation on the deed to the facility property or on some other instrument which is normally examined during title search that will in perpetuity notify a potential purchaser of the property that the land has been used to manage hazardous waste; its use is restricted under 40 CFR 265 Subpart G regulations; and the survey plat and record of the type, location, and quantity of hazardous wastes disposed of have been filed with the authority with jurisdiction over land use and with the Regional Administrator. As part of the AOC, ACC was required to request that the City of Lock Haven and Castanea Township place permanent industrial/commercial zoning and groundwater use restrictions for the Facility and downgradient areas in the vicinity of the ACC Facility. The City of Lock Haven is currently considering a Draft Groundwater Use Ordinance prepared by ACC and approved by EPA.
Site Description
Interactive map of American Color & Chemical, Lock Haven, PA
The American Color and Chemical, L.L.C. site in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania is a former chemical manufacturing facility which closed in 1982. On a 38 acre site that has been industrial since 1888, clay pipes and various chemicals such as phenols and dyes were manufactured. Currently the site is closed and all but one building has been removed. The remaining building houses offices as a base for the closure activities. The Facility has also operated under the names Stanley Aniline Chemical Works, American Aniline Products, and Koppers Company Incorporated.
This site, which borders the Drake Superfund site, is currently under its second AOC. The first AOC (9/5/91) covered the initial investigation of the site. This second AOC (3/27/97) covers implementation of the chosen corrective measures. As part of this AOC, the Corrective Action and Superfund Programs are working together to coordinate cleanup activities.
The cleanup has two parts: removal of wastes from wastewater management surface impoundments and remediation of the groundwater. Remediation of the surface impoundments was completed in March 2002 culminating in the construction of a cap over a 14.4 acre area.
Hazardous material had been properly disposed of and non-hazardous materials had been used to refill the impoundments. The impoundments were capped after they were refilled. Under the PADEP closure plan, ACC cleaned out all the surface impoundments. This completed the site-wide soil investigations and remediation activities.
The groundwater pump & treat system components were installed in 2000. ACC submitted an evaluation of the groundwater system on December 16, 2002. This evaluation showed that the contaminated groundwater is being contained on-site and suggests operating parameters. EPA accepted that the present hydraulic control at the ACC site is sufficient to contain the groundwater at the northern facility boundary and should remain within the 6-7 gpm pumping rate parameter
Contaminants at this Facility
Hazardous material had been properly disposed of and non-hazardous materials had been used to refill the impoundments, and contaminated groundwater is being contained on-site.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
| Restrictions or Controls that Address: | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
|
Groundwater Use
|
X
|
|
|
Residential Use
|
X
|
|
|
Excavation
|
|
X
|
|
Vapor Intrusion
|
|
X
|
|
Capped Area(s)
|
X
|
|
|
Other Engineering Controls
|
|
X
|
|
Other Restrictions
|
|
X
|
- Institutional Controls have been established and enforcable through local ordinances for land and groundwater use restrictions for the portion of the property located in the City of Lock Haven and the property located in Castanea Township.
- Engineering Controls have been established via Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) approved closure plan addressing impervious cover capping soils exceeding established cleanup standards
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The site is currently unused.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3.