Hazardous Waste Cleanup: American Refining Group - Bolivar Drive in Bradford, Pennsylvania

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    Cleanup Status

    Notice of Violations (NOV) was issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to the Facility in August, 2002. The NOV addressed discharges of petroleum into Tunungwant Creek adjacent to the Facility.

    The Facility proposed to submit a cleanup proposal to PADEP under the Land Recycling Act and Clean Streams Law.

    Clean-Up Background

    In October 2004, the Refinery presented a proposed schedule for submitting a revised Site Characterization Report (SCR). The submission was slated to be due in late summer 2005.

    In July 2005, the Refinery submitted the Site Characterization Report to PADEP for approval.

    In October 2005, the Refinery requested the 2005 Site Characterization Report be permitted to withdraw for revision. 

    In 2006, the Refinery submitted all of the required draft revisions to the revised SCR and Risk Assessment Report for PADEP approval.

    In March 2007, PADEP provided written comments on the proposed revisions to the revised SCR and Risk Assessment Report. A final SCR and Risk Assessment Report were slated to be due in July 2007.

    In October 2007, PADEP approved the SCR and Risk Assessment Report. A Remedial Action Plan (RAP) was scheduled to be due in January 2008.

    In December 2007, ARG entered the EPA/PADEP One Cleanup Program.

    In January 2008, ARG submitted the Site Cleanup Plan (SCP).

    In February 2008, ARG submitted “Tunungwant Creek and Tributaries 2007 Benthic Marcoinvertebrate Survey” for the site.

    In June 2008, ARG met with PADEP to discuss the SCP deficiencies that led to the disapproval.

    In September 2008, ARG submitted PADEP a new and complete Remedial Action Plan (RAP).

    The former owner, Chemtura Corporation (Crompton Corp), filed bankruptcy in 2009. Part of the bankruptcy involved a settlement offer by Crompton to pay $10,000,000.00 to ARG to put towards the cleanup. PADEP and ARG accepted. The money is in an escrow account held by ARG and a new Consent Order and Agreement was entered in to between ARG and PADEP in September 2010. ARG has taken the lead on implementing the cleanup plan. Remedial activities include groundwater monitoring, contaminated groundwater recovery, SPL (Petroleum Separate Phase Liquid) recovery, capping disposal areas, in-situ oxidation, air sparging and soil vapor extraction, excavation, SPL/contaminated groundwater treatment, daily creek inspection and off-site disposal  

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    Site Description

    Interactive map of American Refining Group - Bolivar Drive, Bradford, PA

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    The Facility is located in Bradford and Foster Townships, McKean County, Pennsylvania. The facility property is approximately 45 acres in size. It has been operated by various owners as a refinery since at least 1890. It has been currently owned and occupied by American Refining Group (ARG) since 1997. Previous owners and operators of the Facility included Witco Corporation, Inc. (Witco) from 1966 through 1997. For 16 years prior to 1966, the site was operated as an oil refinery under Kendall Oil Company. Prior to 1950, the site was owned by the City of Bradford, which also operated an oil refinery on the premises. The City of Bradford purchased the site in the early 1900s from the Emery Oil Company. Emery built the Facility in 1881. Currently, the Facility is separated into two main areas to include: Foster Brook Area and Main Refinery.

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    Contaminants at this Facility

    Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs), and metals were found at elavated concentrations.

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    Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

      The need for Institutional Controls has not yet been determined.

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      Land Reuse Information at this Facility

      The site is under continued use.

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      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.

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