Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Coinco Incorporated (Doing Business as Morco) in Cochranton, Pennsylvania

On this page:


Cleanup Status

In September 2002, EPA determined that both Environmental Indicators (EI) for Current Human Exposures and Migration of Contaminated Groundwater are currently under control. Presently, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) is the lead agency overseeing the onsite remediation under the State Work Share program with EPA. Over the years the groundwater monitoring data indicate that the groundwater plume beneath the facility has reached steady state and is not migrating beyond the facility's property lines. For this reason and in 2007, the PADEP modified its Consent Order and Agreement with Morco to reflect the significant progress in the groundwater remediation. The facility is no longer required to operate the groundwater pump and treat system. There are no residential receptors to groundwater in the area. The residences are connected to municipal water. The facility will rely on and continue to groundwater monitoring to assure that the EIs are under control.

Top of Page


Site Description

Interactive Map of Coinco Incorporated, Cochranton, Pennsylvania


View larger map

The Morco facility is located in Cochranton, PA and consists of approximately ten acres. Morco Corporation was originally founded around 1921 and first located at the current location in 1938. The current owners purchased the corporation in December 1971. Morco is engaged in the manufacturing of specialty advertising products. The manufacturing process consists of lettering, painting and assembling of component parts. In the production process, some articles require an application of paint. This paint is applied in a spray booth which periodically requires cleaning. The paint sludge removed during cleaning is placed in an Auto-Vac Filter where the liquid and solids are separated. The liquid is poured in the drain which discharges to the lagoon to be recycled back into the painting process. The solids are then transferred into drums and transported to an approved facility as hazardous wastes. The spray booth residuals contain toluene and other organic solvents. Low levels of metals are sometimes detected depending on the pigment use of the batch. All residual sludges are shipped offsite for disposal.

Investigation was conducted on site to evaluate potential soils and groundwater contamination. Contaminated soils from the closure of the former surface impoundments were excavated and shipped offsite for disposal. After six years of ground pump and treat, the levels of volatile organic compounds have decreased significantly.

Top of Page


Contaminants at this Facility

Primary contaminant of concern is trichloroethylene (TCE) in groundwater.

Top of Page


Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

    While there are no Institutional Controls, on-going groundwater monitoring is continuing at the site.

    Top of Page


    Land Reuse Information at this Facility

    The facility is under continued use.

    Top of Page


    Site Responsibility at this Facility

    Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection with assistance from EPA Region 3.

    Top of Page