Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Greene Tweed and Company Incorporated in Kulpsville, Pennsylvania

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Cleanup Status

EPA sets national goals to measure progress toward meeting the nation’s major environmental goals.  For Corrective Action, EPA evaluates two key environmental indicators for each facility: (1) current human exposures under control and (2) migration of contaminated groundwater under control.  On April 19, 2011, Michael Jr. Baker, Inc. (Baker) conducted an Environmental Indicator (EI) Inspection of Greene, Tweed & Co. (Green Tweed or Facility), on behalf of EPA.  The findings of the EI Inspection are documented in a December 2011 EI Inspection Report for Greene Tweed, prepared by Baker.  Also presented in the EI Inspection Report is a summary of the information reviewed by Baker in preparation for the EI Inspection, including records maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and EPA.  Based on a review of the information presented in the EI Inspection Report, EPA determined that the Facility met both of these indicators on March 20, 2012.
 
EPA’s review of available information indicates that there are no unaddressed releases of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents from the Facility.  On May 16, 2012, EPA announced its proposed decision of Corrective Action Complete without Controls under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended, for Green Tweed.  Consistent with public participation provisions under RCRA, EPA requested comments from the public on the proposed remedy as described in the April 27, 2012 Statement of Basis (SB).  The commencement of a thirty (30) day public comment period was announced in The Reporter newspaper on May 16, 2012 and on the EPA Region III website.  The public comment period ended on June 14, 2012.

On June 20, 2012, EPA approved its final remedy decision for Green Tweed in a document entitled the Final Decision and Response to Comments (FDRTC).  EPA received no comments on the proposed decision.  Consequently, EPA’s final determination is unchanged from the proposal.  EPA has determined that its final decision is protective of human health and the environment and that no further corrective action or land use controls are necessary at this time.

Cleanup Background

In February 2002, the Facility had a release of fuel oil following a refueling event of the Facility's 20,000-gallon underground storage tank (UST) containing No. 2 fuel oil and a 15,000-gallon UST containing No. 4 fuel oil. As a result, the Facility underwent a soil and groundwater investigation in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (PADEP) Land Recycling Program (Act 2). The Act 2 investigation specifically addressed the release of fuel oil from the two USTs which impacted two areas: the immediate area in the vicinity of the USTs, and a drainage swale located in a grassy area of the Facility located directly northwest of the stormwater retention pond. In May 2009, PADEP approved the Facility's Act 2 Final Report and stated that the Facility had demonstrated attainment of the residential Statewide Health Standard (SHS) for constituents of No. 2, No. 4 and No. 6 fuel oils for soil within the UST excavation and drainage swale, and for groundwater.

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Site Description

Interactive Map of Greene Tweed and Company Incorporated, Kulpsville, Pennsylvania


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Greene, Tweed & Co. (Greene Tweed or Facility) is located at 2075 Detwiler Road in Kulpsville, Towamencin Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  The Facility is bordered to the northwest by Delp Drive, the southwest by Detwiler Road, and to the southeast by Gehman Road.  The Facility covers approximately 30 acres.  Land use in the surrounding area includes commercial and residential properties. 

Prior to 1971, the Facility property was utilized as farmland.  Greene Tweed purchased the property in 1971 and began construction of the Facility buildings.  Since 1971, Greene Tweed has been the sole owner and operator of the Facility.  The Facility manufactures specialty seals, gaskets, and custom engineered plastic components for the aerospace, defense, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries.  The Facility’s main product lines currently include synthetic rubber, PEEK plastic, and plastics machining.

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Contaminants at this Facility

Contaminants of concern are fuel oil leaks and spills.

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Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

Institutional controls were not required at the facility.

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Land Reuse Information at this Facility

Global Advanced Metals continues to use the facility to process rare metals.

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Site Responsibility at this Facility

RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3.

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