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Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Huntsman Pigments Americas LLC (Formerly: Rockwood Pigments) in Easton, Pennsylvania

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Cleanup Status

This facility is one of EPA Region III’s high priority Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective action sites.  The facility has conducted several environmental investigations at the site, including soil and groundwater sampling.

EPA the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) have determined that the Human Exposures Indicator have been met.  EPA/PADEP is currently evaluating the information to determine if all of the corrective action requirements have been met.

 
 


 

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Site Description

Interactive map of Huntsman Pigments Americas LLC (Formerly: Rockwood Pigments), Easton, PA

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Iron oxide production began at the facility in the 1876, under the name C.K. Williams Company.  In the 1920s, the company began production of synthetic iron oxide pigments using pickle liquor and scrap metal.  The facility was purchased by Pfizer, Inc. in 1962 and in 1984 the corporate entity that owned and operated the plant was incorporated as Pfizer Pigments, Inc., a subsidiary of Pfizer, Inc.  Magnetic oxide production began in the early 1970s.  In the spring of 1990, Pfizer Pigments, Inc. sold the portion of the plant west of the Bushkill Creek (approximately 100 acres) to Harcros Pigments, Inc., which was a subsidiary of Harcros, Incorporated. In January of 1998, Elementis purchased the site from Harcros Pigments.  The site is currently owned and operated by Elementis.

Currently, Elementis manufactures iron oxide pigments of various colors and grades at its Easton plant.  Sulfuric acid is used in this process to create a ferrous sulfate solution, which is then processed into a final product.

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Contaminants at this Facility

In April of 2001, a released. fuel oil (unknown amount) occurred into Bushkill Creek.  A surface soil sample collected from inside the former containment area of the tank contained concentrations of benzo(a) pyrene (51mg/kg) and naphthalene (14mg/kg) which are above their respective PADEP Maximum Soil Contamination Levels.

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Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

The need for Institutional Controls is yet to be determined.

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Land Reuse Information at this Facility

The facility is under continued use.

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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 with assistance from PADEP.

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