Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Ilsco Extrusions Incorporated (Formerly: Signature Aluminum) in Greenville, Pennsylvania

On this page:


Cleanup Status

EPA released a "Statement of Basis" for the Werner Company facility on June 29, 2000. The public was invited to comment on the proposal that no further corrective action be required at the Werner facility during a public comment period which lasted forty-five calendar days from the date this matter was publicly noticed in a local newspaper ( June 29, 2000 to August 13, 2000). On August 13, EPA completed the public comment period, during which time EPA did not receive any comments on its proposal that no further corrective action is necessary at this time. Therefore, EPA has adopted the proposed decision as the final decision.

Cleanup Background

In 1975, approximately 200-300 gallons of an oil, caustic, sludge and water mixture was released to the Little Shenango River from a settling pond located at the Facility. The release occurred during a period of heavy rain and resulted in an oily sheen on the river noticeable some distance downstream. The discharge was immediately stopped and the pond removed shortly thereafter. Removal included proper disposal of a liquid oil/water mix that was pumped from the pond and transported to an authorized landfill. The excavation as backfilled and graded and all surface water runoff diverted around the area of the former pond. Cleanup activities were conducted under the supervision of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the US Coast Guard.

The following year (1976), approximately 10 gallons of a used oil and water mixture was released to the Little Shenango River from a collection sump that overflowed into the storm water drainage system. The release occurred during a heavy rain event and again resulted in an oily sheen noticeable downstream. Cleanup measures were immediately undertaken which included pumping the remaining oil/water mixture from the sump, sealing overflow pipes and lining the storm water drainage ditch with straw to filter and collect remaining oil. The PADEP supervised cleanup efforts and no further action was required.

In subsequent years, small releases of oil/water mix have occurred to the Little Shenango River. All such releases entered the Little Shenango River through the Facility's storm water drainage system. As such, these releases occurred at a designated outfall and are subject to the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the PADEP. In accordance with this NPDES permit and related regulations, PADEP is notified immediately of any release through the regulated outfall. Furthermore, concentrations of oil and grease discharging from the outfall is monitored and reported monthly to the PADEP.

Top of Page


Site Description

Interactive map of Ilsco Extrusions Incorporated (Formerly: Signature Aluminum), Greenville, PA

View larger map

The Werner Company is the nations largest manufacturer and marketer of aluminum, fiberglass and wooden ladders along with other climbing products such as scaffolding, stages and planks. In addition, aluminum extrusions are sold to customers who further process the custom aluminum shapes into their own end products.

Werner has been in operation since 1944 and has grown to include approximately 173 acres with about 640, 000 square feet under roof. The main industrial processes at the Facility include the production of secondary aluminum (referred to as "remelt"), aluminum extrusion, fiberglass pultrusion, assembly, fabrication, and warehousing. Hazardous wastes currently generated at the Facility include parts washer cleaning solvents, uncurred styrene resin, resin contaminated Dibasic Ester solution and used die cleaning caustic. These wastes are stored at the Facility for less than ninety days before being transported off-site for disposal .

Top of Page


Contaminants at this Facility

The threat of contamination to the environment at the Werner Company has been controlled. Any release that may have resulted in contamination has been satisfactorily remediated to within acceptable levels.

Top of Page


Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

Institutional Controls were not required at the facility

Top of Page


Land Reuse Information at this Facility

The site is in 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 EPA Region 3.

Top of Page