Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Kimberly Clark Pennsylvania LLC in Chester, Pennsylvania

On this page:


Cleanup Status

Currently a site investigation is underway.

Cleanup Background

Known Spills and release timeline:

•           April 1977: ~ 540 gal of concentrated sulfuric acid was neutralized w/ soda ash and was washed
•           Sept 19, 1980: ~ 2,200 gal of 40% sulfuric acid, some went to DELCORA system, remainder was neutralized with soda ash
•           March 23, 1981: ~ 10 gal of waste oil spilled into Delaware river, Coast Guard followed up, no environmental damage reported
•           April 10, 1981:PADEP notified the facility of 2 unpermitted discharges to Delaware river
•           July 19, 1983:~220 gal of mixture of No 2 and No 6 fuel oil discharged to the Delaware river, cleaned up and followed up by PADEP
•           Nov 29, 1983:~20gal of No 2 fuel oil was discharged from floor of facility generator building and the walk area outside of the building when an AST for a standby diesel generator was overfilled
•           Sep 6 1985:~5 gal of oil discharged to Delaware River via Outfall 003
•           May 20, 1988:~7.5 gal of diesel fuel and 2 gal of lubricating oil was discharged to Delaware river via outfall OO1
•           Jan 1989: No 2 fuel oil discovered leaking form a broken pipe leaked from Outfall 001
•           July 19, 1991:~6,000 gal of diluted sulfuric acid was released to ground surface, release was neutralized and collected
•           April 17, 1992: Oil dripping from an oil separator and mixed with storm water ~1 gal of oil leaked to creek
•           May 18, 1993:~600 gal of low Ph water was found draining into the Delaware river
•           July 3, 1999:~4 gal of hydraulic fluid was released to Del River
•           May 3, 2000: facility notified PADEP that a discharged of water and small amounts of pulp filter entered the Delaware river from a line of waste waster elementary neutralization system, ~100 gal
•           March 23, 2001:Facility notified PADEP that a discharge of river water containing mud entered the Delaware River following an electricity outage ~5,000 gal containing 625 lbs of solids
•           Oct 29, 2001:~15 gal of water containing 6lbs o paper filter discharged to Delaware river
•           Aug 9, 2006: sulfuric acid leak anther one occurred in June, unlikely acid escaped the containment area
•           June 8, 2009:~10gal of concentrated sulfuric acid released from a loose fitting above ground storage tank (AST)

Top of Page


Site Description

Interactive map of Kimberly Clark Pennsylvania LLC, Chester, PA

View larger map

Parts of this facility were owned by Chester Shipping Co form 1900-1940’s.  Scott Paper co had some parts of the facility in 1910.  In 1940’s Scott Paper acquired Chester Shipping Co.  Scott was liquidated to Kimberly Clark Corporation. 

The Facility consists of 74 acres, with a majority of that covered with impermeable surfaces and some gravel.  This part of Chester has been deemed an “enterprise zone”.  The facility is bordered to the North by a physician office, to the East by Harrah’s Casino and Race Track, West by Highway maintenance department and South by Delaware River.   The facility takes pulp into sanitary paper tissues, towels and napkins.  The facility operates and maintains cogenerations power plant.  The area is an “enterprise zone” designated by the City of Chester planning commission.

Kimberly-Clark operates a non-integrated paper mill along the Delaware River in Chester, Pennsylvania, converting pulp into sanitary paper products such as tissues, towels, and napkins. Raw paper fiber is received at the facility via rail car or truck where paper machines press, decorate, and process these products.

Top of Page


Contaminants at this Facility

 Contaminants of concernt include fuel and lubricating oil spills, and sulfuric acid spills.

Top of Page


Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

Institutional controls, if required, will be determined at the time of remedy selection.

Top of Page


Land Reuse Information at this Facility

 The site's future use is yet to be determined.

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