Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Ledvance LLC (Formerly: Osram Sylvania Incorporated) in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania

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Cleanup Status

On October 22, 1993, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Osram Sylvania Inc. entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (Order) to proceed with an investigation of existing environmental conditions at the facility. The focus of this investigation centered around the southern portion of the facility where chromium plating wastewater was disposed of directly to a former dry well in this area. This practice was terminated before OSRAM acquired the Facility in 1981. In 1989, approximately 85 cubic yards of soil heavy in trivalent chromium and hexavalent chromium were removed from this former dry well area, and the area backfilled. This interim measure was successful in removing the source material of chromium leading to groundwater. Historical groundwater monitoring at the facility over the past ten years suggests that hexavalent chromium in the groundwater is attenuating through natural reductive processes, and does not pose a threat to either human health or the environment.

Osram has placed a notice in the property deed to alert any future landowners that the groundwater cannot be used for drinking purposes. This notice can be found at the Tioga County Recorder of Deeds, 116 Main Street, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.

On March 31, 2001 EPA determined that both the Human Exposures and Groundwater Environmental Indicators have been met. EPA published in a notice, in local newspaper detailing the proposed Agency decision of no further corrective action, and issued a Final Determination of Corrective Action Complete with controls on November 26, 2008.

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Site Description

Interactive map of  Ledvance LLC (Osram Sylvania Incorporated), Wellsboro, PA

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The OSRAM Sylvania Inc. facility is located at the intersection of Austin and Jackson Streets in the borough of Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.

Believed to have been constructed in 1886 by the Columbia Glass Company, the facility is over 103 years old and occupies approximately 20 acres of property. Today, the OSRAM Sylvania Inc. facility primarily produces lime glass envelopes (the glass portion of incandescent light bulbs), which are then sold to off-site customers for final assembly.

The main contaminants of concern at the facility are dissolved hexavelent chromium and arsenic in the groundwater. In 2006, three years of semi-annual groundwater monitoring data collection was complete per the Order. Groundwater results for hexavalent chromium and arsenic are below the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) non-use medium-specific concentration (MSC) numbers and below EPA Risk Based Concentrations (RBC) tap water thresholds. Monitoring results indicate the plume within the property lines is remaining stable. Historical groundwater monitoring at the facility over the last thirteen years suggests that hexavalent chromium in the groundwater is attenuating through natural reduction processes, and does not pose a threat to either human health or the environment. It appears that all obligations of the 1993 order have been met.

OSRAM Sylvania Inc. developed a community relations plan to provide a means of communicating the objectives, plans and findings of the investigation to appropriate community resources. Informational meetings were held with key community leaders at the facility to discuss the investigation and to answer questions. A walking tour of the facility perimeter was also offered to identify locations of areas where investigative activities were focused. EPA received no comments from the public on the Final Decision.

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Contaminants at this Facility

The main contaminants of concern at the facility are dissolved hexavelent chromium and arsenic in the groundwater.

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Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

    Institutional Controls for ENTIRE FACILITY include:

    • Deed Notice which contains restrictions on land and groundwater use.
    • Information Device which Osram has placed a notice in the property deed to alert any future landowners that the groundwater cannot be used for drinking purposes.

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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

    Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3.

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