Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Unitank Terminal Service in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

On this page:


Cleanup Status

An EPA determination that the Human Health Under Control Environmental Indicator (EI) has been met was made on March 22, 2004. EPA is continuing its evaluation of the Groundwater Migration Under Control EI at the site pending the results of Kinder Morgan’s groundwater investigations.

Cleanup Background

Kinder Morgan submitted a Site Characterization Report to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and EPA in July 2013. There are currently 56 monitoring wells, 16 soil vapor extraction (SVE) wells, 11 temporary points and 13 air sparging (AS wells) at the facility. Several compounds including benzene, cumene, Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE), chrysene and naphthalene have been detected at concentrations above PADEP’s groundwater medium specific concentrations (MSCs). BTEX-related compounds have been detected in groundwater north of the site as far as Bath Street and south of the site in the area of the AS/SVE system along Delaware Avenue at concentrations in excess of their respective MSCs.

Kinder Morgan continues to monitor groundwater on a quarterly basis. Fate and Transport Modelling will be conducted to evaluate the potential for migration of petroleum hydrocarbons in the aquifer to off-site sensitive receptors. Kinder Morgan plans to also conduct a Risk Assessment to identify any potential current and future exposure pathways for human receptors. EPA expects to see the results of these studies in mid-2014.

Cleanup Background

Although historically there have been several product spills at the facility, the most recent occurring on April 3, 2012, when approximately 100 gallons of fuel-grade ethanol was released due to a check-valve failure on a thermal expansion line in Storage Area A-2 near Tanks 209 and 213.

One release of note occurred on October 29, 2007, when fuel-grade ethanol leaked from an underground pipeline that was used to transfer ethanol between the terminal and the dock. Kinder Morgan installed 17 soil borings and four monitoring wells in November 2007 to assess
the magnitude of the release. An AS/SVE system was installed on the Philadelphia River Port Authority property across Delaware Avenue from the facility and began operating on April 2, 2010. The AS/SVE system is designed to reduce dissolved and adsorbed-phase ethanol and
BTEX constituents in the area surrounding the October 2007 release. Operation of the vapor recovery system is ongoing.
Kinder Morgan continues to monitor several small areas of groundwater contamination throughout the site.

Top of Page


Site Description

Interactive Map of Unitank Terminal Service in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


View larger map

The Kinder Morgan Liquids Terminals (formerly Unitank Terminal Service) site is a tank farm that occupies 35 acres of land and includes 107 aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) ranging in size from 2,500 to 1,680,000 gallons. The contents of the tanks vary over time. Kinder Morgan maintains a current listing of each tank’s contents on-site. Kinder Morgan does not currently store hazardous waste in any of the tanks at the property. Any containerized hazardous waste is stored on site for less than 90 days.

Like its predecessors, Kinder Morgan receives bulk liquids at its facility mainly by cargo ship, but also accepts rail car and truck shipments. Kinder Morgan leases two pier berths on the Delaware River from the City of Philadelphia. Bulk liquids are transferred to the southern pier via above ground manifolds and then transferred through underground piping to areas near the storage tanks. Bulk liquids are transferred to the northern pier via a similar manifold system and run aboveground crossing over Delaware Avenue and then discharging into product tanks. Materials delivered by rail car and truck are transferred directly into various on-site storage tanks.

Top of Page


Contaminants at this Facility

Several compounds including benzene, cumene, MTBE, chrysene and naphthalene have been detected at concentrations above PADEP’s groundwater medium specific concentrations (MSCs) and , Xylenes (BTEX-related) compounds have been detected in groundwater.

Top of Page


Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

The need for Institutional Controls is yet to be determined.  

Top of Page


Land Reuse Information at this Facility

 The site is under 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 with assistance from PADEP.

Top of Page