Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Van Waters and Rogers Incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
EPA/state will visit the facility and meet with company representatives on an upcoming date. EPA/state is reviewing existing environmental information to determine if further investigation is required. EPA/State will focus first on the health and groundwater impacts, if any, presented by the facility. Once EPA/state completes this review process, an environmental indicator determination will be prepared and posted to this website.
Site Description
In a 1966 merger, distributor Van Waters & Rogers, Inc., and manufacturer United Pacific Corporation combined to become VWR United Corporation. Four years later, VWR United Corporation expanded into the eastern United States.
In February 1986, the company, then known as Univar Corporation, restructured into two companies: the existing Univar Corporation and the newly formed VWR Corporation. Univar Corporation continued to own and operate the industrial and pest control chemicals and textile maintenance products distribution businesses while VWR Corporation was spun off. It acquired all of the non-chemical distribution businesses, including the scientific and graphic arts equipment and supplies, textiles and furniture manufacturing supplies, electronic components and electromechanical devices. In 1989, VWR Corporation decided to concentrate solely on the scientific division’s laboratory supply and equipment sales, and sold off all its other divisions.
During the 1990s and 2000s, VWR Corporation went through several name changes and acquired different companies, though it never changed its commitment to providing critical products to the world's top pharmaceutical, biotech, industrial, educational and governmental organizations. In September 1995, the company changed its name to VWR Scientific Products Corporation, and then in December 2000, it became VWR International, Inc. The company arrived at its present name, VWR International, LLC in June 2007.
Contaminants at this Facility
The facility was a large quantity hazardous waste generator (LQG).
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
The need for Institutional Controls is yet to be determined.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The site's future use is yet to be determined.
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.