Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Westcode Incorporated in Frazer, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
EPA sets national goals to measure progress toward meeting the nation’s major environmental goals. For Corrective Action, EPA evaluates two key environmental indicators for each facility: (1) current human exposures under control and (2) migration of contaminated groundwater under control. On February 13, 2013, EPA along with Michael Jr. Baker, Inc., conducted an Environmental Indicator (EI) Inspection of Westcode, Inc. (Westcode or the Facility). The findings of the EI Inspection are documented in a May 2013 EI Inspection Report prepared by Baker. Also presented in the EI Inspection Report is a summary of the information reviewed by Baker in preparation for the EI Inspection, including records maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and EPA. Based on a review of the information presented in the EI Inspection Report and observed during the February 2013 inspection, EPA determined that the Facility met both environmental indicators on June 26, 2013.
On July 18, 2013, EPA announced its proposed decision of Corrective Action Complete without Controls under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended, for Westcode. Consistent with public participation provisions under RCRA, EPA requested comments from the public on the proposed decision as described in the July 1, 2013 Statement of Basis (SB). The commencement of a thirty (30) day public comment period was announced in the Daily Local newspaper and on the EPA Region 3 Corrective Action website on July 18, 2013. Receiving no comments, the EPA on August 28, 2013, finalized its decision that corrective action was complete without controls.
Site Description
Westcode, Inc. manufactured and assembled railroad freight car brake valves and transit car components and subassemblies from September 1979 until they vacated the Facility in June 1989. The manufacturing process included a small electroplating operation and associated metal cleaning and preparation activities. A treatment area containing electroplating process and wastewater treatment tanks, a process chemical storage area, and a waste drum storage area were all located within the manufacturing building. Hazardous wastes reportedly generated by the Facility included spent halogenated solvents, wastewater treatment sludges, spent cyanide solution, plating bath residues, and spent stripping and cleaning bath solutions. All manufacturing/treatment areas were dismantled and removed from the building prior to Westcode vacating the property. Centocor, Inc. purchased the facility in September 1989 and converted the building to a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant. In 2008, Centocor, Inc. and Ortho Biotech, Inc. merged to form Centocor Biotech, Inc. (a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson). In 2011, Centocor Biotech, Inc. changed its name to Janssen Biotech, Inc., under which it continues to operate at the Facility today. Janssen Biotech, Inc. produces Remicade®, an artificial antibody utilized to treat autoimmune diseases.
Contaminants at this Facility
There have been no known or documented hazardous waste releases to Site soils or groundwater relative to Westcode, Inc.'s operations. No contaminants above levels of concern exist at the facility.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Institutional Controls were not required at the facility.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The facility is under continued use.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3.