Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Ametek Incorporated - U.S. Gauge Division in Sellersville, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
On June 8, 2012, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Final Decision and Response to Comments (FDRTC) for the selected remedy at the Ametek U.S. Gauge Division facility (Facility). After careful review of all comments received during the public comment period regarding the proposed remedy in the Statement of Basis (SB), EPA has concluded that no modification to the proposed remedy is necessary. Therefore, the remedy proposed in the SB is now final and becomes the selected remedy.
The selected remedy for the Ametek site consists of the following:
• Establishment of a Technical Impracticability (TI) Boundary for groundwater, which consists of the Plant #2 property boundary
• Continued operation and maintenance of the Site’s groundwater pump and treat system
• Long-term groundwater stability monitoring and reporting
• Long term land development restrictions, and groundwater-related use restrictions pursuant to the Pennsylvania Uniform Environmental Covenants Act
On October 15, 2019, EPA issued an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) that modifies the Selected Remedy in 2012, Corrective Action FInal Decision to permit the redevelopment of the Facility, or portions of the Facility, for residential purposes. The modifications include the following components to allow for residential development:
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It is demonstrated to EPA that the soils in the area(s) to be developed for residential purposes meet Act 2 residential soil standards and EPA provides prior written approval of such development.
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It is demonstrated to EPA that such development will not impact the on-going remedial activity at the Facility.
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Buildings constructed on the Facility will have a vapor barrier and a passive radon-type mitigation system to address potential indoor air vapor intrusion unless EPA provides prior written approval that a vapor barrier and mitigation system are not necessary.
The above listed components may be implemented through a permit, order, or in the form of an environmental covenant pursuant to the Pennsylvania Uniform Environmental Covenants Act (UECA - Act 68).
EPA has determined that the Final Remedy selected in the 2012 FDRTC as modified by the ESD will remain protective of human health and the environment.
Site Description
Interactive map of Ametek Incorporated - U.S. Gauge Division, Sellersville, PA
View larger mapThe former Ametek, U.S. Gauge Division Plant #2 facility is located on Clymer Avenue, Sellersville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The property is approximately 45 acres that contain a main office and a manufacturing building, as well as several small buildings for storage of materials. From 1957- 2008, Ametek manufactured pressure indicating gauges and other instrumentation for the automotive, aircraft, process and public utility industries. The production process involves multiple steps of machining, forming, cleaning, and finishing of principal components prior to final assembly.
Since 1974, several investigations were performed at the site to assess, remove and control subsurface (i.e., soil and groundwater contamination) impacts. In June 1990 EPA issued a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Administrative Order on Consent directing the facility to proceed with a site investigation and cleanup.
Contaminants at this Facility
The primary concern at the site is groundwater migration of volatile organic contaminants (VOCs) that were used as solvents (e.g., trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethane) in the manufacturing process. This concern is being controlled with the installed groundwater extraction/treatment system. In addition to groundwater contaminants, elevated concentrations of VOCs in soil were also detected at specific locations within the boundaries of the facility. As part of the closures of the former dry and wet lagoons the contaminated soils were excavated and disposed offsite.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
The institutional controls will restrict the use of the Site to non-residential purposes and will prohibit the installation of public or domestic groundwater supply wells within the TI zone (Ametek Plant #2 Property Boundaries). The institutional controls will be implemented through in the form of an environmental covenant pursuant to the Pennsylvania Uniform Environmental Covenants Act.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The facility is in continued use.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3.