Hazardous Waste Cleanup: B Braun Medical Incorporated in Allentown, 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 May, 2, 2011, Michael Jr. Baker, Inc. conducted an Environmental Indicator (EI) Inspection of B. Braun Medical, Inc. (herein after referred to as “B. Braun,” “Facility,” or “Site”), on behalf of EPA. The findings of the Environmental Indicator (EI) Inspection are documented in a September 2011 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, EPA determined that the Facility met both of these indicators on December 1, 2011.
On December 28, 2011, EPA announced its proposed decision of Corrective Action Complete without Controls under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended, for the B. Braun. Consistent with public participation provisions under RCRA, EPA requested comments from the public on the proposed remedy as described in the December 8, 2011 Statement of Basis (SB). The commencement of a thirty (30) day public comment period was announced in The Express-Times newspaper on December 28, 2011 and on the EPA Region III website. The public comment period ended on January 26, 2012.
On February 1, 2012, EPA approved its final remedy decision for B. Braun in a document entitled the Final Decision and Response to Comments (FDRTC). EPA received no comments on the proposed decision. Consequently, EPA’s final determination is unchanged from the proposal. EPA has determined that its final decision is protective of human health and the environment and that no further corrective action or land use controls are necessary at this time.
Site Description
B. Braun is a privately-owned health care company that provides healthcare products, services and educational programs that enhance the care and safety of patients and healthcare professionals in the fields of drug delivery, IV therapy, pain control, clinical nutrition, dialysis and vascular intervention. B. Braun's products and services are used in hospitals, outpatient surgery centers and in the home care setting. B. Braun's facility located at 901 Marcon Boulevard in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, manufactures, prepares and sterilizes plastic disposable medical devices, such as valves, adapters, piercing devices, stopcocks, infusion pumps and systems, syringes, cannulae, regional anesthesia, balloon catheters, fluid administration systems, interventional products, and safety products.
Contaminants at this Facility
There have been no known or documented releases to site soils or groundwater relative to B. Braun's operations.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Institutional Controls were not required at the facility.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The site's future use is yet to be determined.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3.