Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Beazer East, Incorporated (Formerly: Koppers Company) in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
From 2001 to 2002, Beazer East Inc. (Beazer) conducted additional investigation to evaluate soil, groundwater, sediment and surface water at the Facility. Based on the findings of the investigation, Beazer implemented corrective action measures at the former solid waste management units and specific area of concerns that eliminated direct exposures to potential soil contamination. In 2003, and as a result of the remediation, EPA determined that the Environmental Indicators (EIs) for Current Human Exposures and Migration of Contaminated Groundwater are under control.
In 2005, Beazer proposed to redevelop the site for commercial and residential use under the Pennsylvania Act 2 Land Recycling Program (Act 2 Program). EPA acknowledges and approves Beazer East’s Letter of Intent to implement corrective action at the site in accordance to the Act 2 Program. The investigation and remediation under the Act 2 Program will concurrently meet the requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action Program. EPA intends to rely upon the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to resolve any current or future closure and corrective action issues associated with the Facility. However, EPA maintains the right to require additional corrective action or any other action if new information becomes available or there is a change in Site conditions indicating that such action is necessary to protect human health or the environment. The investigation and remediation under the Act 2 Program began in early 2006. EPA anticipates that the remediation will be completed in 2014. Contingent of the progress of the remediation, redevelopment of the property for mixed use will taking place concurrently with the remediation activities.
Site Description
The facility is located approximately ¾ mile west of Bridgeville in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The property comprises approximately 301 acres, of which the process area occupies approximately 55 acres. Chartiers Creek borders the property to the east and Millers Run borders the process area to the west and north. Both Chartiers Creek and Millers Run flow to the north. The Norfolk and Southern Railroad line runs in an east to west direction along the southern edge of the property. Interstate 79 is just east of the property and is separated from the process area by Chartiers Creek.
The facility was constructed in 1928, and was operated by the Seldon Company from 1928 until 1934. In 1934, the facility was purchased by the American Cyanamid Company (Cyanamid), which operated the facility until 1963. In 1963, the facility was sold to Koppers – Pittsburgh Company (KPC). In 1970, KPC sold the facility to Koppers Company, Inc. (Koppers). Koppers owned and operated the facility from 1963 until 1989. In 1989, Koppers leased part of the facility to Reichhold Chemicals, which continues to operate there. Koppers, which changed its name to Beazer East, Inc. (Beazer) in 1990, continues to own the property.
Manufacturing processes have been similar throughout the history of the facility. Historic manufacturing processes include the production of chlorinated naphthalene, amino and alkyd resins, resole resins, maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride for use in foam board, while current manufacturing processes include polyester resins, coating resins and other products.
Contaminants at this Facility
The primary contaminants in the groundwater at the facility are low levels of VOCs and SVOCs. Results of groundwater monitoring at the facility indicate that, although groundwater containing site-related constituents is present at the facility boundary, there have been no site-related constituents detected in surface water at the downstream edge of the facility. A risk evaluation performed in 1994 indicated that there is no threat or risk to surface water adjacent to the facility as a result of site-related constituents in groundwater discharging to Millers Run and Chartiers Creek.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
The need for Institutional Controls has yet to be determined.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The site has an unused and reused parcels.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3.