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Hazardous Waste Cleanup: BT Fuze Products Division of L-3 Communications (Formerly: Bulova Technologies LLC) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Cleanup Status

Bulova began operations at the property in 1991, manufacturing military detonators, safety equipment, commercial computer chips and circuit boards. In December 2001, Bulova sold the defense products portion of its business to the BT Fuze Products Division (BT Fuze) of the L-3 Communications Corporation. BT Fuze leased a portion of the Facility from Bulova and conducted operations at this location until its operations were moved out of state in early 2007. Bulova continued to assemble printed wiring boards and operated as a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator until it also closed down its operations in Lancaster, PA in November 2008. The building has remained vacant since that time.

The facility had a 2,000-gallon underground storage tank (UST) used to store No. 2 fuel oil, which was removed from service in 1982. The UST was originally installed to supply fuel to the building's trash incinerator. Bulova submitted a UST Closure Report to PADEP in June 1995 and received approval for the closure in September 1995.

On February 5, 2007, BT Fuze notified PADEP that it ceased operation of its permit-by-rule elementary neutralization and wastewater treatment system because manufacturing. A closure report certified that the treatment system components contacting hazardous wastes had been emptied and cleaned to the extent practical per the closure requirements for wastewater treatment units found at 40 CFR 265.404. Because this was a permit-by-rule system, the certification was not required by PADEP, but was submitted by BT Fuze to document closure activities for the State.

In July 2012, EPA has determined that its proposed decision for the Facility is protective of human health and the environment and that no further corrective action or controls are necessary at this time.

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Site Description

Interactive map of BT Fuze Products Division of L-3 Communications (Formerly: Bulova Technologies LLC), Lancaster, PA

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The Facility is located at 101 North Queen Street in Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Facility consists of a four-story brick building, approximately 210,000 square feet in size, with no outside property. The Facility is bordered by commercial businesses on all sides. Land use in the vicinity of the Facility is urban/commercial with intermixed businesses and residences.

The building was constructed and used in the early 1970s by a Hess' Department Store. In September 1980, the Hamilton Division of HMW Industries (Hamilton) purchased the Facility, which had been previously vacated by Hess' Department Store, and used it to design and manufacture arming devices under a government contract. After renovating the former department store for industrial usage in 1980, each floor consisted of assembly lines and individual work areas. The first floor was comprised of finishing and machining areas, a laboratory, tool shop, filter press, and solvent, waste solvent and sludge storage areas. Degreasers were located on the third and fourth floors. A permit-by-rule wastewater treatment system was located in the basement of the building. Offices, secretarial and clerical areas were located on the second floor.

Bulova began operations at the property in 1991, manufacturing military detonators, safety equipment, commercial computer chips and circuit boards. In December 2001, Bulova sold the defense products portion of its business to the BT Fuze Products Division (BT Fuze) of the L-3 Communications Corporation. BT Fuze leased a portion of the Facility from Bulova and conducted operations at this location until its operations were moved out of state in early 2007. Bulova continued to assemble printed wiring boards and operated as a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator until it also closed down its operations in Lancaster, PA in November 2008. The building has remained vacant since that time.

After Bulova vacated the Lancaster site in November 2008, all of the remaining equipment and anything else that was salvageable from inside the building was auctioned off, moved to other Bulova Technologies locations, or disposed of. The building space is currently vacant and ready for immediate use by a new tenant. 

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Contaminants at this Facility

EPA has determined that its proposed decision for the Facility is protective of human health and the environment and that no further corrective action or controls are necessary at this time.

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Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility

    Institutional Controls  were not required at the site.

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    Land Reuse Information at this Facility

    The facility is being reused.

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    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.

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