Hazardous Waste Cleanup: GAF Materials in Quakertown, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
The final decision of Complete without Controls became effective September 30, 2013, after a 30-day public comment period. No further action is required to make the GAF Materials property suitable for any type of land use.
An Environmental Indicator (EI) inspection was conducted in April 2004 to determine if human exposures to contamination and migration of contaminated groundwater are under control at the facility. Mentioned in the inspection report were several soil removals that were a result of leaking underground piping from an aboveground storage tank (AST) in 1993 and a pressurized release of asphalt oil from another AST in 2003. Residual contamination at levels below concern remained in place in isolated areas from both spills but pose minimal risk to any receptor. EPA determined that both EIs were met at the facility in June 2013.
Site Description
The Facility was established on December 15, 1979, by Georgia-Pacific Corporation. Georgia-Pacific had purchased the Facility in two separate parcels from the American Funding Corporation. The first 20-acre parcel was purchased in 1978 and the adjoining five-acre parcel in August 1979. Prior to Georgia-Pacific development, the site was believed to be a farm. Georgia-Pacific operated the Facility until March 1994 when Atlas Roofing Corporation purchased Georgia-Pacific’s roofing business. The Atlas Roofing facility is located on approximately 25 acres in the Penn-Am Industrial Park in Quakertown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The facility began operations in 1979 and manufactures shingle roofing, roll roofing, and felt underlayment for shingle and roll roofing. The Building Materials Corporation of America, doing business as GAF Materials Corporation, purchased the Facility in May 2004. In 2008, GAF Materials Corporation ceased operations at the Facility, which remains dormant in the hopes of potential future reuse.
Contaminants at this Facility
Primary contaminants at the facility include fuel oil constituents and heavier petroleum constituents from previous asphalt releases. Since prior asphalt spills have immediately hardened and been scraped off any surfaces, it is unlikely that any residual asphalt remaining would present a risk to workers or any other receptor. Residual levels of fuel oil constituents in subsurface soil are not expected to adversely affect potential receptors such as construction workers that may be exposed to contamination in subsurface soil.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Institutional Controls were not required at the site.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The facility is unused.
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.