Hazardous Waste Cleanup: HP Acquisition Corporation (Formerly: Hamilton Precision Metals) in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
In 2007, and as part of Ametek’s due diligence to purchase the HPM facility, a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and a Phase II Site Investigation (SI) were conducted by Environmental Resources Management (ERM) on behalf of Ametek. Based on the site assessment, the Phase II SI concentrated on seven Areas of Concern (AOCs) at the Facility. The seven AOCs consisted of the Mill Oil Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs), the former TCA/TCE Cleaning Operations, the Drum Storage Area, the former Underground Storage Tank (UST) Area, the former Septic System Leach Field, the Railroad Spur and the Pickling Room. The investigation evaluated soils and shallow groundwater on the property. Soil samples were collected using both a hand auger and direct push technology (DPT). Several temporary well points consisting of three-quarter inch screened polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe were installed to assess the shallow groundwater. In addition to the onsite groundwater investigation, EPA sampled five offsite residential groundwater wells in the vicinity of the Facility for organic and inorganic constituents.
The presence of low concentrations of volatile, semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs & SVOCs) and metals were detected in groundwater on the property. However, none of the confirmed onsite and offsite groundwater results for VOCs, SVOCs and metals exceeded the EPA Maximum Concentration Limits (MCLs).
Surface and subsurface soil samples were collected and analyzed for VOCs, SVOCs, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and metals. PCBs were not detected in soil. None of the detected constituents in the soil samples exceeded the PADEP Residential Direct Contact MSCs or the Residential Soil-to-Groundwater MSCs for used aquifers. Furthermore, the levels of constituents detected in soil meet EPA allowable risk range for direct contact for residential land use.
Based on the groundwater and soil investigation, EPA has determined that the Facility has met the environmental indicators for current human exposures under control and migration of contaminated groundwater under control (i.e., there is no contamination problem that creates an unacceptable risk to human health nor is there any evidence of groundwater contamination caused by the Facility) on June 27, 2012.
EPA has concluded that there are no current or unaddressed releases of hazardous wastes or hazardous constituents from the Facility. In August 2012 and after a 30-day public comment period on the proposed decision of no further action without controls, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the decision that no further action or land use controls are necessary at the Facility at this time. This final decision is protective of human health and the environment.
Site Description
Interactive map of HP Acquisition Corporation (Formerly: Hamilton Precision Metals), Lancaster, PA
View larger mapThe Facility is located on approximately 15 acres and is situated within the limits of East Hempfield Township, west of the city of Lancaster. The property is bordered on the south and east by light industrial facilities and to the north by farms. The west side borders two large warehouses. One residential property is located directly north of the facility, and four residential properties are located across Rohrerstown Road, east of the facility. The Borough of East Petersburg is located approximately 0.4 miles northeast of the facility.
The HPM facility produces specialty strip and foil metal rolled to customer specifications for high-technology industries such as computers, telecommunications, surveillance, electronics, business machines, automotives, aircrafts, land/surface/submarine vessels, and spacecraft. HPM's main process is re-rolling metal strip, foil and ultra thin foil. The Facility works with multiple alloy combinations (including titanium, nickel, copper, and brass) and re-sizes the metal rolls from a thickness of 0.060" (1.5 mm) to a minimum of thickness of 0.000060" (1.5 microns). The other operations at the facility include slitting, cleaning, pickling, annealing, and packaging. The finished products are used in multiple applications including, but not limited to: medical applications such as the outer covering of pacemakers, electrical component of resistors and circuit board components, and in fan blade components for jet engines and their associated housing in the aerospace industry.
In 2007, HPM was acquired by Ametek, Inc. (Ametek), a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices. The HPM facility continues to operate as a subsidiary company under Ametek.
Contaminants at this Facility
Wastes generated from the Facility’s operations consist of mainly acidic wastes from the metal pickling process. The acidic wastes are neutralized, filtered, and separated. The accumulated sludge is disposed offsite. The neutralized wastewater is discharge to the local sanitary sewer system. Until 2000, trichloroethylene (TCE) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA) were used in the vapor degreasing operations. The Facility has since switched to an aqueous degreaser.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Institutional controls were not required at the site.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The facility is under continued use.
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.