Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Koppers Incorporated - Susquehanna Plant in Montgomery, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
The Final Environmental Indicator Inspection (EI) Report was submitted in December 2003. Since this submittal, Koppers has focused on a former surface impoundment where elevated levels of Naphthalene were detected in existing monitoring wells. Koppers entered into the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Act 2 Program to address the impoundment. An investigation ensued and subsequently an Act 2 Final Report was submitted on October 10, 2006 and was approved on January 9, 2007. PADEP approved the clean closed status of this impoundment meaning it was no longer a concern.
Based on further review of the EI report, EPA, PADEP, Koppers, and Beazer met on October 30, 2008 to discuss comments and options for satisfying remaining Corrective Action obligations at the facility. The focus was primarily on a former spray irrigation field, a waste storage pad, and noted releases from an Aeration Basin. Koppers performed an investigation on June 3, 2009 in these areas to supply current data. A Soil Sample Summary Report was submitted on April 30, 2010 and is currently under review.
In June 2010, EPA determined that the Human Health Exposures Under Control and the Migration of Contaminated Groundwater Environmental Indicators had been met. Then on September 24,2013 , the EPA rendered its corrective action remedy decision "complete with controls" for the facility. EPA has determined that the existing gravel cover at the Creosote Unloading Area is protective of human health and the environment by limiting direct contact to contaminated media at this Facility. Also EPA is proposing land use restrictions be established and maintained to restrict the Facility to industrial uses and to require inspection and maintenance of the gravel cover at the Creosote Unloading Area.
Site Description
Interactive Map of Koppers Incorporated - Susquehanna Plant, Montgomery, Pennsylvania
View larger map
The Koppers Inc. Susquehanna Plant is located at 50 Koppers Lane, just off of Route 405 in Montgomery, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. The areal extent of the site is approximately 157 acres, however a portion of the plant was sold in the late 1980s and operations were and are performed on only approximately 99 acres since the Facility was built. The remaining portion of the land was agricultural in use. The Koppers Susquehanna Plant was built in 1971 to serve the Penn Central, Reading and other eastern railroad lines, now the ConRail System, for track maintenance and upgrading programs. The facility’s product lines include pressure-creosoted railroad ties, bridge timbers, switch ties, and crossing panels.
Contaminants at this Facility
Surface soils at the unloading area were potentially impacted by creosote drlppage by Benzo(a)anthracene and Benzo(a)pyrene.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Institutional controls limit the facility's land use to industrial purposes, and require maintenance of gravel cap at the unloading area.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The site 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 with assistance from PADEP.