Hazardous Waste Cleanup: National Forge Irvine Plant (also known as: Ellwood Group Incorporated) in Irvine, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
In September 2015, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) determined that the Facility completed the requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action. A summary of the environmental investigation and remediation completed under the RCRA Corrective Action program is presented in the Statement of Basis document the Facility will continue to comply with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Solid Waste Permit and institutional controls (ICs) that restrict certain land and groundwater uses at the Facility. This determination of "Corrective Action Complete with Controls" is consistent with EPA's February 2003 Final Guidance on Completion of Corrective Action Activities at RCRA Facilities (reference 68 FR 8757).
Site Description
Interactive map of National Forge Irvine Plant (aka: Ellwood Group Incorporated), Irvine, PA
View larger mapThe Facility is formerly known as the National Forge Company (NFC). It is located in Irvine, Pennsylvania, a rural community about 60 miles southeast of Erie, Pennsylvania. The facility encompasses 323 acres with 46 acres of developed property and 578,000 sq. ft. of plant/buildings under roof. The site is situated on the banks of Brokenstraw Creek and is located in the High Plateau Section of the Appalachian Plateaus Province of Pennsylvania. An aerial view of the Facility is presented in Figure 1.
The Facility was founded in 1915 by Clinton Wilder. The Wilder family later sold the company to its employees in 1995. It remained as an employee-owned company until 2003 when the Ellwood Group Incorporated (EGI) acquired the assets of the NFC out of bankruptcy. EGI restructured the former NFC facility into two subsidiaries with separate RCRA ID numbers, the Ellwood National Forge (PAR000508226) and the Ellwood National Crankshaft (PAR000508226). EGI closed the steel melting and forging operations at the facility and transferred the work to EGI's New Castle and Ellwood City plants.
The Ellwood National Forge facility creates products for a wide range of highly specialized applications, including hard target penetrators and artillery components, pipe molds, rotors for power generation, wind turbine shafts and other relatively high length/width ratio products with a bored interior diameter.
The Ellwood National Crankshaft facility manufactures of new and reconditioned crankshafts for medium speed engines in the 800 to 6000 horsepower range. These engines are used in a variety of applications including diesel-electric locomotives, marine use for propulsion and auxiliary power generation, stationary power, and gas compression.
Contaminants at this Facility
Constituents of concern were polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), acenaphthene, anthracene, fluorene, phenanthrene, and pyrene.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Institutional Controls restrict use of land to non-residential use, and also groundwater to non-potable use.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The facility is being reused.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of EPA Region 3 with assistance from PADEP.