Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Tate Access Floors Incorporated in Red Lion, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
In November 2015, EPA determined that the Human Health Exposures Under Control Environmental Indicators had been met.
Currently, a site investigation is underway. USG submitted a draft remedial investigation and risk assessment report to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and EPA in November 2012. In September 2015, EPA, PADEP, Tate, and USG held a conference call to discuss the need of supplemental information as well as additional sampling on the Tate property to verify conditions. USG has agreed to provide the necessary information and conduct additional sampling. USG continues to conduct off-site private drinking water well sampling and provides carbon filters to any impacted wells.
In 2012, USG entered into the One Cleanup Program between EPA and PADEP. In November 2012, USG submitted a draft remedial investigation and risk assessment report to EPA and PADEP. Site characterization activities included a soil assessment, surface water sampling, and onsite and offsite groundwater assessments.
Site Description
Interactive map of Tate Access Floors Incorporated, Red Lion, PA
View larger mapTate Access Floors (Site) is situated on approximately 16 acres of land along Springvale Road in Red Lion, Windsor Township, York County, Pennsylvania. The building located on the site is 140,000 feet. From 1939 through 1973, Davey Products owned the Site and conducted metal fabrication and machine shop activities. During this time, there were four (4) settling lagoons that received neutralized effluent. In 1973, the Donn Corporation acquired the property from Davey Products. Donn continued similar operations and began manufacturing access floor systems at the Site. In 1975, Donn discontinued the use of the lagoons and initiated their closure. In 1986, USG Interiors acquired Donn Corporation and continued floor system manufacturing operations. At that time, metal fabrication operations ceased. In 1989, an Environmental Priorities Preliminary Assessment (PA) of the facility was performed on behalf of EPA. The PA report 10 Solid Waste Management Units (SWMUs) and underground storage tanks (USTs) as an Area of Concern (AOC). On December 31, 1994, Tate purchased the majority of the property from USG. Tate owns approximately 14.5 acres while USG owns the remaining 1.5 acres which includes the closed lagoons. USG holds the environmental liability for the entire Site. Currently, Tate manufactures access floor panels, which includes rolling and pressing sheet metal into specified shapes and sizes, cleaning, welding, painting, filling panels with cement slurry, and adhering various types of floor covering to the fabricated panels.
Contaminants at this Facility
No continuing source of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to groundwater has been identified (and no source appears to remain), and VOC concentrations in groundwater continually decreased based on sampling conducted throughout the site investigation. Based on the historic sampling of groundwater, a trichloroethylene (TCE) plume has been defined which originates from the Tate building and extends towards the northeast where it crosses the downgradient property line. Water used at the Site is supplied by the local municipality, however, some downgradient residences use groundwater for drinking water purposes. Because of the use of off-site groundwater, granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration systems were installed in each affected residence, which have been continuously monitored and maintained since their installation. These systems remove VOCs from the groundwater prior to use. Quarterly sampling of the groundwater in these residences is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the systems and to monitor VOC concentrations. Historic sampling has indicated that no TCE has ever been detected in the residential systems where the GAC systems are operating.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
The need for Institutional Controls is yet to be determined.
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.