Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Tyco Electronics (Formerly: AMP Corporation) in Glen Rock, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
Under the conditions set forth in the Final Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) U.S. EPA Docket No. RCRA-III-032-CAAOC, the EPA has determined that TEC has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of EPA, that the terms of the AOC, including any additional tasks determined by EPA to be required pursuant to the AOC, have been satisfactorily completed. On July 20, 2017, EPA terminated the AOC.
Cleanup Background
On January 22, 1991, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Respondent, TE Connectivity (TEC) entered into an Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) that required TEC to implement the Corrective Measures selected by EPA in the 1991 RCRA Record of Decision (ROD). EPA’s selected Corrective Measures entailed contaminant source removal and groundwater remediation to continue until the cleanup goals were attained at the point of compliance (POC) wells.
The RCRA ROD acknowledges that due to the elevated concentrations of the constituents of concern (COCs) and the kinetics of chemical and physical desorption of contaminants in groundwater, it may be technically impossible to attain the cleanup goals of the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) throughout the groundwater plume. Therefore, the RCRA ROD states that if the concentrations of 1,1,2-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA), trichloroethylene (TCE), and 1,1,2-trichloroethane (1,1,2-TCA) in groundwater remain stable after a minimum of five (5) years of groundwater remediation, TEC may petition EPA to revise the cleanup goals.
In August 2015, TEC submitted a petition to EPA to revise the cleanup goals for 1,1,2-TCA from 5 µg/L to 27.5 µg/L and for vinyl chloride (VC) from 0.2 µg/L to the MCL of 2.0 µg/L. The revised cleanup goals are based on a site-wide groundwater study that demonstrated that the levels of COCs in groundwater have stabilized and do not impact groundwater quality downgradient of the Site. Furthermore, the study determined that the existing groundwater plume does not pose an exposure pathway to human and environmental receptors. EPA concurred with the conclusion of the groundwater study, and on October 13, 2015, EPA approved TEC’s petition to revise the cleanup goals for 1,1,2-TCA and VC.
On January 27, 2017, EPA issued an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) that modified the 1991 RCRA ROD Corrective Measures to reflect the revised groundwater cleanup goals. The ESD required the implementation of institutional controls that restrict groundwater and land use at the Site. On January 30, 2017, TEC executed an environmental covenant pursuant to the Pennsylvania Uniform Environmental Covenants Act, 27 Pa. C.S. Sections 6501-6517, (UECA) with the York County Recorder of Deeds that imposes the required institutional controls. On July 20, 2017, EPA terminated the AOC.
Site Description
The Facility occupies approximately 33 acres in Glen Rock, York County, Pennsylvania 17327. Amp, Inc. and its successor, TEC owned and operated the Facility from the late 1950s to 2001. The Facility consisted of two buildings, the Material Development Laboratory Building and the Plastics Building. During its period of operation, TEC conducted research on contact adhesives and lubricants and manufactured injection-molded plastic and polyester parts used in connector systems and applications. As a result of the manufacturing operations at the Facility, groundwater and soil at the Facility became contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The site is no longer a manufacturing and research facility. In 2003, TEC sold the property to Penn-Mar Organization who currently uses the facility as office space and a warehouse distribution center only.
Contaminants at this Facility
The primary constituents of concerns have been volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which include: 1,1,1 trichloroethane (TCA); 1,1,2 TCA, and trichloroethylene (TCE); in groundwater.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
| Restrictions or Controls that Address: | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
|
Groundwater Use
|
X
|
|
|
Residential Use
|
X
|
|
|
Excavation
|
|
X
|
|
Vapor Intrusion
|
|
X
|
|
Capped Area(s)
|
|
X
|
|
Other Engineering Controls
|
|
X
|
|
Other Restrictions
|
|
X
|
Institutional Controls have been placed on groundwater monitoring and land use restrictions and a corrective measures assessment report is due every two years.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The site is being reused.
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.