Facility Background
The approximately 25-acre site property located along the Delaware
River shoreline in Cornwells Heights, Bensalem Township, PA
was first developed by a concrete shipbuilding company in 1917.
This company reportedly went out of business shortly after World
War I. The next known operator at the site was the
Penn Salt Refining Company, which purchased the property
in 1940 and used it primarily for warehousing of its products.
From 1943 through the end of World War II, the U.S. Government
owned the facility and used the property for sulfuric acid,
hydrogen fluoride and cryolite production, as well as aluminum
refining. Penn Salt, which later
became the Pennwalt Corporation, repurchased the property
from the U.S. Government shortly after the war.
Site operations under the Pennwalt Corp. included the blending
of chemicals for cleaning and lubricating agents used in the
laundry and metal working industries, and the repackaging of
bulk materials such as refrigerants and hydrochloric acid. These
activities continued from the 1950s through the 1990s.
In December 1989, Atochem became the owner of
the property after a merger with Pennwalt and another company,
M&T Chemicals. In 1997, all manufacturing operations were
terminated, equipment was removed from the property and
the buildings were decommissioned.
A pH neutralization treatment system was installed at the facility
in 1972 to treat the process wastewater that was previously
pumped into two retention ponds in the undeveloped portion of
the property. The ponds, constructed in approximately 1950 with
no engineered liners, did not have a discharge point so any
liquids pumped into the ponds were allowed to evaporate or percolate
into the ground. Prior to the construction of the ponds, process
wastewater was discharged into an Infiltration Ditch, located
along the western property boundary.
Other areas of concern identified by former employees at the
facility or from previous site investigations include a Storm
Water Drainage Channel, Surface Depression Area, Railroad Spurlines,
two Transformer Areas, a Former Sulfur Storage Area, two former
Underground Storage Tank (UST) Areas, a Former Aboveground Storage
Tank (AST) Area, Former Hydrofluoric Acid Loading Platform,
Former Septic Field, Former Forane Storage/Loading Area, Building
Nos. 2 and 3, the canal located along the eastern property boundary,
and two hot spot areas containing high concentrations of chlorinated
organics in groundwater.
The site is currently owned by Bensalem
Redevelopment, LP (BRLP), which plans to redevelop the property
into residential and commercial space. BRLP is seeking
a release of environmental liability under the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection’s (PADEP) Act II
Land Recycling Program and has entered into a Facility Lead
Agreement with EPA to ensure that all of its RCRA Corrective
Action obligations will be met.
Ref: US EPA. Interim Final
2/5/99. DOCUMENTATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATOR DETERMINATION.
RCRA Corrective Action Environmental Indicator (EI) RCRIS code
(CA725)
Site Responsibility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility are being conducted
under the direction of EPA Region 3 with assistance from the State.
Bensalem Redevelopment LP is seeking a release from liability
under PADEP’s Land Recy cling (Act II) Program.
Contaminants
The groundwater at the site contains elevated levels of a few
chlorinated organic chemicals and a few metals. The groundwater
is not used as a drinking water source; however, it does discharge
into the Delaware River.
Community Interaction
Bensalem Redevelopment, LP borders the Delaware River and is
located in an industrial/ commercial area. The facility is situated
within an area designated as a State Enterprise Zone. Designated
enterprise zones are given priority consideration to facilitate
identified business investment and job creation opportunities.
The Bucks County Redevelopment Authority (BCRA) has received
a site assessment grant from Pennsylvania’s Department
of Community and Economic Development to conduct the investigation
described above. Bensalem Township along with BCRA also applied
for EPA’s Brownfield Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund,
and Cleanup Grants for site remediation.
Government Contact
EPA Project Manager
Mr. Andrew Clibanoff - 3WC22
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Region III
1650 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19103-2029
Phone: (215) 814-3391
Email: clibanoff.andrew@epa.gov
Ref: EPA's Update as of Dec
31, 2004
See also:
June
12, 2005: EPA announces funding for redevelopment in Bucks
County. Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Plans for the redevelopment of the former Elf Atochem site,
now known as Riverfront South, include offices, retail stores,
restaurants and housing in a traditional neighborhood setting.
Four acres of public green space along the Delaware River
is also planned as a part of the revitalization of the Delaware
River waterfront in Bucks County, which includes improving
public access and creating a riverwalk.
The cleanup of this 26 acre site will require remediating
soils contaminated with volatile organic compounds and caustics.
The cleanup is estimated at $5 million. This site has
already had extensive site assessment under EPA’s Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective program. When
the cleanup is complete, it will achieve RCRA’s corrective
action goals and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection Act II Land Recycling Program cleanup standards,
a part of the one-clean up approach.
Fact Sheet: Former Elf
Atochem North America (Bensalem Redevelopment) Cornwell Heights,
PA
