EPA Presents Plan to Deal with Former Chem-Fab Site Soil

The Chem-Fab Superfund site at 300-360 N. Broad St in Doylestown is finally about to get its soil contamination remediated. The former electroplating facility had a history of industrial waste infractions dating to the 1960s.

There have already been rounds of environmental clean-up before. In 1987, action was taken regarding groundwater and well contamination; in 1994–95 over 100 drums and 8,400 gallons of liquid waste was removed.

Now the soil will be taken care of. Out of three potential action plans, the EPA has chosen to “excavate and dispose of contaminated soils containing levels of chemicals presenting an unacceptable health risk through direct contact or ingestion. These soils, estimated at approximately 3,600 cubic yards, would be disposed off-site. Excavated areas would then be backfilled with clean material. EPA will address this site’s contaminated groundwater in a separate clean-up action.”

At a capacity crowd meeting Tuesday night in the stifling Doylestown borough council chambers, residents and business owners received an explanation of what's been found and what will be done to clean it up.

The evening was run by Larry Johnson, with most of the presentation run by Huu Ngo—both of the EPA. They were joined by several other members of the EPA and DEP.

While there are still further groundwater issues and vapor intrusion to be looked into, the presentation focused on soil removal, specifically due to it containing hexavalent chromium, trichloroethylene, and tetrachloroethylene (the last two being common solvents often found at Superfund sites).

The goal is to eliminate soils that rain and water runoff can soak further into the ground and into the water table. Then action to further deal with groundwater contamination can commence.

Two other options for action were to do nothing (by protocol, always an examined option) or to cap the soil in place and restrict actions around the property that could compromise that cap.

Attendees were assured that maintaining the public health and safety is the number one priority during any remediation effort. Dust suppression and walkways built for building tenants will be part of making sure there is as little exposure to danger as possible during the process.

Many in the audience were curious about the timetable for the process, and few solid answers were available. It was explained this is due to variables that may not be known yet and the number of other Superfund sites in the country that need budgeting.

As of yet, funding is not dedicated to the project, and there is no schedule for the start of the remediation. What could be said is that the design of the plan to actually do the remediation will take up to a year following official approval of the proposed plan of action.

Sensing the audience's frustration, Larry Johnson summed it up as follows: "If it seems we're being slow and methodical… it's because we're being slow and methodical."

People wanting to view the entire clean-up plan can do so via the following steps:

1. Visit go.usa.gov/vbb
2. Scroll to "Documents and Reports"
3. Click the "EPA's Administrative Record Database" link
4. Choose to view "OU1 Proposed Plan"

The public comment period is open until July 25.