Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Delbar Products, Incorporated in Perkasie, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
At the time of EPA’s Final Decision of Corrective Action on September 26, 2007, the soil and groundwater investigations had concluded that the Facility’s final remedy was considered complete with controls to eliminate exposures to any contamination remaining on-site, based on continued industrial use of the property. These controls required a deed notice notifying environmental conditions at the Facility and attainment of Act 2 residential standard for chromium in soil and Act 2 standards for indoor air if the Facility were ever developed for residential use. Since 2007, subsequent investigations related to regional groundwater contamination associated with the Perkasie TCE Site, have revealed a source of soil and groundwater contamination emanating from the Delbar property. Also, in 2017 the property was purchased by a developer, and is currently being re-developed for residential use. The current property owner, through the EPA/PADEP One Cleanup Program, is conducting remediation of the property to meet the requirements of PADEP’s Act 2 Program, and EPA’s RCRA Corrective Action Program. Remedial actions to date have included removal (excavation and disposal) of, and capping areas of known or suspected soil contamination, and installation of vapor mitigation systems to address known and potential vapor intrusion. Additional testing, and possible modifications, and maintenance of vapor mitigation systems is required to ensure protectiveness of current and future residents. Additional groundwater investigations are required to further delineate the extent of groundwater contamination.
EPA anticipates changes to the remedy based on: 1) the identification of a source of CVOC contamination beneath the property that has the potential to create exposure to residents and is contributing to regional groundwater contamination, and 2.) the need for further evaluation of the extent of off-site groundwater contamination. At this time, modifications to the 2007 Final Remedy are anticipated to include removing exposure pathways by capping contaminated soil, installing and maintaining vapor intrusion mitigation controls in residential buildings, and imposing groundwater use restrictions. Additional evaluations are required to support the Corrective Action remedial decision.
The Facility is subject to RCRA Corrective Action. PADEP is not authorized to implement the RCRA Corrective Action program, however remediation at this Facility is being conducted under PADEPs Act 2 Program. through Pennsylvania’s One Cleanup Program. Remedial efforts associated with the Facility are being conducted jointly with the EPA and PADEP; in 2004, Pennsylvania DEP and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed an historic Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that outlines a procedure where sites remediated according to Pennsylvania's Land Recycling Program may also satisfy requirements for the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). PADEP has the overall project lead, while EPA provides support to address RCRA issues.
Site Description
Interactive map of Delbar Products, Incorporated, Perkasie, PA
View larger mapThe Facility consists of approximately three acres and is located at 601 West Spruce Street in Perkasie, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The Facility was formerly owned and operated by Delbar Products Incorporated (later by Delbar Products Incorporated Liquidating Trust [Delbar Trust]), and by Apex prior to 1946. During Apex’s ownership, the manufacturing building was occupied by Arrow Safety Device, which manufactured automotive parts including turn signal lights, taillights, and stop lights. From 1946 through 2008, Delbar Products operated at the site, producing automotive and truck parts, including mirror components. Delbar Products’ manufacturing processes involved stamping, pressing, degreasing, and painting of sheet metal and tubes in the production of mirror components. As part of its process, Delbar used hazardous CVOCs. As of 2008, Delbar ceased operations at the facility.
Contaminants at this Facility
Primary contaminants at the Facility include chromium in soil and CVOCs including trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE), and trichloroethane (TCA) in soil and groundwater.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
At this time, Institutional and Engineering controls outlined in the 2007 Final Remedy have been removed to support redevelopment of the Facility. Future controls are anticipated to include:
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Capping contaminated soil
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Installing and maintaining vapor intrusion mitigation controls
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Prohibiting groundwater use
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Ensuring that no new supply wells are installed off site.
All Institutional and Engineering controls necessary to maintain pathway elimination will be documented in an Environmental Covenant prepared in accordance with the Uniform Environmental Covenants Act (UECA) and placed on the property(ies) deed.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The site is currently being redeveloped for residential purposes. Redevelopment is being conducted in conjunction with construction of Engineering controls necessary to remove exposure pathways to contamination beneath the property.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
RCRA Corrective Action activities at this facility have been conducted under the direction of PADEP with assistance from EPA Region 3.