On Wednesday, April 11, 2018, OSC Eduardo Rovira received an email from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (“PADEP”), Emergency Response Manager, concerning a partially exposed gas cylinder, which was observable at low tide in the Darby Creek within the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (“Refuge”). PADEP had received a call from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) requesting assistance to remove and properly dispose of the cylinder. PADEP determined it was not able to assist FWS.
EPA conducted a removal site assessment on May 3, 2018, but was not able to conclude what, if anything, is stored in the cylinder, which is badly corroded. Since it was not possible to determine what was in the cylinder, EPA has determined that a removal action would be appropriate under the circumstances.
On October 30, 2018 the Director of the Hazardous Site Cleanup Division signed and Action Memo authorizing funds to property remove and dispose of the cylinder.
On December 10, 2018 EPA’s contractor (Environmental Restoration) removed and properly disposed of the cylinder.
