The Tank Car Corporation of America (TCCA) Site is the former location of a railroad tank car rehabilitation facility operating in Oreland, PA, for most of the 20th century. The facility fabricated, cleaned and painted tank cars on the premises. The Site is currently inactive, but used by several businesses unrelated to TCCA. The Site is located in a mixed use area surrounded by residences, a golf course, commercial operations, and an active rail line. Several tank cars containing hazardous substances and wastes remained at the Site after its operations ceased. Additionally, several underground storage tanks, which were tank cars, containing hazardous substances were also left at the Site. Environmental samping performed by prospective purchasers of the property revealed the presence of organic contaminants in soil and ground water.
EPA approved an Action Memo (a request for funds for a removal action) in January 2007 after it became clear that the property was not going to be transferred to an owner that could conduct cleanup. EPA also issued a Unilateral Administrative Order to the present owner of the property to characterize and remove the contents of the tanks located at the Site
On April 30, 2007, the Respondent to the Order (Tank Car Corporation of America) initiated sampling and characterization activities pursuant to an approved Response Action Plan. During the week of July 30, 2007, the Respondent initiated the removal of the hazardous waste and other liquids from the tanks cars at the Site. Removal of liquids has been accomplished. An additional buried tank was then found by EPA during additional removal site evaluation activities in November 2008. EPA amended the Action Memo for the Site and prepared to initiate removal of the tank in December 2008 after TCCA indicated it was unable to do so in a timely manner.
Current Status (January 2010): EPA collected samples of surface water migrating from the Site; these samples suggest low levels of metals may be migrating from the Site. EPA continues to work with SEPTA to gain access to the railroad tracks; this access will help EPA complete the removal site evaluation. EPA continues to coordinate with the Pennsylvania DEP to determine what threats are posed by the known Site contamination and to evaluate what response actions may be necessary and, most importantly, how these response actions may be implemented. EPA also has initiated steps to evaluate all parties potentially responsible for the contamination at the Site.
In October 2010, EPA re-initiated the response action. Work is ongoing.
Information: Additional information regarding the Site is contained in the documents section of this website. Progress on the ongoing characterization and cleanup operations is contained in the Pollution Reports (POLREPs) section of this website.
