The spill occurred at the site of the former multi-building Budd Company passenger rail car and auto body manufacturing facility that operated from approximately 1917 to 2002. The site is now owned by an automobile rental company planning to repair rental cars in at least one building.
On or about July 16, 2013, a 75,000 gallon above ground tank containing approximately 40,000 gallons of #6 oil was vandalized by trespassers attempting to obtain pipe valves for scrap value. Their efforts resulted in the release of approximately 2000 gallons of oil to the secondary containment basin. The basin floor was compromised and oil leaked downward into a drainage swale leading to a storm sewer line on railroad company property. Both the drainage swale and sewer line were found to contain significant amounts of oil.
The storm line ultimately surfaces to another swale along the RR tracks and after about 1/2 mile leads to an outfall to the Schuylkill River approximately 3/4 mile upstream of a City of Philadelphia drinking water intake. Oil did not reach the river when the release was discovered but a signficant threat to the river was evident should a rainfall event occur.
