See previous POLREPs for Site description information.
Since April 2007, the inventory at the Site which contributes to the threats has been steadily reduced. Currently, approximately 3 million pounds of inventory remains and no production activity is occurring. Stoney Creek Technologies (SCT) is presently no longer able to assure that safety systems are operating and EPA is using its own contractor resources to conduct actions at the Site.
Respondents to the EPA Orders are not removing the chemical inventory at the Site pursuant to the assigned Order requirements.
In response to the failure to remove inventory items, EPA initiated response actions and has been actively disposing the remaining chemical inventory. EPA has conducted disposal activities resulting in the removal of approximately 478,905 gallons of chemical inventory from 22 tanks.
Stoney Creek Technologies is no longer conducting operations at the Site. EPA contractors (which now include some former SCT employees) operate safety systems, pollution controls, boiler operations to support decontamination, and waste water treatment.
Stoney Creek Technologies collaborated with another Respondent to remove 3377 tons of ash laden with reject chemical material from the Site.
The OSC continues to maintain a routine presence at the facility and is directing disposal operations and cleanup activities relating to the on-Site waste water pre-treatment plant. EPA will remove oil and other contaminants from the tanks and basins associated with the on-Site waste water pre-treatment plant to assure that a release or discharge from this facility will not impact the nearby Stoney Creek.
EPA has cleaned components of the on-Site waste water pre-treatment system which enable EPA to reduce the flow of storm waters which may contain oil and other materials to the local sewer authority (DELCORA). These waters can be treated, contained, and/or discharged to Stoney Creek. EPA intends to discharge excess waters from storm events to Stoney Creek. DELCORA has informed EPA that it will not longer accept stormwaters discharging from the Site and intends to eliminate the potential for these flows to reach DELCORA.
PADEP continues paying for electricity required to keep the plant safe. SCT has been unable to meet the conditions of the DEP Consent Order and, as such, it never became effective.
SCT is no longer able to demonstrate its viability pursuant to the EPA Order. Part of the demonstration requires SCT to have plans with critical utilities and to have regained its operating permits with PADEP. SCT continues to work towards financing.
The OSC will continue to plan to remove chemical inventory from the Site. However, the Region has informed the OSC that insufficient funding may be available to complete this activity. The OSC will continue to remove contaminants from the on-Site waste water treatment plant to protect the Stoney Creek and continue to monitor facility systems to assure the safety of the public.
At this time the OSC has been informed that there is insufficient funding in the Regional budget to continue disposal operations.
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