Centre County Kepone

Overview

The Centre County Kepone site is a 32-acre former chemical manufacturing facility in State College, Pennsylvania. It produced the pesticides kepone and mirex from the late 1950s until 1974. Process wastes were disposed of in on-site lagoons and spray fields, which contaminated nearby Thornton Spring and Spring Creek. High pesticide levels in fish led to a catch-and-release fishing zone in 1982. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in 1983.

EPA has identified 39 contaminants of concern across groundwater, soil, and sediment. These include the pesticides chlordecone and mirex, chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene, benzene, toluene, xylene, and other volatile organic compounds. Contamination is spread across four operable units covering groundwater, riparian soils, on-site soils, and a soil vapor extraction area.

Cleanup has moved through several phases. The current site owner, RUTGERS Organics Corporation, built a groundwater treatment facility in 1982. Later work included contaminated sediment removal from drainage channels and Spring Creek, soil excavation, installation of security fencing, and a soil vapor extraction system that began operating in 2003. Physical construction of all remedial systems was completed in September 2016. The site reached sitewide ready for anticipated reuse on that same date. Part of the property has been redeveloped, with former warehouses now used by a roofing company and a heating and cooling supply company. EPA deleted an 8-acre administration area from the National Priorities List in 2004, but the site as a whole has not yet been deleted.

The site is currently in long-term operation and maintenance. Groundwater treatment and monitoring continue, and annual evaluations check commercial properties near the site for vapor intrusion concerns. A vapor intrusion study found no site-related concerns in nearby residences. Institutional controls are in place to prevent groundwater use and restrict certain land uses. The most recent five-year review was completed in August 2024 and determined the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment. The next five-year review is scheduled for 2029.

Community members can review site documents online or in person at the Schlow Centre Region Library in State College or at EPA Region 3 headquarters in Philadelphia, with appointments recommended. A 2024 Community Involvement Plan outlines how residents can participate in the cleanup process. EPA staff, including the Community Involvement Coordinators and Remedial Project Manager, are available to answer questions.