The North Penn - Area 2 Superfund site sits in Hatfield, Pennsylvania and covers an 87-acre former Ametek manufacturing facility and the adjacent former Steiert property. From 1963 to 1986, Ametek used up to 4,500 gallons of trichloroethylene (TCE) per week as a degreasing solvent. That practice contaminated soil, groundwater, and sediment with TCE and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The North Penn Water Authority detected the contamination in on-site and downgradient wells in 1986. Lead contamination was also found in soil and sediment at the former Steiert property. In all, EPA has identified 28 contaminants of concern, including VOCs such as vinyl chloride, tetrachloroethene, and 1,4-dioxane, plus metals including arsenic, lead, chromium, and cadmium.
The site was placed on EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in 1989. Cleanup actions have included removal of contaminated soil and sediment at both properties, off-site disposal of excavated material, and capping of remaining soil on-site. Lead-contaminated material at the Steiert property was addressed in 2007. EPA issued a Record of Decision selecting the final remedy in May 2009, and construction of a groundwater pump-and-treat system was completed in August 2012. That system continues to operate. Institutional controls are in place to restrict land use to commercial and industrial purposes and to protect a restored wetland on the property.
A 2017 Five-Year Review flagged vapor intrusion at the former Ametek facility as a new potential exposure pathway. The responsible party conducted a vapor intrusion investigation, and EPA has been evaluating the results to determine whether additional actions are needed. EPA's 2022 Five-Year Review concluded that the site-wide remedy currently protects human health and the environment. However, changes in groundwater flow and reduced production well capacity observed in 2020 still need evaluation to confirm long-term protection. The next five-year review is expected to be completed by May 2027. The site achieved "sitewide ready for anticipated reuse" status in July 2020 and has not yet been deleted from the NPL.
Today, Penn Color, Inc. operates at the former Ametek facility. As of December 2024, three on-site businesses employed 106 people and generated about $26.5 million in annual sales revenue. Operation and maintenance activities at the groundwater treatment system remain ongoing.
Community members can get involved through EPA's Community Involvement Program, which emphasizes early and meaningful engagement during cleanups. The Five-Year Review Report from April 2022 and public notices from 2017 are available for review. Administrative records can be examined at the Lansdale Public Library at 301 Vine Street in Lansdale, PA (call 215-855-3228 for an appointment), or at the EPA Region 3 office at 1600 John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Philadelphia, PA (call 215-814-2396).
