Douglassville Disposal

Overview

The Douglassville Disposal site covers 52 acres in Douglassville, Pennsylvania. It operated as a waste oil recycling facility from 1941 to 1986. Waste oil sludge from on-site lagoons spilled into the Schuylkill River during floods in 1970 and 1972, and about 700 leaking drums were stored on the property between 1979 and 1982. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in September 1983.

Contamination was found in soil, groundwater, surface water, river sediments, buildings, liquid waste, and sludge. EPA identified 52 chemical contaminants of concern. These include volatile organic compounds such as trichloroethene, benzene, and vinyl chloride; heavy metals including lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and various pesticides and semi-volatile organic compounds. Contamination is spread across three main areas: the Landfarm and Lagoon area, the Tank Farm, and the Groundwater and Soil area.

Cleanup was organized into six operable units. Workers dismantled the tank farm and processing equipment between 1989 and 1993. Contractors built a soil cap over disposal areas in 1993, and roughly 46,000 cubic yards of oily filter cake waste were treated with lime-based stabilization starting in June 2001. Construction was completed on July 17, 2002, and the remedial action was approved by EPA on March 27, 2003. The site was declared ready for anticipated reuse on September 30, 2015. It now supports recreational use, including hiking, biking, and hunting, and the Schuylkill River Trail runs through the property.

The site is currently in maintenance mode with ongoing groundwater monitoring. EPA's 2024 Five-Year Review found the remedy protective of human health and the environment in the short term. Long-term protectiveness requires completing a Focused Field Investigation into how Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (LNAPL) waste petroleum affects groundwater, soil, sediment, and surface water. It also requires preparing an operation and maintenance plan for soil covers and groundwater monitoring, and evaluating detected chemicals. Institutional controls on the property restrict soil disturbance, prohibit water well drilling, and prohibit residential land use. Operation and maintenance activities are estimated to continue through February 2028, and the next five-year review is scheduled for 2029.

Community members can get involved through EPA's Community Involvement Program. Historical fact sheets, a Community Relations Plan, and press releases are available from 1993 onward. Site records can be reviewed online or in person at the Boone Area Library in Birdsboro, the Union Township Municipal Building in Douglassville, or the EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia. To schedule a visit to the EPA office, call 215-814-2396. For direct questions, contact the Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager.