The Bendix Flight Systems Division site is a 60-acre former aircraft instrument manufacturing facility in South Montrose, Pennsylvania. It operated from 1952 to 1996 and was added to the EPA's National Priorities List (NPL) in July 1987 after investigations revealed soil and groundwater contamination from industrial solvent disposal in lagoons and trenches dating back to the 1950s. The site is divided into five operable units, each targeting a specific area or contamination problem. Construction on the main remedial action was completed in September 1996, and the site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status in March 2023.
The main contaminants of concern are carbon tetrachloride, chloroethene (vinyl chloride), and trichloroethene (TCE). These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are found in groundwater, surface water, and soils. Low levels of VOCs have been detected in some off-site private wells, which now have treatment systems installed. On-site groundwater could pose a health risk if consumed. According to EPA assessments, human exposure at the site is currently under control, and contaminated groundwater has been stabilized within the original area of contamination.
Cleanup began in the early 1990s with a groundwater treatment system completed in 1992, followed by soil cleanup in 1995. A 2008 vapor intrusion study found that indoor air contaminants in the on-site building posed an unacceptable health risk to workers, leading to the relocation of two maintenance staff offices and the cessation of building use. The former main industrial building was demolished in 2012. Institutional controls restrict land use, prohibit domestic groundwater wells unless treated to federal standards, ban soil excavation that could affect contamination, and require vapor intrusion assessments before any new buildings are occupied.
The groundwater pump and treat system, designated Operable Unit 05 (OU 05), represents the longest-running cleanup effort. A combined remedial investigation and feasibility study for OU 05 began in September 2016 and is scheduled to finish by December 2025. A design phase is estimated for mid-2026, with remedial action running from 2027 into 2028. The 2022 Five-Year Review concluded the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment in the short term, though it is not meeting cleanup goals as quickly as expected. The next five-year review is scheduled for 2027. The site has not yet been deleted from the NPL.
Community members can get involved through the EPA's Superfund community involvement process. A public comment period on proposed remedies for OU 05 will occur before a final decision is made. Historical decision documents and five-year review reports, including records dating back to the 1988 Record of Decision, are available for public review at the Susquehanna Planning Commission in Montrose or at the EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia, with appointments required at both locations. EPA contacts are available to answer questions from the public.
