Drake Chemical

Overview

Drake Chemical is an 8-acre former chemical plant in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. It operated from the 1960s to 1981, producing chemical intermediates for pesticides. Contaminated soil, groundwater, and on-site structures landed the site on the National Priorities List in 1983. Cleanup is largely done, but groundwater treatment continues.

The site holds a wide range of contaminants across soil, groundwater, sediment, surface water, and building debris. Heavy metals include arsenic, lead, mercury, chromium, and cadmium. Chlorinated compounds such as trichloroethene and tetrachloroethene appear in groundwater, soil, and sediment. Volatile organic compounds including benzene, toluene, and xylene were found mainly in building debris. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons like benzo(a)pyrene and naphthalene are present in sediment and soil. Other contaminants include pentachlorophenol, cyanide, nickel, and aluminum.

Cleanup unfolded in four phases covering lagoons, buildings, an incinerator area, and groundwater. Workers removed 1,700 drums and drained storage tanks starting in 1982. Buildings were demolished by 1990. More than 295,000 tons of contaminated soil were excavated, treated in an on-site incinerator, and backfilled with compost. A groundwater treatment system started running in 2000 and continues today. Physical construction across the entire site was completed on September 29, 2000.

Human exposure is currently under control. No unacceptable exposure pathways exist across the site, and groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Institutional controls restrict groundwater consumption and limit land uses incompatible with the cleanup level achieved, such as residential development. These restrictions are recorded with property deeds. A commercial storage facility occupies part of the site, and the local municipality owns the rest. The 2023 Five-Year Review found the remedies are protective of human health and the environment in the short term. For long-term groundwater protection, the review identified a need for an independent optimization study and an updated hydrogeological investigation. The next Five-Year Review is scheduled for 2028.

Community members can review site documents online or in person at Ross Public Library in Lock Haven or at the EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia. Appointments at either location are recommended. Residents can also contact EPA staff directly with questions or to learn about participation in the Community Involvement Program.