Occidental Chemical Corp./Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.

Overview

This 250-acre site in Lower Pottsgrove Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania has an industrial history stretching back to before World War II. Firestone Tire and Rubber operated there from 1945 to 1980, making tires and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins. Occidental Chemical Corporation bought the property in 1980 and continued PVC resin manufacturing. Disposal of industrial waste in on-site landfills and unlined earthen lagoons contaminated soil, sediment, and groundwater. EPA placed the site on the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) in October 1989.

EPA identified 51 contaminants of concern at the site. These include volatile organic compounds such as benzene, trichloroethene, tetrachloroethene, and vinyl chloride, as well as metals including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, and mercury. Polycyclic aromatic compounds like naphthalene were also detected. Contamination spread across soil, groundwater, and sludge. Ecological risk to birds from contaminated sediments in the site's sediment pond and drainage swale was also a concern.

Cleanup is organized into two operable units (OUs). OU 01 covers groundwater, and OU 02 addresses the earthen lagoons. A Record of Decision (ROD) for groundwater was issued in April 1993, selecting technologies including excavation, air stripping, carbon adsorption, and institutional controls. Occidental Chemical completed installation of the groundwater recovery system in January 1999. Contaminated lagoon sludges and soils were excavated and hauled off-site between June and September 2008. Earlier work in 1984 removed 898 tons of soil contaminated with trichloroethylene. Several lagoons and landfills were capped or closed between 1995 and 1998. A 2015 Environmental Covenant established institutional controls that restrict groundwater use and prevent residential development on the site.

Physical construction is complete across the entire site. Human exposure is under control, and contaminated groundwater has been stabilized in its original area. All cleanup goals for current and reasonably anticipated future land uses have been achieved. A warehouse facility now occupies about 40 acres of the property. Groundwater treatment and long-term monitoring continue. EPA completed its most recent five-year review in July 2023, confirming the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment. A Record of Decision Amendment for the groundwater unit and the next five-year review are both estimated for 2028. The site has not yet been deleted from the NPL.

Community members can get involved through EPA's Community Involvement Program, which supports participation in site decisions. Questions about the site can be directed to the Community Involvement Coordinator or the Remedial Project Manager. Site records are available at the Pottstown Regional Public Library in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and at the U.S. EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia. Appointments to review files should be scheduled in advance.