The Butler Mine Tunnel sits in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Built in the 1930s, the tunnel was designed to drain water from underground coal mines into the Susquehanna River. In the late 1970s, someone illegally dumped oily industrial waste through a borehole at a nearby service station. That waste contaminated the mine system, and an oil slick appeared on the Susquehanna River in 1979. About 25,000 people live within five miles of the site, and schools sit within one mile of the tunnel's discharge point.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified 15 contaminants of concern, all found in liquid waste in the site's first operable unit. Those contaminants include benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, and petroleum products. The list also includes chlorinated compounds such as carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, dichloromethane, and 1,3-dichlorobenzene, plus several phthalate compounds, 1-bromo-4-phenoxybenzene, and cyanide. EPA flagged these substances because they pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.
Cleanup focused on stopping future oil releases from the mine system. EPA closed boreholes, installed monitoring and oil-detection equipment, and built an Administrative Center to track site conditions. Recovery equipment, boat launch ramps, moorings, and anchor points were added along the Susquehanna River. Pre-purchased materials are in place to respond to any future release. No oil flush has occurred since 1985, and monitoring data support the conclusion that further discharges from the original contamination are not expected.
The site was deleted from the National Priorities List (NPL) on September 14, 2021, after cleanup goals were met and long-term protection was confirmed. Human exposure is under control, groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water, and all cleanup goals for current and foreseeable land uses have been met. Institutional controls, including zoning restrictions, remain in place to limit land uses and prevent exposure to any remaining contamination. No further operation, maintenance, or monitoring activities are planned, though EPA will continue monitoring to confirm that affected groundwater stays within its original contamination area. One business, an auto repair and service center, operates on the site and employed 10 people as of December 2024.
Community members with questions can contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator by phone or email. The Remedial Project Manager is also available. Public documents, including an Administrative Record of over 800 items, can be reviewed online or in person at Pittston City Hall or EPA Region III in Philadelphia. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (215) 814-2396.
