Ohio River Park

Overview

Ohio River Park sits on Neville Island in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It covers 32 acres and operated as a municipal waste landfill from the 1930s through the mid-1950s, followed by industrial waste disposal through the 1960s. Those activities contaminated soil and groundwater with hazardous chemicals. The site was added to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1990 after Allegheny County discovered contaminated soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater during planned park development.

Three contaminants of concern have been identified. Benzene is present in groundwater. Benzo[a]pyrene equivalents and beryllium are found in soil at the bridge portion of the site. Health risks tied to the site include ingesting contaminated groundwater and soil, consuming contaminated fish, and inhaling benzene during showering. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), part of the Centers for Disease Control, has detailed information on the health effects of these contaminants.

Cleanup was handled in three operable units. The soil and waste area received a multi-layer engineered cap over an 11-acre disposal area, along with passive vents, off-gas treatment, and institutional controls. The bridge portion required no action. Groundwater is managed through Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA), which tracks whether contamination breaks down naturally over time. MNA began in January 2014 and continues today. Physical construction across the entire site was completed in September 1999. The property owner, Neville Land Co., carried out cleanup work under EPA, state, and county oversight.

Human exposure is currently under control. Groundwater migration is also under control, with contaminated groundwater stabilized and no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Institutional controls prohibit residential development, restrict groundwater use, and warn against consuming potentially contaminated fish. EPA completed its most recent Five-Year Review in March 2023, concluding the remedy protects human health and the environment both short-term and long-term. The next review is scheduled for 2028. Robert Morris University purchased the property and operates the Island Sports Center there, which includes a golf dome, fitness center, ice skating rinks, and athletic fields. As of December 2024, one on-site business employs 20 people and generates roughly $5.4 million in annual sales revenue.

Community members who want to stay involved can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator, Angela Unoarumhi, by phone or email. Documents and records related to EPA's decisions are available at Coraopolis Memorial Library in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, or at EPA Region 3 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Both locations require calling ahead to schedule an appointment.