Brodhead Creek

Overview

A coal gasification plant operated at this 12-acre site in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania from 1888 to 1944. It left behind coal tar waste in groundwater, soil, and creek sediment. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List (NPL) in 1983 and removed it in 2001 after cleanup goals were met.

Thirty contaminants have been identified at the site. They include polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo(a)pyrene and chrysene, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene and ethylbenzene, heavy metals like arsenic, and other compounds including cyanide and pentachlorophenol. Contamination is found in groundwater, subsurface soil, and creek sediment.

Cleanup was organized into two operable units. The first addressed free coal tar. Workers installed an underground slurry wall in 1981 to stop coal tar from seeping into the creek. Between 1987 and 1992, responsible parties removed roughly 9,500 gallons of coal tar using an innovative recovery process and conventional pumping. EPA determined in 1995 that complete coal tar removal was not technically possible due to a flood control levee and on-site wetlands, so institutional controls were put in place in 2000 to restrict groundwater use and prohibit excavation without written approval. The second operable unit, covering residual coal tar and groundwater, was assigned a remedy of no further action in 1995. In 2008 and 2012, about 500 tons of soil were removed after coal tar seeps appeared near McMichael Creek and a stormwater ditch. No new seeps have been observed since.

Human exposure is under control across the site. Groundwater migration is stabilized with no unacceptable discharge to surface water. Physical construction is complete and the site is ready for its anticipated use, which includes a utility substation, a gas company facility, and floodplain areas that support fishing and wildlife habitat. EPA continues monitoring groundwater to confirm contamination stays within the original area.

The most recent five-year review was completed in April 2024. These reviews confirm the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment. Community members can get involved through EPA's Community Involvement Program.