Bruin Lagoon

Overview

Bruin Lagoon is a 6-acre former industrial site in Bruin Borough, Pennsylvania. For over 40 years starting in the 1930s, the adjacent Bruin Oil Company used the lagoon to dispose of mineral oil production wastes. That long history of dumping contaminated soil, sludge, surface water, and groundwater with hazardous chemicals. A large fish kill in the Allegheny River in 1968 first revealed the problem. The site sits in a 100-year flood plain, which meant periodic flooding could spread contaminants to nearby waterways.

Contaminants identified at the site include acetone, benzene, phenol, toluene, xylene, sulfuric acid, petroleum, metals, nitrate and nitrite, organic and inorganic liquid sludge, and base neutral acids. These substances were found in soil, sludge, and surface water, and posed health risks through direct contact or accidental ingestion.

Cleanup began in August 1983 after the site was added to the National Priorities List. The work was divided into two operable units. During early cleanup in May 1984, workers accidentally breached an unknown sludge layer, releasing sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfuric acid mist. EPA suspended work and launched an emergency response to stabilize the site. Work resumed in March 1989. In total, EPA treated about 80,000 cubic yards of contaminated waste and installed a cap and fence around the lagoon area. Construction was fully complete by March 27, 1992. Pennsylvania then took over operation and maintenance. The site was deleted from the National Priorities List on September 18, 1997.

Human exposure is now under control, groundwater migration is stabilized, and all cleanup goals have been met. Institutional controls remain in place to protect the cap, fence, and groundwater monitoring wells. Zoning restrictions prevent residential development, and no new groundwater wells may be installed without approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. EPA completed its most recent five-year review on August 14, 2024, and a prior review in 2019 confirmed the remedy is still protective of human health and the environment. The site achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status on January 15, 2008.

Community members can contact EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager with questions. Site records are available through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection office in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and through EPA Region 3.