Shriver's Corner

Overview

Shriver's Corner is a 10-acre former disposal area in Straban Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. Drums of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from a nearby Westinghouse Elevator plant were dumped on the southern portion of the property, contaminating soil, sediment, and groundwater. EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in June 1986.

EPA has identified ten contaminants of concern at the site. Groundwater contaminants include 1,1-dichloroethane, 1,4-dioxane, 2-butanone (also called methyl ethyl ketone), chloroethane, chloroethene (vinyl chloride), other VOCs, and metals. Soil and sediment contaminants include chromium, lead, and zinc. All fall within the Groundwater and Soil operable unit.

Early cleanup actions removed about 80 surface drums and 250 cubic yards of contaminated soil, placed a cover over a contaminated area, installed carbon filters on affected residential wells, and put up a fence to block public contact with hazardous chemicals. A community well was drilled and connected to affected homes in February 2000. A groundwater extraction and treatment system has operated since November 2002. In September 2019, a pilot study began to evaluate further options for reducing VOC concentrations in the Culp Area, which remain above cleanup goals. In September 2024, EPA issued a new Explanation of Significant Differences that added 1,4-dioxane to the list of groundwater contaminants of concern and set cleanup standards for contaminants without federal maximum levels.

The site is divided into three active operable units covering the community water supply, soil and sediment, and groundwater treatment. Institutional controls restrict groundwater use and prevent residential or incompatible land uses. EPA's 2023 Five-Year Review found the remedy continues to protect human health and the environment. The groundwater treatment system will need to run for many years before groundwater meets drinking water standards. The next five-year review is scheduled between August and October 2028.

Community members can engage through EPA's Community Involvement Program. Past public notices and community updates are available from 2007, 2013, and 2019. Site documents are available at the Adams County Library in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and at EPA Region 3 in Philadelphia, with appointments made by calling each location. Nancy Cruz is the Community Involvement Coordinator and Aaron Mroz is the Remedial Project Manager, both reachable through EPA Region 3. Additional support is available from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).