The BoRit Asbestos site covers 32 acres in Ambler, Pennsylvania, and includes a former asbestos waste pile, a reservoir, and a closed park. The area was used for asbestos waste disposal from the early 1900s through the late 1960s. EPA added it to the National Priorities List (NPL) in April 2009 because nearby residents faced potential exposure to airborne asbestos and asbestos contamination in Tannery Run, Rose Valley Creek, and the Wissahickon Creek.
Asbestos is the primary contaminant at the site. EPA also identified bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, carbon disulfide, chlorinated dioxins and furans, chromium, nickel, and zinc in soil, sediment, and solid waste. These contaminants were found within the main soil operable unit, known as Operable Unit 01.
EPA's Removal Program capped all asbestos-containing materials with at least two feet of clean soil and a geotextile liner. Stream banks along all three waterways were stabilized and seeded with vegetation. Storm damage from 2011 weather events was repaired. EPA issued a Record of Decision in July 2017 outlining the full remedy, which includes excavation, offsite disposal, onsite consolidation, engineered caps, revegetation, institutional controls, and ongoing monitoring. Post-construction sampling from April to July 2018 found no exceedances of human health remediation goals. A Consent Decree entered with Whitpain Township in November 2019 requires the township to maintain the park parcel and uphold land-use restrictions. State-performed operation and maintenance began in March 2020 and remains ongoing.
Human exposure is under control, and groundwater migration is also under control. Physical construction is complete across the entire site. The site has achieved sitewide ready for anticipated reuse status as of September 2019. A five-year review was completed in August 2022, with the next review estimated between August and October 2027. The site has not been deleted from the NPL. Monitoring continues annually and will shift to every five years after 2022. Institutional controls prevent disturbing the protective caps and restrict residential uses inconsistent with the cleanup level.
Community members can get involved through the BoRit Community Advisory Group, which meets quarterly on the first Wednesday of each month at the Upper Dublin Township Municipal Building in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. For more information about the advisory group or the site, contact the EPA's Community Involvement Coordinator or Remedial Project Manager. Public records are available online or in person at the EPA Region 3 office in Philadelphia or the Wissahickon Valley Public Library in Ambler.
