Franklin Slag Pile (MDC)

Overview

The Franklin Slag Pile sits on 3 acres in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It holds about 68,000 cubic yards of slag left over from copper smelting. From the 1950s through 1999, operators sold the slag as sandblasting grit, and material spread off site onto rail lines, sidewalks, and storm drains. EPA added the site to the National Priorities List in 2002. The site is divided into two operable units: the slag pile itself and groundwater. The groundwater operable unit requires no action.

EPA identified 16 contaminants of concern, all found in soil and solid waste within the slag pile area. The ones named in cleanup decisions include aluminum, beryllium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, and manganese. Air sampling in 2000 found high concentrations of beryllium, copper, and lead near the pile. The slag also contains leachable lead. Contamination affects soil, solid waste, and groundwater, though residents rely on public water and do not drink from groundwater.

EPA completed a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study in 2007, finished groundwater investigation in 2018, and issued a Record of Decision on September 3, 2020. Emergency actions between 2000 and 2023 included capping the slag pile, removing equipment and visible slag, cleaning storm drains, and excavating contaminated soil from nearby railroad properties. The planned cleanup will remove all contaminated material above cleanup standards, treat slag and soil on site, and transport treated material to a permitted facility for disposal. Groundwater monitoring and institutional controls are also part of the plan. The property is currently zoned heavy industrial, which prevents residential use. Additional institutional controls will be added after cleanup is complete.

The final remedial action for the slag pile started on January 14, 2025. Remedial design is estimated to finish between September and November 2025, and construction is expected to begin in April 2026. EPA is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, and Sevenson Environmental as the remedial action contractor. Human exposure and groundwater migration are both currently under control, though physical construction is not yet complete.

Community members can attend an in-person public meeting on Thursday, July 16, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at The Block Church in Philadelphia. The 2023 Community Involvement Plan is also available for review. Site documents can be reviewed online or in person at the Richmond Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia at 2987 Almond Street, or at the U.S. EPA Region 3 office at 1600 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Appointments are required at both locations.