Search Frequent Questions

Displaying 1 - 15 of 22 results

• What questions was EPA trying to find answers to during its first round of sampling at the Norwood Landfill site?

  The main question that EPA seeks to answer is whether the identified waste areas warrant consideration for placement of the Site on the National Priorities List (NPL) or Superfund List. In the first round of sampling, EPA collected surface soil samples (0-2 feet) from the landfill property, and surface water…

  • Last published: March 1, 2024

• What does it mean when EPA finds contamination that “exceeds screening levels?”
  

  Screening levels are not the same as cleanup or action levels. An exceedance of a screening level indicates the need for additional evaluation, potentially including a site-specific risk assessment.

  • Last published: March 4, 2024

• If EPA finds any contamination associated with the Norwood Landfill site that “exceeds” what is considered safe, will EPA clean up that contamination - even if the Agency cannot find any “pathways” for that contamination to reach humans or sensitive environments?

  If the sampling data shows an exceedance of a screening level, EPA will consult with the site Toxicologist and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) to conduct a human health risk screening assessment to determine any potential threat to human health. EPA will also consult with the…

  • Last published: March 8, 2024

• How do you know you are not missing some areas that might be contaminated?

  EPA uses all credible information available, including community input, regarding the boundaries and geographic areas of waste that may have been deposited or where contaminated soil may have been placed. The team selects its sampling locations based on those areas and consults historic aerial images that help depict those boundaries.

  • Last published: March 8, 2024

• Will EPA sample the Glenolden Laboratory property?

  The former Glenolden Laboratory property located on South Avenue is a separate site. The previous owners conducted a voluntary cleanup pursuant to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (PADEP) Environmental Cleanup Program, known as Act 2. Concerns regarding remedial actions conducted under Act 2 should be directed to PADEP as…

  • Last published: March 18, 2024

• To whom do I report an oil discharge?

  A facility should report discharges to the National Response Center (NRC) at 1-800-424-8802 or 1-202-267-2675 . The NRC is the federal government's centralized reporting center, which is staffed 24 hours per day by U.S. Coast Guard personnel. If reporting directly to NRC is not practicable, reports also can be made…

  • Last published: June 5, 2024

• When must I report an oil discharge to NRC?

  Any person in charge of a vessel or an onshore or offshore facility must notify the National Response Center (NRC) immediately after he or she has knowledge of the discharge.

  • Last published: June 5, 2024

• Will EPA conduct sampling in local parks in the Norwood community?

  EPA will sample Norwood Park because of its close proximity to the Old Norwood Dump and Norwood Landfill. There is no current information that would warrant sampling in other parks.

  • Last published: March 1, 2024

• What happens after a facility submits the information about an oil discharge to EPA?

  The EPA Regional Administrator will review the information submitted by the facility and may require a facility to submit and amend its SPCC Plan. Facilities and equipment that qualified for the new streamlined requirements may lose eligibility for those options as determined by the Regional Administrator. A state agency may…

  • Last published: June 5, 2024

• Who is subject to the Discharge of Oil regulation?

  Any person in charge of a vessel or of an onshore or offshore facility is subject to the reporting requirements of the Discharge of Oil regulation if it discharges a harmful quantity of oil to U.S. navigable waters, adjoining shorelines, or the contiguous zone, or in connection with activities under…

  • Last published: June 5, 2024

• Is EPA planning on taking samples from the basements in the homes you are sampling in the Norwood community? If not, why not?

  EPA is not planning to collect samples from residential basements or crawl spaces at this time. EPA installed six groundwater wells within the Old Norwood Dump, Norwood Lower Park, and the Winona Homes neighborhood. Groundwater wells will not be placed on private residential properties. The wells will be used to…

  • Last published: March 4, 2024

• How are EPA’s sampling results verified for accuracy?

  Samples were sent to an EPA certified laboratory for analysis. After the samples are analyzed, the data will be validated independently by chemists to verify the accuracy of the results.

  • Last published: March 12, 2024

• Will EPA sample the Norwood school?

  EPA continues to work closely with the Interboro School District, but there are no plans to sample the Norwood school at this time. For site investigations, sampling activities must be based upon the identification of a potential source of contamination. Based upon research and historic images, EPA has not seen…

  • Last published: April 1, 2024

• Is the last date of sampling 12/31/2029?

  Yes, that is correct. The last date of sampling is 12/31/2029.

  • Last published: March 29, 2024

• Reporting requirements for oil discharges

  What are the reporting requirements for discharges of oil? If a discharge of oil reaches waters of the United States, it is reportable to the National Response Center under 40 CFR Part 110 , which was established under the authority of the Clean Water Act. Discharges of oil must be…

  • Last published: June 7, 2024