Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Philadelphia Coke Company Incorporated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Site Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Land Reuse
- Site Responsibility
Cleanup Status
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Final Decision and Response to Comments on September 19, 2023 under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (RCRA), for the former Philadelphia Coke Company, Inc. (PCCI) facility located in Philadelphia, PA. The Final Remedy for the Facility consists of capping residual soil contamination, installing vapor mitigation systems in the proposed building where necessary, implementing activity and use limitations for land and groundwater, and implementing a post-remedial care plan.
The Statement of Basis (SB) for the proposed remedy for the Facility was issued and advertised for public comment on August 10, 2023. The public notice was advertised in The Metro newspaper and the SB posted on the EPA website. A virtual public hearing on this proposed remedy was held on August 21, 2023. Comments on EPA’s proposed decision were submitted to EPA within the 30-day comment period ending September 9, 2023. EPA considered all comments consistent with applicable RCRA requirements and regulations and determined that the Final Remedy would remain as proposed in the SB.
Site Description
Interactive map of Philadelphia Coke Company Incorporated, Philadelphia, PA
View larger mapThe Facility is located at 4501 Richmond Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on a flat, 63-acre industrial site in the Bridesburg section of Philadelphia. The property is bordered by Richmond, Orthodox, and Buckius Streets, as well as the Delaware River. The main portion of the property, north of the former railroad tracks, is entirely enclosed by a chain linked fence.
The Facility was operated by PCC from 1929 to 1982. The Facility had various operations including coke storage, coal storage, coke oven batteries, a rail line, a smoke stack, decanter tar bottoms, gas holders, a boiler house, a machine shop, fuel blending operations, and other structures. The Philadelphia Coke Company, Incorporated (PCC or facility) operated a gas manufacturing and coke production facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Since the Facility ceased operations in 1982, access to the property has been restricted by a perimeter fence of the main area. Highly contaminated soils were removed and appropriately disposed, while mildly contaminated soils were remediated with other remedial methods such as bioremediation. The facility was certified as closed in accordance with the closure plan in 1994.
In April 2013, EPA determined that the Human Health Exposures Under Control and the Migration of Contaminated Groundwater Environmental Indicators had been met. These Environmental Indicator evaluations took indicates that the migration of "contaminated" groundwater has stabilized.
The property was owned by the Koppers Company (Koppers), which held the controlling interest in a joint venture with Eastern Enterprises. In 1950, Eastern Enterprises split from Koppers (PCCI was a subsidiary of Eastern Enterprises). In November 2000, KeySpan Corporation acquired Eastern Enterprises. Subsequently, in February 2007, National Grid USA purchased KeySpan Corporation. The Facility was sold to BP Bridesburg, LLC on March 30, 2022.
Contaminants at this Facility
Contaminants of concern are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) detected in soil and groundwater as detailed in the Statement of Basis.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Currently there are no Institutional Controls (ICs) executed at the Facility. EPA has determined that Activity and Use Limitations (AULs) are necessary to supplement the measures described above and to protect the integrity of the proposed remedy. EPA’s AULs for the Facility consists of the following:
- The Facility property shall not be used for residential purposes unless it is demonstrated to EPA and PADEP that such use will not pose a threat to human health and/or the environment, or adversely affect or interfere with the Final Remedy, and EPA and PADEP provide written approval for such use;
- The groundwater at the Facility shall not be used for any purpose other than to conduct operation, maintenance, and monitoring activities required by EPA or PADEP, unless it is demonstrated to EPA and PADEP, that such use will not pose a threat to human health and/or the environment;
- No new wells will be installed on the Facility property unless it is demonstrated to EPA and PADEP that such wells are necessary to implement the Final Remedy and written approval is provided to install such wells;
- All earth moving activities, including excavation, drilling and construction activities, in the areas at the Facility where any contaminants remain in soils above EPA Region III’s Screening Levels for Industrial Soils or in groundwater above their MCLs or EPA Region III’s Tap Water RSLs, shall be conducted in accordance with the EPA-approved Post Remediation Care Plan, Health and Safety Plan, and Soil Management Plan; and
EPA’s preferred instrument to implement the AULs and ensure that the current and any future landowners comply with the restrictions is an Environmental Covenant prepared under Pennsylvania’s Uniform Environmental Covenants Act, 27 Pa. C.S. § 6501 et seq. (UECA). These restrictions may also be implemented via a permit or order.
Land Reuse Information at this Facility
The facility is undergoing redevelopment.
Site Responsibility at this Facility
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Corrective Action activities at this Facility have been conducted under the One Cleanup Program Memorandum of Agreement with PADEP as the lead agency and assurance that Corrective Action requirements are met by EPA Region