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Foote Mineral
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EPA ID: PAD077087989
Location:
15 S Bacton Hill Rd
Frazer, PA 19355
Chester County
Frazer, PA 19355
Chester County
Congressional District: 7th
Other Names: None
Last Updated: December 2012
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Contacts
Remedial Project Manager
James J. Feeney
215-814-3190
feeney.jim@epa.gov
Community Involvement Coordinator
Alexander Mandell
215-814-5517
mandell.alexander@epa.gov
Governmental Liaison
Laura Mohollen
215-814-3295
Mohollen.laura@Epa.gov
Bulletin Board
- Construction of the site's cleanup remedy is complete as of October 2010.
Questions
The EPA is dedicated to providing you with timely and accurate information about our work at this site. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
David Polish
215-814-3327
On This Page
Related Links
Site Status
- As of October 28, 2010, the site owner has completed all necessary construction for the remedy at this site. The Site owner continues to conduct the operation and maintenance activities.
- The remedy includes 1) excavation and off-site removal of radiation-contaminated soils; 2) stabilization of process tailings located in on of two on-site quarries; 3) consolidation of other site wastes, debris and contaminated soils into the quarries, followed by capping the quarries at the surrounding grade.
- The Record of Decision detailing the remedy for this site was signed in March 2006.
- In April 2008, EPA issued an Explanation of Significant Differences to modify and expand some of the requirements of the initial cleanup remedy.
Background
- The Foote Mineral Co. site is located on a 79-acre property in East Whiteland Township, Pa.
- Starting in 1941, the Foote Company operated a variety of process buildings for the manufacture of lithium metal and lithium chemicals and inorganic fluxes for the metal industry. Ores and minerals were also crushed and sized there.
- When the plant closed in 1991, the site had two quarries, a pit used to burn solvents, a lined basin and more than 50 buildings and process area.
- Three unlined lagoons had been leveled and backfilled.
- The site is bordered by public roads, mixed commercial and agricultural properties, a former railroad right of way and an electric utility substation.
- Public and private wells within four miles of the site had supplied drinking water to approximately 42,300 people and the nearest private well was 800 feet away.
- That well and several other private wells found to be impacted by contamination are no longer used for drinking water and a public water supply well about a mile downhill from the site has been shut down due to contamination.
Cleanup History
NPL Listing History
| Status: Final | Added: 1992 |
| Deleted: |
- In 1990, Cyprus Foote Mineral Co., Inc. signed a legal agreement with EPA to evaluate the contamination in groundwater to ensure that the local residents were using safe water. This included a groundwater survey of the area, provision of an alternate source of water for affected residents and five years of groundwater monitoring.
- In 1992, Foote removed two underground storage tanks and excavated 15,000 cubic yards of soil possibly contaminated by the one of the petroleum tanks.
- In 1996, EPA the company signed another agreement with EPA to fully characterize the contamination problem site-wide and develop options for cleaning it up.
- In 1998, the company demolished and removed the remaining on-site buildings, and that same year, the Foote property was sold to Frazer-Exton Development, L.L.C. which agreed to complete the work started by Cyprus Foote Mineral Company.
- Foote and Frazer completed the basic site studies by the end of 2001, however because of new developments additional investigations of contamination were deemed necessary.
- In November 2001, an unsuspected contaminant, bromate, was found the in groundwater downgradient from the property and sampling in 2002 revealed that some previously uncontaminated wells had become contaminated
- Bottled water was provided and connections to the public water supply were supplied to residents with the additional contaminated wells.
- A 2003 Proposed Plan including the preferred cleanup approach was retracted due to the discovery of low level radioactive contamination in some on-site soils. Additional investigation to determine the extent of that contamination was conducted and a revised Proposed Plan was issued and finalized in a Record of Decision that was issued in March 2006.
- The final remedy included 1) excavation and off-site removal of radiation-contaminated soils; 2) stabilization of process tailings located in one of the two on-site quarries; 3) consolidation of other site wastes, debris and contaminated soils into the quarry area; 4) capping of the quarry area at the surrounding grade.
- During construction of this remedy it was discovered that the volume of contaminated soil exceeded the capacity of the quarries. Consequently, an Explanation of Significant Differences, a document which revises the requirements of the selected remedy, was issued in April 2008 to allow expansion of the quarry area to accommodate the increased volume of contaminated soil.
- As of October 28, 2010, the site owner has completed all necessary construction for the remedy at this site. The Site owner continues to conduct the operation and maintenance activities."
Contaminants and Risks
- Onsite groundwater contaminated with metals and petroleum hydrocarbons.
- Onsite soil contaminated with metals and petroleum hydrocarbons.
- Small areas of radiation-contaminated soils.
- Offsite downgradient groundwater contaminated with lithium, boron and chromium.
Documents and Reports
- All documents and reports can also be reviewed in person at these locations:
Chester County Library
400 Exton Square Parkway
Exton, PA 19341
(610) 280-2620U.S. EPA Region III
1650 Arch Street-6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 814-3157
Call for an appointment.
- Some of the site’s key documents of interest are accessible below.
ATSDR's Public Health Assessment
- Submit a FOIA Request
Get instructions on how to submit a FOIA request. $Fee$ for requests over 100 pages.
Photos, Maps and Diagrams
Community Information
- Site Progress Profile — a quick reference sheet, linking to EPA's Headquarters.
- Fact Sheets
September 1998
- Public Notices
12/13/2007 (PDF) (1 pp, 22K):The U.S. EPA’s Explanation of Significant Differences for Foote Mineral Co. Superfund Site Now Available Online
12/11/2007 (PDF) (1 pp, 32K): U.S. EPA Seeks Public Comment on Plan to Modify the Record of Decision at the Foote Mineral Co. Superfund Site
- Press Release
10/25/2005: EPA to Host Public Meeting on Foote Mineral Superfund Site
Reuse Information
- This site currently does not meet the criteria for Site-wide Ready for Anticipated Use; however parts of the site may be suitable for reuse.
- Want more information about how to reuse a Superfund site?