Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Pennsylvania
Armstrong County
Parker

EPA ID# PAD980508527

3rd Congressional District

Last Update: December 2012

Other Names

Craig Lagoon
Craig Farm Disposal Site

Current Site Status

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has overseen the cleanup of the Craig Farm Drum site by Beazer East, Inc. (Beazer, formerly Koppers Chemical), the Potentially Responsible Party (PRP).

The Remedial Action at the site consisted of the excavation and onsite stabilization of contaminated soils from two former waste disposal pits. The excavated materials were placed in a two-acre, onsite, double-lined landfill and a fence was installed around the perimeter of the disposal unit. Four groundwater monitoring wells were installed around the perimeter of the landfill to monitor contaminant migration. Historically, two groundwater seeps identified at the site were intercepted by a seep collection system, collected in an aboveground storage tank, and transported to an offsite wastewater treatment facility. In 2009, it was determined that one of the seeps no longer exhibited toxicity above acceptable criteria and collection of water from that seep was discontinued. Construction of the remedy at the site was documented as complete in December 1995.

The wastewater treatment facility at which seep wastewater was historically treated was taken out of service in 2009. From September 2007 through September 2008, the PRP conducted a Focused Feasibility Investigation to evaluate alternatives to the existing treatment system and submitted a Focused Feasibility Investigation Report to EPA in December 2008, revised in May 2009. The report recommended capping a portion of the site to reduce the amount of groundwater flow through contaminated material and reduce the amount of contaminated water requiring offsite treatment. EPA documented the approval of this this remedy modification in an Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD), dated September 18, 2009. Field work to implement the remedy modification was completed between May and September 2010 and the Remedial Action Report certifying completion of the remedy modification was approved by EPA in December 2010

The third Five Year Review for the site began was completed on June 19, 2009. The review indicated that the remedy is protective of human health and the environment in both the long and short term. However, the review also indicated that the requirement for institutional controls was insufficiently documented in the Record of Decision (ROD). Additional documentation of the requirement for institutional controls was included in the aforementioned ESD to address this issue.

Site Description

The Craig Farm site consists of 117 acres located in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. Between 1958 and 1963, approximately 8,000 tons of drummed waste material were deposited in two former strip mine pits on the site property and covered with topsoil. The waste consisted of still bottom residue from the production of resorcinol at the Koppers Chemical Plant located in Petrolia, Pennsylvania. Resorcinol, an organic compound, is used as an adhesive enhancer in commercial products such as automobile tires and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Approximately 1,700 people reside within a three-mile radius of the site, with the closest residence approximately a half mile away.

Site Responsibility

This site was the responsibility of federal and state governments, the site owner and parties potentially responsible for site contamination.

NPL Listing History

Our country's most serious uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites can be cleaned using federal money. To be eligible for cleanup money, a site must be placed on the National Priorities List (NPL). This site was proposed to the NPL on December 30, 1982 and was formally added on September 8, 1983.

Threats and Contaminants

Prior to the Remedial Action, groundwater, soils adjacent to the disposal pits, and a nearby unnamed creek were contaminated with resorcinol and associated polymers and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as benzene and toluene. The primary health threats were identified as direct contact with contaminated surface water and accidental ingestion of contaminated ground water.

Contaminant descriptions and risk factors are available from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, an arm of the CDC.

Cleanup Progress

Final remedy selection was documented by EPA in a Record of Decision (ROD) signed in September 1989. After a period of negotiation, Beazer signed a Consent Decree to perform the Remedial Design and Remedial Action in May 1990. The final design report was approved by EPA in September 1993 and Beazer completed the Remedial Action from May 1994 through December 1995. During the cleanup, all wastes and adjacent contaminated soils were excavated from the two on-site disposal pits, solidified onsite, and placed in a two-acre, double-lined landfill. The landfill was then capped, covered with a topsoil layer and seeded and a fence was erected around the perimeter. A total of 8,200 tons of treated waste and 21,000 tons of contaminated soil were placed into the on-site landfill. A one-acre wetland was also constructed at the site to replace a smaller area of wetlands lost in building the landfill.

One contaminated groundwater seep identified at the site is currently intercepted by a seep collection system, collected in an aboveground storage tank, and transported to an offsite wastewater treatment facility. An ESD was issued in September 2009 to modify the remedy to include a cap over a portion of the site to reduce infiltration and contaminated groundwater volume. The remedy modification selected in the ESD was completed in late 2010.

Beazer continues to perform operation and maintenance activities at the site. Groundwater and surface water sampling are currently conducted on a semi-annual basis and reported to EPA. Based on groundwater monitoring results collected since the remedy modification was completed, sampling frequency may be reduced to coincide with Five Year Reviews in the future.

Contacts

Site Contacts

Administrative Record Locations