Mid-Atlantic Superfund

EPA Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic)

Pennsylvania
Bucks County
Bridgeton Township

EPA ID# PAD047726161

8th Congressional District

Last Update: June 2008

Other Names

Boarhead Corporation

Current Site Status

Construction activities associated with the various components of the cleanup remedy for the Boarhead Farms Superfund Site (Site) have been completed. The remedy is being implemented by the Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) under EPA's oversight. In 2000, a group of PRPs entered into an agreement with the United States to perform the ground water portion of the Site cleanup. Work includes operating, maintaining, and upgrading the existing ground water extraction and treatment system. Upgrades to the system were completed in May 2002. In addition, from 2002 to 2005, the PRPs installed 17 new monitoring wells to better define the extent ground water plume of contamination in the area east of Lonely Cottage Road. The PRPs also assumed responsibility for the maintenance of carbon filter treatment units previously installed on 16 residential water supplies. Sampling results confirmed that, with the exception of the well located at the Boarhead property, none of the 15 residential wells contained site-related contamination. Beginning in 2002, filters were removed from 10 wells. As a precaution, filters were left in place at the 5 residences closest to the Site. In 2002, a group of PRPs entered into a separate agreement to perform the clean-up of contaminated soils and buried drums. Construction activities began in April 2003. During the course of this clean-up over 900 drums were excavated and shipped off-site for proper disposal. In addition 3000 tons of hazardous soils were also shipped to off-site disposal facilities. The work was completed in September 2003.

EPA recently conducted a Five-Year Review of the cleanup remedy at the Site. EPA is required to conduct this review to ensure that the remedy remains protective of human health and the environment. As required, a similar review will be conducted every five years. The assessment of the Site by the Five-Year Review finds the remedy has been constructed in accordance with the requirements of the ROD and is functioning as designed. The immediate threats have been addressed though the excavation and disposal of buried drums and contaminated soil, and provision of filters on residential water supplies. Extraction, treatment and monitoring of the groundwater is being conducted as required. However, the review identified several issues that should be addressed, including the following: 1) Although the remedy has significantly reduced groundwater contamination levels in the former source area, post-ROD investigations and sampling of new site monitoring wells have confirmed VOCs, in concentrations exceeding Federal drinking water standards known as Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), are present in groundwater beneath adjacent properties; 2) Several residents regularly deny access to sample their wells and/or to maintain their filters; 3) The groundwater cleanup standard selected in the ROD for arsenic was 50 micrograms per liter (ug/l), the MCL at the time the ROD was issued, however the MCL has since been lowered to 10 ug/l; 4) The groundwater cleanup standards selected in the ROD do not include vinyl chloride, a primary contaminant of concern at the Site; 5) EPA has recently become aware that many VOC sites also contain 1,4-dioxane, a solvent stabilizer which is not removed by the same methods that remediate VOCs; 6) With multiple contaminants present in Site groundwater, there is the potential for the remedy not to achieve the acceptable risk range even if all contaminants eventually meet MCLs; 7) The potential for vapor intrusion at the Boarhead property residence and to adjacent residences should be evaluated; 8) The ROD indicated that the cleanup of soils, drums and groundwater should contribute to protection of surface water. However, this has not been confirmed through sampling; and 9) Institutional controls should be implemented to protect the remedy and restrict use of the Property. EPA is working with the PRPs to address the above issues. A copy of the final 5-Year Review Report, dated August 22, 2007, is available on the Internet at www.epa.gov/5yr.

Site Description

The 113-acre Boarhead Farms site in Upper Black Eddy, Bridgeton Township, Pennsylvania, was used for horse breeding until 1970, when the Boarhead Corporation purchased the property and began to repair equipment and store waste materials associated with its waste salvaging and hauling business. Shaak Excavating Company (also known as the Keystone Excavating Company), a heavy equipment firm, leases a portion of the property. The exact amount of waste disposed of at the site is unknown. However, EPA has removed over 2,500 drums of waste which were buried on the property. In addition, the contents of numerous tank trucks were discharged at the site. A number of releases have occurred on the property, attributed to broken valves on trucks that stopped for repairs or to discharges by the Boarhead Corporation. Discharges included 3,000 gallons of ferrous chloride, in 1973, and, in 1976, 4,000 gallons of ammonia and 2,700 gallons of sulfuric acid. After the last spill, the State of Pennsylvania issued an injunction forbidding any chemicals to be brought onto the property. Approximately 900 people live within 3 miles of the site and obtain drinking water from public and private wells. Roughly 1/3 of the site is low-lying wetlands. The Delaware River, which is used for recreational activities, is 2-½ miles downgradient from the site.

Site Responsibility

Cleanup of this site is the responsibility of the Federal and State governments.

NPL Listing History

Our country's most serious, uncontrolled, or abandoned hazardous waste sites can be cleaned using federal money. To be eligible for federal cleanup money, a site must be added to the National Priorities List. This site was proposed to the list on June 24, 1988 and formally added to the list on March 31, 1989. The Record of Decision detailing all of the specific remedial actions was signed on November 18, 1998.

Threats and Contaminants

In 1984, EPA detected volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and heavy metals in wells, surface waters, and sediments on the site thought to have been caused by the release of hazardous materials. Although only sporadic instances of contamination were found in residential wells, people in the area could be exposed to contaminants by drinking or coming into direct contact with contaminated ground water or surface water. All home wells currently affected by the site are being treated by carbon filtration units to ensure that residents have safe drinking water. An on-site farmhouse well is heavily contaminated with VOCs. On-site wetlands could be affected by contaminants from the ground water and surface water.

Contaminant descriptions and associated risk factors are available at: (ATSDR web site) http://www.atsdrcdc.gov/hazdat.htm

 

Cleanup Progress

This site has been addressed by three emergency removal actions. In 1992 and 1993 over 2,500 buried drums and numerous leaking tank trucks were removed from the site. In January 1997 approximately 18 residences were supplied with carbon filters for their drinking water wells. In addition, an interception trench and on-site groundwater treatment facility have been constructed to treat VOC contamination. The treatment facility is currently in operation and will be upgraded to improve its ability to treat volatile organic compounds and to remove heavy metals .

EPA conducted a remedial investigation and feasibility study (RI/FS) to fully characterize site contamination for soil and ground water and to identify possible alternatives for remedy selection. The Proposed Remedial Action Plan was issued on January 5, 1998. It outlined EPA’s preferred alternative and a 90 day public comment period followed. The Record of Decision (ROD) for this site was issued on November 18, 1998. It called for the remedial action to perform the following tasks: excavation and removal of remaining buried drums, clean-up of contaminated soils, and collection and treatment of contaminated groundwater. The ground water remedies are being conducted by a small group of cooperating Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs). The remedial action for OU 2 was completed, via December 2002 Consent Decree with the PRPs, in November 2003. Monitoring of the groundwater components continues on a tri-annual basis.

Contacts

Site Contacts

Administrative Record Locations