UGI COLUMBIA GAS PLANT
COLUMBIA, LANCASTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
CONCLUSIONS
PADOH has concluded that the UGI Columbia Gas Plant site is an indeterminate public health hazard. Limited available data do not indicate that humans are being or have been exposed to levels of contamination that would be expected to cause adverse health effects; however, some data are not available to adequately evaluate all possible exposure scenarios.
The gas holder pits and subsurface soil areas of contamination represent source areas for groundwater contamination. Groundwater in the vicinity of the UGI site is being contaminated with coal tar-related compounds that originated from gas manufacturing activities at the site. However, no one is presently using groundwater that is contaminated, although a remote possibility exists that some private wells serving seasonally inhabited cottages could become contaminated. No indication of ongoing sampling to evaluate the quality of private well water that may be in use among the residents of the cottages on Front Street could be found.
Coal tar that originated from gas manufacturing activities at the UGI site is entering the Susquehanna River and its sediments. People wading in the river in that area could be exposed to the contaminants in the river. The extent of sediment contamination in the river has not been thoroughly studied since 1987 at which time tars were reported to be actively migrating into the river and no source area had been identified.
On-site exposures to coal tar wastes occurred, primarily through inhalation. The exposures could not be evaluated for public health implications because of a lack of environmental sampling data. Remediation of on-site coal tar wastes in 1987 eliminated the possibility of exposure. If remaining waste is excavated, workers could be exposed; however, USEPA and PADER require that workers follow a health and safety plan that should provide for protection against exposure.
For other potential exposure pathways, data are inadequate to evaluate public health implications. That data include: (a) no ongoing monitoring of raw surface water at public water supply intakes; (b) no information on possible contaminant levels in fish; and (c) no surface soil data for the top three inches of soil in areas on and off site where subsurface soils are contaminated.
Cease/Reduce Exposure Recommendations
Site Characterization Recommendations
Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP) Recommendations
The data and information developed in the UGI Columbia Gas Plant Site Public Health Assessment have been evaluated for appropriate follow-up health actions by the ATSDR Health Activities Recommendation Panel (HARP). HARP determined that people are not being exposed to contaminants from the UGI Columbia Gas Plant site at levels that would be expected to cause illness. Therefore, no follow-up health actions are needed at this time. ATSDR will reevaluate this site for additional follow-up public health actions if new data become available that indicate a need to do so.
A public health action plan (PHAP) contains a description of specific actions to be taken by ATSDR and/or other governmental agencies at and in the vicinity of NPL sites subsequent to the completion of a public health assessment for any given site. The purpose of the PHAP is to ensure that the public health assessment not only identifies public health hazards, but provides a plan of action designed to mitigate and prevent adverse human health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous substances that may be released uncontrolled from NPL sites into the environment. Included is a commitment on the part of PADOH and ATSDR to follow up on this plan to ensure that it is implemented.
Currently, HARP determined that no follow-up health actions are indicated at the UGI Columbia Gas Plant site at this time. Additional information will be evaluated as it becomes available.
Mark A. Lavin, B.S.
Environmental Health Specialist
Health Assessment Program
Division of Environmental Health Assessment
J.E. Godfrey, M.S., M.Ed.
Hydrogeologist II
Health Assessment Program
Division of Environmental Health Assessment
ATSDR Regional Representative:
Charles Walters
Senior Regional Representative
ATSDR, Region III Office
Office of Regional Operations
ATSDR Technical Project Officer:
Gail Godfrey
Technical Project Officer
Superfund Site Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
The UGI Columbia Gas Plant Site public health assessment was prepared by the Pennsylvania Department of Health under a cooperative agreement with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). It is in accordance with approved methodology and procedures existing at the time the public health assessment was begun.
The Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, ATSDR, has reviewed this public health assessment, and concurs with its findings.
