The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday announced 12 private entities have agreed to settle on actions that will lead to increased environmental protection at the Metro Container Superfund Site in Trainer, Delaware County.

Under the agreement, contamination from a portion of the site will be removed. In addition, a scientific investigation of the site’s contamination will be conducted and site cleanup options will be developed and shared with the community.

Using information from this investigation, EPA will select an effective action to protect the surrounding community and nearby waterways and wetlands from site-related contamination.  Stoney Creek is about 1,000 feet from the site and flows directly into the Delaware River.

“This agreement is an important step in protecting the local community from potential health risks and addressing a 100-year legacy of environmental contamination at this site,” said EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin.  “These efforts will provide the science needed to determine a long-term remedy for this site and future opportunities for expanded use.”

The Metro Container site was added to EPA’s National Priorities list, a list of the most contaminated sites in the nation, in 2012. 

EPA investigations have documented numerous hazardous contaminants of concern at the site – including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides and numerous volatile organic compounds - in the soil and groundwater plumes migrating from the site and into Stoney Creek and the Delaware River.

The 12 settling parties will pay an estimated $2.5 million for the investigation and an estimated $1 million to remove contaminated soil.  They will also reimburse EPA for its oversight costs.

The entities include: Exxon Mobil Corp.; ExxonMobil Oil Corp.; BP Products North America, Inc.; BP Lubricants USA, Inc.; Atlantic Richfield Co.; E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co.; Chevron Environmental Management Co; Superfund Management Operations, a series of Evergreen Resources Group, LLC (for itself and for Sunoco,Inc. (R&M) (f/k/a Sun Refining and Marketing Co)  and Sunoco, Inc. (f/k/a Sun Oil Co.); Rohm and Hass Co.; Tunnel Barrel and Drum Co.; Veolia ES Technical Solutions, LLC; Stauffer Management Co.,LLC.

EPA will seek public comments on the cleanup plan before it is finalized.

For more information, visit EPA’s Metro Container Superfund site webpage.

10/26/2015