The Department of Environmental Protection published notice in the January 18 PA Bulletin proposing to add the Nockamixon TCE HSCA Site in Nockamixon Township, Bucks County to the Pennsylvania Priority List of Hazardous Sites under the state Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act.  (PA Bulletin, page 584)

Pennsylvania’s Priority List for Remedial Response, a state version of the federal Superfund list, includes nine other sites. (PA Bulletin, page 586)  https://tinyurl.com/y7hbt7yh

DEP has determined through investigation that there are releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances or contaminants, which present a substantial threat to public health or safety or the environment.

The Nockamixon TCE HSCA Site is located along Durham Road, Easton Road, Cord Way, Mountain View Drive, Tower Road, Brennan Road, and Park Drive West in Nockamixon Township.

The Site area is rural, comprised of undeveloped land, farmland, residences, and businesses, including a school.

DEP has identified a former 77.2-acres farm (the Property) on Brennan Road as the source of soil, surface water, and groundwater contamination.

The Property was reportedly used by its owner William Schulberger to dispose of drummed and bulk liquid industrial waste before being subdivided into nine parcels in 1978.

Site area groundwater, on and within approximately 1.4 miles from the Property is contaminated by chlorinated volatile organic compounds including Trichloroethene (TCE) and/or Tetrachloroethene (PCE).

After initiating the investigation in 2009, DEP identified 45 potable wells with concentrations of TCE and/or PCE above the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for safe drinking water.

In 2011, DEP initiated an interim response action resulting in the installation and maintenance of 42 carbon filtration systems coupled with institutional controls.

Soil sampling conducted on the Property has revealed two areas of soil contamination.

In 2018, DEP initiated a prompt interim response to address the vapor intrusion (VI) exposure pathway. DEP installed VI mitigation systems and enacted institutional controls at two residential properties near the source area.

In 2016, based on interviews conducted by DEP, a HSCA Section 501 Notice Letter (35 P.S. § 6020.501) was sent to AMETEK, Inc. (formerly ‘‘US Gauge’’), a suspected generator of the drums and liquid wastes disposed on the Property.

According to these interviews, the late Mr. Schulberger was a former employee of US Gauge, and reportedly disposed of the wastes at the Site using a tanker truck. AMETEK has denied that US Gauge’s wastes were disposed at the Site.

Comments Invited

Comments are due on this proposed listing by February 17-- 30 days after the notice.

Read the entire PA Bulletin notice for information on how to submit comments and other background.  (PA Bulletin, page 584)

Visit DEP’s Nockamixon TCE HSCA Site webpage for more information on the site.

Visit DEP’s Hazardous Sites Cleanup Program webpage to learn more about this program.

\For more information on environmental programs in Pennsylvania, visit DEP’s website.  Submit Environmental Complaints; Click Here to sign up for DEP’s newsletter; sign up for DEP’s eNotice; Like DEP on Facebook, Follow DEP on Twitter and visit DEP’s YouTube Channel.

NewsClip:

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1/20/2025