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Waste Generators to Complete $15.5 Million Cleanup of Chester Co. Site

Release Date: 9/2/1999
Contact Information: David Sternberg (215) 814-5548

EAST WHITELAND TWP., Pa . - The United States and Pennsylvania have reached a major milestone in the cleanup of the Malvern TCE Superfund Site in Malvern, Pa. In settlement papers filed September 1 in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, federal and state officials spelled out a cleanup agreement with 35 companies to clean up the hazardous waste contamination at the Chester County site.

Past industrial use of the site significantly contaminated the underground aquifer. Under the proposed consent decree, the settling parties must complete an EPA-approved cleanup plan which aims to restore this important groundwater resource. This plan includes providing public water to affected nearby residents, removing and properly disposing of contaminated soil, and extracting and treating contaminated groundwater. The plan also includes installing a cap to prevent direct contact with contaminated soils and prevent the further migration of contaminants into the groundwater. These remedies are currently being designed by the settling parties under EPA supervision.

"This agreement is a good deal for the government, the settling parties, and the community. We are pleased that these companies have agreed to the cleanup, allowing us all to concentrate our efforts on remediation," said EPA Regional Administrator W. Michael McCabe.

The Malvern TCE site, located in a residential and wooded area of East Whiteland Township, includes a five-acre property owned by Chemclene Corp., as well as surrounding property owned by Springridge Management Corp. From 1952 until 1992, Chemclene used the site to store, sell and reclaim industrial cleaning solvents, which were used by local industries for degreasing metal parts and other cleaning purposes. According to EPA, Chemclene’s industrial activities contaminated groundwater with
volatile organic compounds, including trichloroethene (TCE), 1,1,1-trichloroethane (1,1,1-TCA), perchloroethylene (PCE), and methylene chloride.

The parties covered by today’s settlement (see attached list) allegedly shipped solvent and other waste to the Chemclene plant for treatment, storage or disposal.

According to EPA, the total cleanup will cost approximately $18.8 million, including $2.8 million in past costs and $15.5 million in future activities.

In a separate settlement finalized in early August, EPA resolved the potential Superfund liability of 168 parties that contributed a minimal amount of the hazardous waste at the site. These parties will pay approximately $3,775,000, reflecting their collective share of the past and future cleanup costs at the site. These “de minimis” settlements reflect EPA’s commitment to use its Superfund authority to settle early with small waste generators so they do not bear large litigation costs.

Also, on July 18, 1999, the U.S. filed a Superfund cost recovery complaint against the current owners and operators of the site (Chemclene Corp., Springridge Management Corp., and Lloyd Balderston) and former owner Ruth Balderston. These parties did not sign the settlement agreement announced today.

As a result of a fire on August 12, 1999 that destroyed the main building of Chemclene Corporation, EPA has secured and stabilized the site and is investigating the area for any hazardous substances that may pose a potential threat to human health and/or the environment as a result of the fire.

EPA has issued an order to company owner, Lloyd Balderston, to secure hazardous substances stored at the site and to clean up any environmental contamination that may have occurred from the fire. All work will be under the supervision of the EPA and the local fire marshall.

The proposed consent decree is subject to a public comment period and final court approval.

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MALVERN TCE SITE SETTLING DEFENDANTS

ACTION MANUFACTURING COMPANY
ALCOA INC.
ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
BARKER PIPE FITTINGS CO.
BECKETT CORPORATION
BULOVA TECHNOLOGIES LLC
CABOT CORPORATION
CHEMETALL FOOTE CORP.
DELBAR PRODUCTS, INC.
ELDREDGE, INC.
FISCHER & PORTER COMPANY
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
GENERAL MOTORS COMPANY
HAMILTON PRECISION METALS, INC.
HAMILTON WATCH COMPANY
HANDY & HARMAN TUBE COMPANY
HERCULES, INC.
KIM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS
LAFRANCE CORP.
LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
MOORE PRODUCTS CO
MORNING CALL, INC.
NW CONTROLS, INC.
PLYMOUTH TUBE COMPANY
PORTER INSTRUMENT COMPANY, INC.
PP&L, INC.
REILLY PLATING CO, INC.
REX HEAT TREAT - - LANSDALE, INC.
SUNROC CORPORATION
SYNTEX, INC.
UNISYS CORPORATION
USG CORPORATION
VISHAY INTERTECHNOLOGY, INC.
VIZ LIQUIDATION TRUST