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A GREEN SOLUTION TO POLLUTION - Arbor Day Tree Planting in South Philly Marks Innovative Settlement of EPA Complaint

Release Date: 4/30/1999
Contact Information: Ruth Podems (215) 814-5540

PHILADELPHIA - A new tree grows in South Philadelphia today - Arbor Day - thanks to an innovative agreement between Sunoco, Inc. and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

At a noon ceremony today, a white oak was planted in front of 1532 Forrestal Street in South Philadelphia, the first of about 200 trees that Sunoco will plant throughout the neighborhood in weeks to come.

The tree-planting project is part of an innovative settlement of an EPA enforcement action against two Sunoco subsidiaries for alleged environmental violations at the Philadelphia refinery complex. This type of EPA agreement, including a "supplemental environmental project," is designed to give back to the community improvements in public health and environmental conditions.

"A project such as tree planting provides direct benefits to communities -- tangible, visible improvements that residents can embrace immediately," said John Armstead, director of EPA Region III’s Waste and Chemical Management Division.

Working in coordination with the Fairmount Park Commission and local residents and community groups, the Sunoco subsidiaries will plant trees along city streets in the Girard Estates and Packer Park neighborhoods. The $50,000 project is expected to be completed by the fall of 1999.

In September 1997, EPA cited the two subsidiaries, Sun Company, Inc. (R&M) and the Atlantic Refining and Marketing Inc., for violating rules on hazardous waste, inspection of equipment containing PCBs, and leak detection for underground fuel storage tanks. The alleged violations were discovered during a spring 1996 inspection of the Point Breeze Processing Area, the Darby Creek Tank Farm and the Hog Island Wharf.

In a July, 1998 settlement agreement, the companies agreed to pay an $125,000 penalty and to spend an additional $50,000 on projects designed to improve the local environment near the refinery complex. In the settlement, the companies also certified their compliance with the regulations cited in EPA’s complaints.

Other EPA settlements that included supplemental environmental projects in the Philadelphia area include:

Westinghouse Electric Corp., Chester -- spent $100,000 to reduce lead paint hazards in Chester, Pa. playgrounds and spent $200,000 to fund the Chester Lead Poisoning Prevention Project which focuses on newborns in the city’s southwest section. These projects were part of a settlement for violations of the Clean Air Act at the company’s Chester and Manchester, Pa. incinerators.

U.S. Mint, Philadelphia -- spent $90,427 to install and operate an emission control system, more stringent than the legal requirement, for two chromium electroplating tanks and a chromium strip tank, both used to chrome plate the stamping dies used for decorative detail on commemorative coins. This project was part of a settlement for violations of the Clean Air Act, specifically not monitoring the mint’s chromium electroplating operation and having an uncertified technician repairing air conditioners.

Sun Company (now Sunoco), Philadelphia -- spent more than $600,000 to purchase and donate a hazmat response and command vehicle to respond to chemical emergencies and restored a wetland in Bartram’s Gardens in southwest Philadelphia. These projects were part of a settlement to resolve violations of the company’s wastewater discharge permit at its Philadelphia and Marcus Hood refineries.

Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail), Philadelphia -- spent $230,000 on emergency response computers displaying railroad databases in Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester Counties to aid in responding to a rail accident, and $180,850 to plant 500 trees in the Port Richmond neighborhood of the city. The projects, plus a $389,100 penalty, resolved asbestos violations at the company’s Port Richmond grain elevator.


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