EPA RCRA ID: PAD002370005
On this page:
- Cleanup Status
- Facility Description
- Contaminants at this Facility
- Institutional/Engineer Controls
- Enforcement and Compliance
- Related Information
- Contacts for this Facility
Cleanup Status
Note: The EPA is the lead agency for managing cleanups at this facility.
In 2011, the Facility demolished and closed out a former chemical storage building. As part of the closure, Tube Methods procured several subsurface soil samples beneath the building. The initial soil results identified the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), specifically tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE), above the Pennsylvania Statewide Health Standards for a residential used aquifer. As a result, Tube Methods in collaboration with the EPA expanded its investigation under the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Act 2 Land Recycling Program (Act 2) to investigate and delineate the extent of VOCs contamination in soil and groundwater.
Tube Methods installed multiple soil borings between 11 to 22 feet below ground surface (bgs) in the vicinity of the former chemical storage building and beneath the current machine shop to delineate the extent of the soil contamination. The soil results indicate several areas of impacts in and around the former chemical storage building. Additional soil samples will be collected in the machine shop to delineate the extent of soil contamination beneath the building. The Facility will excavate and dispose the contaminated soil in the impact areas.
Fourteen shallow wells were installed onsite and offsite of the Facility to delineate the extent of the groundwater contamination. Groundwater flow is to the north of the facility towards the Schuylkill River. Initial rounds of groundwater sampling indicated that the majority of groundwater contamination plume is contained within and close proximity of the Facility. At a minimum several more rounds of groundwater sampling are needed to better assess the dynamics (remains stationary or migrating) of the groundwater contamination plume. Tube Methods will continue to conduct quarterly groundwater sampling until sufficient data are procured to make this determination. Tube Methods will install a deep bedrock well near the source area to determine the vertical extent of the groundwater contamination. There are no direct exposures to the groundwater contamination. Residents in the area are connected to public water.
On September 28, 2018, EPA determined that contamination in groundwater and human exposures risk from contaminants were under control.
Cleanup Actions or environmental indicators characterizing the entire facility are shown below. It is not intended as an extensive list of milestones/activities. This listing, and all the data on this page, come from EPA’s RCRAInfo and are refreshed nightly to this page. For this table and the Cleanup Activities Pertaining to a Portion of the Facility table that follows, a blank in the Status column could mean the action either has not occurred or has not been reported in RCRAInfo.
Cleanup Activities Pertaining to the Entire Facility
| Action | Status | Date of Action |
|---|---|---|
| Human Exposure Under Control Human Exposure Under Control(CA725) | ||
| Groundwater Migration Under ControlGroundwater Migration Under Control (CA750) | ||
| Remedy DecisionRemedy Decision (CA400) | ||
| Remedy ConstructionRemedy Construction (CA550) | ||
| Ready for Anticipated Use Ready for Anticipated Use (CA800) | ||
| Performance Standards AttainedPerformance Standards Attained (CA900) | ||
| Corrective Action Process TerminatedCorrective Action Process Terminated (CA999) |
For definitions of the terms used, hover over or click on the term.
Cleanup Activities Pertaining to a Portion of the Facility
| Action | Area Name | Date of Action |
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For definitions of the terms used, hover over or click on the term.
Facility Description
Link to a larger, interactive view of the map.
The Tube Methods is a 2.25 acre facility located at 416 Depot Street in Bridgeport, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The facility is located approximately 1,500 feet south of the Schuylkill River. Land use within a mile radius of the facility consists of commercial, residential, and industrial properties.
Since 1941, the Facility customizes stainless steel tubing, copper tubing, nickel-based alloy, and cobalt-based alloy tubing for use by the aerospace and gauge industries. The interior and exterior diameters of the stock tubes are reduced to meet customer specifications. The manufacturing process consists of cold drawing, annealing, degreasing, alkaline cleaning, and acid pickling.
Contaminants at this Facility
Contaminants of concern are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), specifically tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE).
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
The need for Institutional Controls is yet to be determined.
Institutional and Engineering Controls help ensure human exposure and groundwater migration are under control at a cleanup facility. Where control types have been reported by states and EPA in EPA’s RCRAInfo, they are shown below. Not all control types are needed at all facilities, and some facilities do not require any controls. Where there are blanks, the control types may not be needed, may not be in place, or may not be reported in RCRAInfo.
Are Controls in Place at this Facility?
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Control(s) Type |
Control(s) in Place? |
Areas Subject to Control(s) |
Documents available on-line: |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Institutional ControlsNon-engineering controls used to restrict land use or land access in order to protect people and the environment from exposure to hazardous substances remaining in the site/or facility. (CA 772) |
Informational DevicesInformational Devices (ID) |
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Governmental Controls (GC) |
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Enforcement and Permit Tools (EP) |
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| Proprietary ControlsProprietary Controls (PR) | ||||
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Engineering ControlsEngineering measures designed to minimize the potential for human exposure to contamination by either limiting direct contact with contaminated areas or controlling migration of contaminants. (CA 770) |
Groundwater ControlGroundwater Control (GW) |
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Non-Groundwater |
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For definitions of the terms used, hover over or click on the term.
Enforcement and Compliance at this Facility
EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) provides detailed historical information about enforcement and compliance activities at each RCRA Corrective Action Site in their Enforcement and Compliance Historical Online (ECHO) system.
RCRA Enforcement and Compliance Reports from ECHO
Related Information
For more information about this facility, see these other EPA links:
- RCRA information in EPA’s Envirofacts database
- Information about this facility submitted to EPA under different environmental programs as reported in EPA’s Facility Registry Services
- Alternative Names for this facility as reported by EPA programs in EPA’s Facility Registry Services
- Cleanups in My Community provides an interactive map to see EPA cleanups in context with additional data, and lists for downloading data
- Search RCRA Corrective Action Sites provides a search feature for Corrective Action Sites
Documents, Photos and Graphics
Contacts for this Facility
EPA Region implements and enforces the RCRA Corrective Action program for and federally recognized tribes.
For further information on this corrective action site, use the Contact Information for Corrective Action Hazardous Waste Clean Ups listings that are accessible through Corrective Action Programs around the Nation.