EPA RCRA ID: PAD003003407
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.
P. H. Glatfelter operates a bleached kraft fine paper mill in York County, Pennsylvania. The 100-acre facility can be separated into two distinct areas, the Mill and the Impoundments, both located on the banks of Codorus Creek.
In April 2004, EPA determined that contamination in groundwater and human exposures risk from contaminants were under control
This facility is currently an active industrial site. Groundwater under this site will not be used for potable purposes. The main contaminants of concern in Codorus Creek are low levels of copper and zinc and several poly aromatic hydrocarbons .
Closure/Post Closure activities at the Impoundments are being conducted under the authority of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP).
Cleanup Background
Impoundments
All lagoons were taken out of active service by July 1997, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Residual Waste Regulations. Currently, only closure and storage/transfer functions are performed in the area. Eighteen of the nineteen sludge lagoons have been or are being stabilized and one is used for lime mud storage.
A number of site investigations involving sampling of groundwater, surface water, impoundment sludge and seeps from impoundments have been performed.
Groundwater and surface water are the sources of drinking water for the residential areas within a four-mile radius of the site. A number of off-site and on-site groundwater monitoring wells have been sampled since 1987. Ten wells are currently used for groundwater quality assessment. Of particular note are the monitoring wells downgradient of the surface impoundments located along Codorus Creek. These wells monitor the impacts the impoundments have to the groundwater, and ultimately, Codorus Creek. Generally they have shown little or no impact from the impoundments.
Analysis of samples from surface water and sediment from Codorus Creek and the unnamed tributary to Codorus Creek detected low levels of copper and zinc and several poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Subsequently, several fish tissue studies have been done determine concentrations of contaminants in the fish in Codorus Creek. The studies indicate only low levels of contaminants in the fish, below any level of concern.
Surface run-off from the majority of the industrial sections of the site is diverted by a Muller Valve to the on-site Wastewater Treatment Plant, where it is treated before being released to Codorus Creek through an outfall. All water released through facility’s outfalls must meet the water quality standards stated in the facility’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit.
The facility studied the sludges managed in the impoundments, to evaluate the potential risk posed by the leachates generated in the lagoons. The concern was the potential risk of leaching constituents into the groundwater through the impoundments and into the surface water via seeps found at the impoundments. Although some constituents of concern were detected in the leachates, all had levels well below action limits.
Mill Area
A number of historic releases to soils, have occurred on the site. The facility has responded by upgrading its PPC plan as well as materials handling. Additional investigation of subsurface soils may be necessary for final clean-up, but currently soils do not pose a contaminant exposure to off-site residents, or on-site workers.
The historic releases to the soils may have impacted the groundwater and further investigation will be required. However, on-site workers and nearby residential areas are not exposed to the groundwater as the flow under the facility is toward Codorus Creek.
A number of small releases to Codorus Creek from the mill area have been recorded and some small fish kills have been noted. For each instance repairs were made and appropriate changes in material handling were instituted. Currently, material handling lines are regularly inspected. Surface water quality data shows no evidence for concern for residential and recreational contact with the surface water and sediments.
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.
P. H. Glatfelter operates a bleached kraft fine paper mill in York County, Pennsylvania. The 100-acre facility can be separated into two distinct areas, the Mill and the Impoundments, both located on the banks of Codorus Creek.
Contaminants at this Facility
The results of these investigations show that the residual waste impoundments do not pose a threat to human health. Although the closed/closing impoundments have been shown to contain hazardous constituents in the impoundment sludge above direct contact recommended levels, only those involved with the closure activities would potentially have contact with those constituents, and these personnel , per Pennsylvania Residual Waste rules , have to have proper training to deal with sludge contaminants. Finally, facility’s industrial activities do not have an effect on the potable water supplies in the area.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
The need for institutional controls has 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.