EPA RCRA ID: PAD021047584
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 September 2023, EPA determined that contamination in groundwater and human exposures risk from contaminants were under control.
Cleanup Background
During closure of former solvent storage tanks in 1990, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were discovered in the site soils and groundwater in the general vicinity of the tanks. Contaminated soils were excavated in 1994 and a groundwater monitoring program was initiated. The facility received a release of liability for soils from Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) in January 1997 since the analytical data indicated that the Statewide Health Standards (SHSs) had been met. The facility received a release of liability for groundwater from PADEP in February 1997 by virtue of attainment of the site specific standards. Trichloroethylene (TCE) and vinyl chloride remained above PADEP’s medium specific concentrations for groundwater but a downward trend in concentrations was apparent and no registered potable wells were located in the vicinity of the facility. The facility and the surrounding area receive their potable water from the North Wales Water Authority.
While it had appeared that concentrations of contaminants were naturally biodegrading over time based on groundwater samples collected from the mid-1990s through 2006, EPA decided to take another look at groundwater quality beneath the facility in 2019. When it was learned that the existing wells had been properly abandoned and were no longer sampleable, EPA installed 3 pairs of nested wells with each of the nested wells installed as a multiple well borehole containing both a shallow and deeper screened interval. The new wells were sampled in September 2019 and March 2020. Analytical results indicate that the shallow water bearing unit continues to contain elevated concentrations of chlorinated VOCs.
Concurrent with the 2019/2020 groundwater sampling events, EPA also collected three paired sub-slab soil gas/indoor air samples within the facility building to determine if the vapor intrusion pathway was complete. While VOC concentrations in the sub-slab soil gas samples were great enough to suggest the potential for a vapor intrusion problem, the indoor air samples demonstrated the concrete slab provided an effective barrier from those contaminants. No contaminants in indoor air were detected above EPA’s risked based regional screening levels (RSLs) for indoor air.
A Daycare is located approximately 500 feet northwest (upgradient) of SGS. Due to its proximity, in December 2010 and July 2011, EPA’s Superfund program collected sub-slab, indoor air and ambient air samples at the Daycare to determine if the remaining groundwater contamination at SGS was migrating and contributing to potential vapor intrusion inside the Daycare. No constituents of vapor intrusion concern attributable to SGS were detected in any of the samples collected during either round of sampling. Superfund concluded that the vapor intrusion pathway is likely not a completed pathway at the Daycare.
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 |
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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 facility was owned and operated by Advanced Power Technology RF and Microsemi RF between 1993 and 2007. Silicon-based semiconductors in the product area of transistors were historically manufactured at this location by the companies. Hazardous wastes have not been generated and the property has not housed a RCRA treatment, storage or disposal (TSD) type facility since prior to Microsemi RF vacating the facility in 2007. K & B Wireless Communication owned the facility property from 2007 through March 2020 and used the building as a mobile phone showroom and warehouse and had various tenants over the years in the rear (western) portion of the building. The owner of the facility property since March 2020 is 140 Commerce Drive, LLC, which leases out portions of the building to tenants. The Tustin Group, a provider of HVAC, Energy, Water, Fire and Life Safety and Security Services for business owners and property managers, currently leases space in the building.
Contaminants at this Facility
Groundwater in the shallow water bearing unit beneath the facility continues to contain chlorinated VOCs (primarily TCE and vinyl chloride) above EPA’s maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). These contaminants do not appear to be impacting the indoor air quality of the on-site building or any neighboring buildings.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
A deed restriction that prohibits groundwater use at the Facility was required as part of the release of liability granted by PADEP. EPA will determine whether any additional controls will be required.
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?
Control(s) Type |
Control(s) in Place? |
Areas Subject to Control(s) |
Documents available on-line: |
|
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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) | ||||
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 |
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.