Bishop Tube
This page was last updated on November 12, 2020
Site Facts
Municipality: East Whiteland Township, Chester County
HSCA Site Since: 1999
Primary Contaminant of Concern: Trichloroethene (TCE) and other chlorinated solvents
Previous Property Owners and Operators: Johnson Matthey Inc.. (previously known as J. Bishop, Matthey Bishop) , Whittaker Corporation, Christiana Metals & Alloy Steel, Marcegaglia USA, Central & Western Chester County Industrial Development Authority
Current Property Owner: Constitution Drive Partners L.P. (CDP)
What's New (As of December 2020)
Please refer to the
Investigation Status section for updated information and documentation.
Investigation Status
On June 10, 2019, DEP received the updated remedial investigation report (RI) documenting the results of the remedial investigation of the Site. The RI was submitted by Roux Associates on behalf of Johnson Matthey, Inc. and Whittaker Corp. (JM/W), pursuant an agreement with DEP.
On June 17, 2019, DEP received the feasibility study (FS). The purpose of the feasibility study is to evaluate potential remedial action alternatives for the Site.
Over the last year, DEP and the BT Team (JMI/W and/or Roux) have communicated to address changes to the documents, requested by DEP during its review. The written communications are provided below:
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October 11, 2019: DEP letter to Roux regarding the RIR with attachment (PDF)
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October 28, 2019: DEP letter to Roux regarding the FS with attachment (PDF)
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March 20, 2020: Roux Response to DEP RI Comments (PDF)
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April 2, 2020: Roux Response to DEP FS Comments (PDF)
- June 11, 2020: DEP Response to Roux’s response to
comments (PDF) and
enclosure (PDF).
- June 18, 2020: DEP Response to Roux’s response to
comments (PDF) and
enclosure (PDF)
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July 7, 2020: Roux Response to DEP’s June 11 & June 18th letters (PDF)
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July 10, 2020: DEP Ltr to JMI/W regarding RI and FS (PDF)
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July 14, 2020: DEP email to Roux regarding RI and FS schedule (PDF)
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July 15, 2020: Roux Progress Report #140 (PDF)
- On July 31, 2020, Roux submitted the proposed revisions to the RI text/figures.
- On August 14, 2020, Roux submitted the proposed revisions to the FS text/figures.
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August 27, 2020: DEP Ltr to Roux regarding RI (PDF)
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September 8, 2020: Roux Ltr to DEP regarding RI (PDF)
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September 10, 2020: DEP Ltr To Roux regarding FS (PDF)
DEP tasked its contractor, Groundwater & Environmental Services, Inc. (GES) to prepare a Remedial Alternatives Analysis to supplement Roux’s Feasibility Study. The purpose and primary focus of this report is to identify applicable remedial alternatives to mitigate the potential risks to human health and the environment caused by the presence of contaminants in the unsaturated soils on the property.
DEP also tasked GES to prepare a Technology Assessment memorandum for the Site. The purpose and primary focus of this memo is to provide estimated costs and timeframes for four potential remedial alternatives to mitigate the potential risks to human health and the environment, caused by the presence of identified contaminants in the source soils.
Based on its review of the GES 2020 submittals regarding remedial alternatives for addressing soil contamination, Roux performed a limited soil investigation and prepared a memo about that investigation and an addendum to the FS to evaluate a coordinated soil and groundwater cleanup remedial alternative.
CDP
CDP submitted redevelopment plans to East Whiteland Township. For details associated with the plans, please refer to East Whiteland Township's
website.
CDP has not yet submitted any permit applications related to its proposed development activities, such as storm water management, etc. CDP is required to allow reasonable access to the property for assessment and remediation.
DEP considers any local land development issues, such as zoning or steep slope variances, to be exclusively under the authority of East Whiteland Township.
At DEP's request, CDP took steps to address a direct discharge to Little Valley Creek that was observed during the spring of 2017. The correspondence related to the discharge is now available in the
Correspondence Section below. CDP's efforts to address the pipe are summarized in the below referenced report:
Site Background and Information
What's Next (As of June 2020)
- After review and acceptance of the Remedial Investigation (RI) and the Feasibility Study (FS) reports and adoption and incorporation of a Remedial Alternatives Analysis (RAA) for addressing unsaturated soils, DEP will propose a remedial response action to address the contamination associated with the Site. DEP will incorporate all information it uses in formulating its proposal into the Administrative Record. DEP's responsibility under the
Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act is to select a remedy that is protective of human health and the environment and complies with all statutory and regulatory requirements.
- The Administrative Record will be open for public comments for 90-days. During the comment period, DEP will hold a public hearing at a location to be determined at a later date.
- East Whiteland Township has been awarded a Technical Evaluation Grant (TEG) pursuant HSCA. The TEG provides up to $50,000 for conducting an independent technical evaluation of a proposed remedial response at a HSCA site.
Correspondence
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April 9, 2019: DEP approval of the Modeling WP (PDF)
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April 2, 2019: Roux Response to 3.19 Modeling WP comments (PDF)
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March 19, 2019: DEP Comments on GW Modeling WP (PDF)
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March 1, 2019: Bishop Tube GW Modeling WP (PDF)
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December 17, 2018: Roux ltr response to DEP's 12.3.18 ltr (PDF)
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December 3, 2018: DEP Ltr response to Roux's 11.2.18 ltr (PDF)
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November 2, 2018: Roux Ltr response to DEPs 10.19.18 ltr (PDF)
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October 22, 2018: Roux Ltr regarding November field activities (PDF)
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October 19, 2018: DEP ltr to JM/W regarding Concluding RI Activities (PDF)
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October 3, 2018: Roux Response DEPs 9.27.18 ltr (PDF)
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September 27, 2018: DEP ltr to Roux regarding a subsurface investigation (PDF)
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August 16, 2018: DEP email - Amended DSWWP & Expanded GW Monitoring Plan (PDF)
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August 9, 2018: Roux response to DEP's 8.8.2018 ltr (PDF)
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August 8, 2018 DEP ltr to Roux regarding 7.6 ltr & 7.2 DSWWP Addndm (PDF)
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July 24, 2018: Roux email - Response to DSWWP Addndm Preliminary Comments (PDF)
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July 18, 2018: DEP email - Preliminary Comments DSWWP Addndm (PDF)
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July 6, 2018: Roux Response to DEP's Ltr Regarding 6.2018 Monthly Rpt (PDF)
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July 2, 2018: Roux email - Discharge to SW Work Plan Addndm (PDF)
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July 2, 2018: Roux email - Discharge to SW Work Plan Addndm Figure 2 (PDF)
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June 28, 2018: DEP Ltr Regarding Progress Rpt #115 (PDF)
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June 15, 2018: Roux Progress Report #115 (May 16, 2018 - June 15, 2018) (PDF)
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February 2018 emails: Roux's Discharge to Surface Water Work Plan & DEP's comments (PDF)
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January 8, 2018: DEP letter to CDP re: Final Discharge Mitigation Plan (PDF)
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November 15, 2017: DEP letter to Roux Associates regarding Supplemental RI work (PDF)
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November 13, 2017: DEP letter to CDP re: request to permanently seal the discharge pipe. (PDF)
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November 13, 2017: DEP update letter to East Whiteland Township (PDF)
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September 21, 2017: DEP letter to CDP re: Mitigation Plan Addendum (PDF)
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September 15, 2017: CDP Response letter to DEP Sept 5th letter (PDF)
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September 8, 2017: Roux Associates Response to DEP (PDF)
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September 8, 2017: CDP Discharge Mitigation Plan Addendum (PDF)
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September 5, 2017: DEP follow-up letter to CDP (PDF)
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August 28, 2017: DEP letter to both CDP & Roux regarding discharge from the pipe (PDF)
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August 10, 2017: DEP Letter to Roux Associates (PDF)
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August 3, 2017: DEP to CDP Comment Letter on CDP's proposed mitigation efforts (PDF)
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July 19, 2017: CDP's response to DEP (PDF)
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July 17, 2017: Supplemental Remedial Investigation Work Plan Modifications submitted to DEP (PDF)
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June 20, 2017: DEP Letter to CDP (PDF)
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May 31, 2017: 2017 Supplemental Remedial Investigation Work Plan and Response to DEP
Comments on Vapor Intrusion submitted to DEP (PDF)
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May 31, 2017: Memo - Supplemental Remedial Investigation Work Plan submitted to DEP (PDF)
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April 21, 2017: DEP letter to Roux Re: April 14, 2017 Mtg & the Feasibility Study Memorandum (PDF)
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January 11, 2017: DEP letter to Roux Re: Response to DEP Comments & FSWP addendum and Revised Schedule (PDF)
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May 31, 2016: DEP letter to Johnson Matthey Inc. and Whittaker Corp Re: Feasibility Study (PDF)
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July 29, 2011: DEP letter to CDP: Act 2 Final Report Approval (PDF)
Reports
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March 31, 2017: Preliminary Feasibility Study Screening Memorandum (PDF)
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August 31, 2015: Remedial Investigation Report submitted by Roux Associates on behalf of M/W (PDF, 215 MB)
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June 14, 2011: Act 2 Final Report submitted by Environmental Standards on behalf of CDP (PDF)
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February 2008: Final Supplemental Site Characterization Report, prepared by Michael Baker Jr., Inc. on behalf of DEP (PDF)
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Aug 27, 2004: Final Soil Gas and Shallow Groundwater Sampling Report prepared by Michael Baker Jr., Inc. on behalf of DEP (PDF)
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July 2, 2004 Final Phase III Supplemental Groundwater Investigation Report prepared by Michael Baker Jr., Inc. on behalf of DEP (PDF, text only, to review the full report, please schedule a file review in the regional office)
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June 30, 2003: Final Supplemental Soil Characterization Report prepared by Michael Baker Jr., Inc. on behalf of DEP (PDF, text only, to review the full report, please schedule a file review in the regional office)
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Evaluations
April 6, 2016:
ATSDR letter (PDF)
July 16, 2008:
ATSDR Evaluation (PDF)
Legal Agreements
Public Comment Period
On April 1, 2017 the Department published a notice in the PA Bulletin and Daily Local Newspaper to provide public notice with respect to amendments to the PPA between DEP and CDP. DEP and CDP executed two amendments to the PPA in January 2007 and June 2010. DEP accepted written comments on the Amended PPA's up until July 7, 2017. In January 2018, DEP finalized its Response to Comments document.
Contacting DEP
To schedule an appointment to review files associated with the Bishop Tube site and project, please call the Norristown Office at 484-250-5910.
Please direct correspondence or inquiries to one of the following:
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Project Information: Dustin Armstrong, Project Officer at
darmstrong@pa.gov
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Community and Media Relations: Virginia Cain, Community Relations Coordinator at
vicain@pa.gov
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Legal: Adam Bram, Supervisory Counsel at
abram@pa.gov
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Legislative Inquiries: Rob Fogel, Local Government Liaison at
rofogel@pa.gov