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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:

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

Reports

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:

  • Project Information: Dustin Armstrong, Project Officer at darmstrong@pa.gov
  • Community and Media Relations: Virginia Cain, Community Relations Coordinator at vicain@pa.gov
  • Legal: Adam Bram, Supervisory Counsel at abram@pa.gov
  • Legislative Inquiries: Rob Fogel, Local Government Liaison at rofogel@pa.gov