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Bishop Tube

Site Facts

Municipality: East Whiteland Township, Chester County
HSCA Site Since: 1999
Primary Contaminant of Concern: Trichloroethene (TCE)
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 February 2018)

1/26/2018 - Response to Comments document was finalized. For details refer to the “Public Comments” Section.

1/16/2018 - The drilling of monitoring wells has begun. For details refer to the “Investigation Status” Section.

1/8/2018 – DEP sent a letter to CDP regarding the discharge pipe. For details refer to the “Direct Discharge to Little Valley Creek” Section.

Direct Discharge to Little Valley Creek

January 8, 2018: DEP letter to CDP re: Final Discharge Mitigation Plan (PDF)

Since May 2017 DEP has been working with CDP and Roux Associates to have a pipe that is directly discharging into Little Valley Creek addressed as follows:

May 2, 2017: DEP visited the Site after receiving a complaint that a pipe was discharging directly into the Stream. Samples collected from the stream (upstream and downstream) did not appear to be affected by the leak. However, low levels of VOCs and elevated metals (particularly Aluminum, Nickel and Total Chromium) were detected in the water discharging from the pipe.

June 22, 2017: DEP collected sediment samples from Little Valley Creek near the upstream and downstream property boundaries and in the vicinity of the pipe crossing, which, continued to discharge to the creek. Results revealed:

  • No PCBs were detected
  • Some metals (i.e., Iron, Arsenic, Copper, Boron), were detected in the samples but don't seem to be tied to the pipe discharge
  • Other metals (i.e., Chromium, Manganese, Cobalt, and Nickel) were detected in the samples collected downstream from the pipe

*Samples were also collected by CDP.

On September 29, 2017: DEP visited the property to oversee CDP's efforts to address the discharge from the pipe over Little Valley Creek. CDP implemented the mitigation efforts described in DEP's September 21st letter. It was observed that the discharge had stopped. CDP plans to routinely monitor the discharge pipe.

November 13, 2017: DEP letter to CDP re: request to permanently seal the discharge pipe. (PDF)

Public Comment Period

On April 1, 2017 a notice was published 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. DEP is currently evaluating all of the comments received (compiled below), and preparing a Response to Comments document.

Investigation Status

On January 15, 2018, Roux Associates, on behalf of JM/W, began drilling monitoring wells for the purpose of completing the Remedial Investigation.  The work to install these monitoring wells may take up to a month or so.  For the duration of these activities there is equipment and water and rock derived from the drilling staged on the Bishop Tube property.  At the completion of the activities, Roux Associates will arrange for proper disposal of all materials.

At the request of DEP, Roux Associates, on behalf of the potentially responsible parties Johnson Matthey Inc, and Whittaker Corp., recently obtained access to two properties located downgradient from the Bishop Tube property. After the additional monitoring wells are installed and sampled, the information will be incorporated into a Supplemental Remedial Investigation Report. This work is described in the work plan identified below. DEP is expecting a revised schedule of activities

Roux Associates is also working to complete a Feasibility Study. The Feasibility Study will list and evaluate options for addressing the contamination and potential current or future exposure pathways.

Roux Associates is also working to complete a Vapor Intrusion Evaluation. DEP asked Roux to complete sampling that is necessary to complete the evaluation during the during the winter of 2017/2018.

November 15, 2017: DEP letter to Roux Associates regarding Supplemental RI work.

CDP

DEP understands that the current property owner CDP is currently reevaluating its planned residential development of the property. 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.

SITE BACKGROUND & INFORMATION

WHAT'S NEXT (UPDATED JANUARY 2018)

  • DEP will review the Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) submitted by JM/W, expected Winter 2017/2018.
  • After review of the RI/FS reports submitted by JM/W, DEP will propose a remedial response action to address the contamination associated with the Site. All information that the DEP utilizes in formulating its proposal will be incorporated into the Administrative Record. 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. 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.

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

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: