EPA RCRA ID: PAD002353407
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.
On September 30, 1993, EPA issued a Final Decision and Response to Comments (FDRTC) for the Facility in which EPA selected, among other things, source reduction in the unsaturated fractured rock and soil via in-situ vapor extraction (lSVE) and the continued pumping and treating of contaminated groundwater until Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) are attained. Since STC began implementing the remedy selected in the FDRTC, levels of contaminants in the groundwater throughout the contaminant plume have been reduced. The FDRTC, as amended on March 1, 2012, by Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD) , will require the continued pumping and treating of groundwater and soil vapor extraction in northern recovery area unless it is determined to be technically impracticable to meet the MCLs.
On February 23, 2015, the EPA conducted a Long Term Stewardship assessment to assess whether the remedy was implemented and protective of human health and the environment. EPA determined that the remedy institutional and engineering controls have been fully implemented and no control deficiencies were identified.
Cleanup Background
The Facility is currently under the One Cleanup Program with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2011, Ametek/STC entered into the PADEP Act 2 Land Recyling Program (Act 2) in collaboration with the EPA to monitor and remediate groundwater contamination at the site. The contaminants of concerns (COCs) are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that include and not limited to tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and vinyl chloride (VC) in groundwater.Currently, Ametek/STC operates six recovery wells, also referred to as the Northern Recovery System, to sustain hydraulic control of the groundwater plume and to remediate groundwater contamination via two onsite air strippers. The treated groundwater is discharged through a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.Currently, groundwater plume migration is under control and most of the contaminant plume is contained within the Facility boundaries.
In addition to the groundwater remediation, STC/Ametek connected several surrounding residences with groundwater wells to public water. In 2011-12, and under the agreement with 2011 PADEP Consent Order, Ametek/STC contributed to a water line extension in the vicinity of the Facility that included areas where the Facility-related contaminants can potentially impact the groundwater. In March 2012, Lower Providence Township adopted an ordinance that requires all potable water users in the vicinity of the Facility to connect to public water, prohibits private groundwater wells in the vicinity of the Facility, and requires all existing groundwater wells in the vicinity of the Facility to be disconnected and closed in full compliance with all state and local laws.
Under the PADEP Act 2 Program and in collaboration with the EPA, Ametek/STC will continue to monitor the groundwater plume and operate the pump and treat system to ensure that the current network of pumping wells continue to control and remediate the groundwater contamination. Per the requirement of the Act 2 Program, Ametek/STC submits periodically status reports to both Agencies on the progress of the groundwater remediation.
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.
In 2015, Ametek Inc. (Ametek) acquired the STC facility and retains the environmental liabilities at the site. The Ametek/STC facility is a specialty tube manufacturer located in Lower Providence Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, at the intersection of Germantown Pike and Cross Keys Road. The 71-acre site is situated along the French Run, a tributary of Perkiomen Creek. Since 1935, Ametek/STC has manufactured specialty cold drawn, precision tubing and tubular parts. The principal operations at the facility include drawing, welding, degreasing, pickling, annealing, cutting, forming, grinding, polishing, coating, and sandblasting metal tubing.
Contaminants at this Facility
The primary substance of concern at the site is trichloroethylene (TCE), a solvent that is used as a degreaser at the facility.
Institutional and Engineering Controls at this Facility
Institutional Controls include pumping and treating of groundwater and soil vapor extraction in northern recovery area unless it is determined to be technically impracticable to meet the maximum contaminant level for trichloroethylene (TCE). Also the Facility must to connect to public water, prohibits private groundwater wells in the vicinity of the Facility, and requires all existing groundwater wells in the vicinity of the Facility to be disconnected and closed in full compliance with all state and local laws.
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) | ||||
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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.