DEP To Host March 28 Meeting/Hearing On Remacor Hazardous Sites Cleanup In Lawrence County

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced it will hold a public meeting March 28 to describe DEP’s Proposed Interim Cleanup for the 45 acre Remacor Site containing radiological and other chemical contaminants near the Beaver River to answer questions from the public.

The meeting will be held at the Taylor Township Building, 218 Industrial Drive in West Pittsburg, PA 16160 starting at 6:00 p.m.

The public will have an opportunity to present oral comments regarding the Proposed Interim Cleanup, for inclusion into the Administrative Record, in a public hearing immediately following the public meeting at 7:00 p.m.

The Proposed Interim Cleanup includes the demolition of site buildings, removal, and offsite disposal, as needed, of demolition wastes. The Remacor Site used to process secondary magnesium scrap into products used in the steel industry.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and DEP conducted investigations of the Remacor Site between 2007 and 2015 to characterize and evaluate environmental and building conditions.

Site investigations identified soils, wastes, and groundwater impacted with metals, volatile organic compounds, and radiological contaminants. Additionally, elevated levels of radiological contaminants were found inside and adjacent to several onsite buildings.

Contractors were unable to completely characterize radiological contamination within, under, and directly adjacent to certain structures due to the deteriorated and unsafe buildings on Site. Once the issue of the unstable buildings has been resolved, soils and groundwater cleanup will be addressed in a separate remedial response.

The Departments Remedial Action Objectives for the Site include:

-- Protect the public and environmental receptors from direct contact exposure to radiologically contaminated building materials and physical risks associated with structurally unsound buildings; and

-- Demolish structurally unsound buildings so that future investigation and remediation of radiologically and chemically contaminated site soils can be completed to protect the public and environmental receptors from site-related hazardous substances.

The objectives are based on the premise that:

-- If the buildings are demolished and properly disposed, the threat of protecting the public from radiologically contaminated building materials is achieved; and

-- If the buildings are demolished and properly disposed, contaminated soils located between and potentially beneath the buildings can be safely assessed and addressed to protect public and ecological receptors from exposure to Site contaminants.

Additional background on the site is available in the formal February 24 PA Bulletin notice.

Persons wishing to pre-register to present oral comments at the public hearing should contact Jacob Moore at 814-332-6648 or by email to: jacmoore@pa.gov.  

DEP is accepting written comments for inclusion in the Administrative Record until 4:00 p.m. on May 25, 2018. These can also be submitted by email to Jacob Moore or in writing to his attention at the Department of Environmental Protection, 230 Chestnut Street, Meadville Street, Meadville, PA 16335. Please use “Remacor Site Proposed Interim Cleanup” as the subject line in written and email communications. The Administrative Record is available for review at DEP’s office address above.

Questions should be directed to Melanie Williams, DEP Northwest Regional Office, 814-332-6615 or send email to: melanwilli@pa.gov.