north penn - area 1

162 N MAIN ST

The North Penn Area 1 Site is located in Souderton, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The contamination of the Site was first noted in 1979 in the North Penn Water Authority (NPWA) well S9. The well was immediately taken out of service because of high tetrachloroethene (PCE) concentrations found in the groundwater. Sampling was conducted at several wells in the area to determine the concentrations of contamination in the groundwater. The following contaminants were identified: PCE, trichloroethene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethene, and cis-and trans-1,2-dichloroethene. These contaminants were found in several wells at various times at levels up to 250 parts per billion (ppb). The Site includes three facilities. The first facility, Gentle Cleaners, was known to use PCE, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and other chlorinated solvents of unknown composition from 1953 to 1983. There is a documented spill of 75 gallons of PCE occurring in the early 1970s. In addition, discharge of PCE to a sink that drained into the same area of the spill. The second facility, Granite Knitting Mills (GKM), maintained a dry cleaning machine using PCE from 1967 to 1979. Wastes generated from the machine were estimated to contain about 2 percent PCE. The third property, Parkside Apartments, once included a dry cleaning establishment. Soil contaminated by PCE was found on all three properties during the Remedial Investigation. An estimated 75,000 people obtain drinking water from public and private wells within 3 miles of the site. Site Responsibility This Site is being addressed through federal and state actions. Operation and maintence (O&M) activites for the Site were transferred to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) in December 2008.

Hazardous Ranking Score

36 / 100

A score of 28.5 or higher qualifies a site for the Superfund National Priority List.

Regional Contact

Region 3
Within the region: (800) 438-2474
Outside the region: (215) 814-5000

Contact Region

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Timeline

Discovery
Site Inspection
Preliminary Assessment
Final Listing On NPL
Removal

Contaminants & Health Effects

      Carcinogen
      Endocrine Disrupter
      Neurotoxic
      Sensitiser
      Reproductive Toxin
      Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic
      VOC
      Mutagen

        Census

        White
        African American
        Asian
        American Indian and Alaska Native
        Native Hawaiian
        Other

        11,464

        People living
        within a 1 mile radius

        $84,317

        Average Income

        4,417

        Occupied homes

        Potentially Responsible Parties

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