NORRISTOWN, PA — The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has officially added the Nockamixon TCE Site in Bucks County to the state’s Priority List of Hazardous Sites for Remedial Response (PAPL). The addition, announced on January 18, 2025, represents a critical step forward in addressing a longstanding contamination issue that has impacted local water and air quality for more than a decade.
“Adding this Site to Pennsylvania’s priority list will allow our cleanup program to remediate the source of the contamination,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “This will help us protect residents’ health and safety by finding a solution to minimize exposure to these harmful contaminants.”
The contamination, initially discovered in 2009 when the Bucks County Health Department found trichloroethene (TCE) in wells serving local businesses and residences, originates from a former 77.2-acre farm on Brennan Road. Decades of environmental testing have linked the contamination to drums of chlorinated solvents, including TCE and tetrachloroethene (PCE), that were improperly stored on the property and later removed in 1980. These chemicals, commonly used for industrial and dry-cleaning purposes, are among the most prevalent soil and groundwater pollutants, with exposure routes including ingestion, inhalation, and direct contact.
Between 2009 and 2011, DEP sampled more than 100 private drinking water wells, confirming that chlorinated solvents exceeded safe drinking water limits in 45 of them. DEP responded by installing carbon filtration systems in 42 homes to ensure access to clean, safe drinking water. Vapor mitigation systems were also installed in two residential properties near the contamination source to address hazardous indoor air quality caused by vapor intrusion.
Surface water testing near a small section of Nockamixon State Park revealed slightly elevated TCE levels in an area northeast of Haycock Cove. While these findings are not within public-use areas such as trails or parking lots, DEP continues to monitor and collaborate with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). “Staff at Nockamixon will continue to work with DEP to address this environmental issue, as it is our responsibility as stewards of the Commonwealth’s public lands,” said DCNR State Parks Director John Hallas.
Adding the Nockamixon TCE Site to the PAPL prioritizes DEP’s long-term cleanup process under the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act of 1988, which grants the agency the authority and funding to remediate hazardous contamination. Placement on this list enables DEP to tackle the root cause of contamination through measures such as source-area cleanup and more expansive environmental safeguards for the surrounding community.
DEP is inviting public comments on the PAPL listing through February 17, 2025. Residents may submit written comments via mail to Dustin A. Armstrong, Environmental Protection Specialist, at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2 East Main Street, Norristown, PA 19401, or via email to darmstrong@pa.gov with “Nockamixon Public Comment” in the subject line. More information can be found on DEP’s website.
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