On March 5, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will add the area surrounding the former Exide Technologies Laureldale facility in Berks County to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) on March 7.

The NPL is the list of hazardous waste sites in the United States eligible for cleanup, financed under the federal Superfund Program. 

"Finalizing this site to the National Priorities List is the best and quickest way to bring the necessary attention and resources to these areas,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “With each new site added, we continue to invest in the America we all deserve – one with clean soil, air, and water.”

Historic emissions from lead-acid battery manufacturing and recycling, primarily in years prior to the installation of emission control systems at the Exide facility, caused the deposition of lead and other contaminants in the surrounding area including surface soils on commercial and residential properties, water bodies and sediments. 

Following Exide Technologies’ 2020 bankruptcy, EPA stepped in to remove hazardous substances remaining on the facility to mitigate immediate threats posed to public health and welfare.

In 2022, the Agency expanded its work to include decontamination of additional process equipment, containers, and other highly contaminated areas as well as taking over operations of on-site wastewater and storm water treatment systems to ensure that water released from the facility meets appropriate standards. 

Because contamination from the former Exide facility also impacted surrounding residential and commercial properties, the site qualifies for the Superfund NPL so that the contamination can be further assessed and remediated.

EPA first announced its proposal to add this site to the NPL in September 2023. Since that time, the agency has received and reviewed public comments, held two public information sessions, and worked with area stakeholders to answer questions on the process. 

The final NPL site does not include the Exide facility itself. Future cleanup of remaining contamination at the former Exide facility will be overseen by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in coordination with EPA’s Resource Conservation and Recovery Act program.  

For more information on this site, visit EPA’s Exide Technologies Laureldale Facility webpage. 

Click Here for the complete announcement.

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[Posted: March 6, 2024]

3/11/2024