On April 5th, U.S. Water welcomed state officials and students from Bucknell University to a superfund project site in Danville, PA. This event provided an opportunity for participants to witness firsthand the environmental remediation efforts underway at this significant location. Located in Valley Township, Pennsylvania, the 15-acre site operated from 1966 to 1972 as a metal wire reclamation facility. The site’s spent solvent waste disposal practices led to soil and groundwater contamination resulting in its addition to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 1986. Initially constructed to treat construction water generated during the first remediation phase, the existing water treatment plant at the site was later converted into a groundwater treatment plant (GWTP) to address the contaminated groundwater. The GWTP has been under the operations and management of U.S. Water’s industrial group since 2014.
Dr. Kevin Gilmore, a professor at Bucknell University, brought several students from his Hazardous Waste Management course to the site. This course offers students an understanding of hazardous waste law in the U.S., common hazardous chemicals, their properties, and their behavior in the environment, within the context of public health and environmental justice. Through site visits like this, students witness how theoretical principles translate into real-world applications and gain insights into engineering solutions for contemporary industry challenges.
Mary Maryott, Environmental Protection Specialist for Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), highlighted the professionalism and commitment of the U.S. Water team, which made the site an ideal location for the tour. The visit to the site provided a valuable educational experience, demonstrating the complexities of environmental remediation and the importance of collaboration between industry, government, and academia in addressing environmental challenges.
