Residents seek full remediation of Bishop Tube site

EASTWHITELAND » Concerned residents recently met at Great Valley Middle School to learn more about the contaminated Bishop Tube site.

And in turn, Maya K. van Rossum, the Delaware RiverKeeper, along with fellow organizers Valley Forge Trout Unlimited and local residents, learned much during the “Clean & Green Bishop Tube” event.

Residents talked at length of the impact the site listed on the

Pennsylvania Priority List of Hazardous Sites for Remedial Response under the Pennsylvania Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act has had on their lives.

A resident stressed that they want to fight for full remediation at the 13- acre Bishop Tube site on South Malin Road where developer Brian O’Neill, of Constitution Drive Partners, wants to partially clean up and build more than 200 homes. O’Neill did not return a call for an interview request by press time.

Van Rossum is pushing to fully remediate and preserve the site as natural open space.

One resident said the matter is one of “right and wrong” and it doesn’t matter where someone lives.

One resident noted that neighbors would be living above a “toxic waste dump” if those favoring full remediation do not succeed.

Some talked of chronic illnesses possibly caused by contamination.

Others talked of traffic impacts and the possibility that the proposed development would feature but a single entrance.

“Enough is enough,” said a resident while another said, “we have no control, we have no say- so.”

Another talked about what they said was the “utter disregard” the builder has exhibited toward neighbors and the effect the site might have on children playing there.

Fisherman Pete Goodman, of Charlestown, talked about the Little Valley Creek where wild fish, including brown trout, live. The creek is designated under state law as “exceptional value.”

Fishermen are not allowed to keep fish caught in the Little Valley Creek since the Paoli Rail Yard possibly contaminated the area decades ago.

“It’s very distressing to have such a gorgeous stream — an exceptional value stream — and you have all these contaminants,” he said.

“You can get away from the hustle and bustle of

Route 30 and slip down into the stream corridor.”

The Bishop Tube site is a former metals processing plant, bordered by the Little Valley Creek. Groundwater, soil and surface water at the site are contaminated with t rich loro ethylene, which is classified as a probable human carcinogen by the EPA and also is linked to causing other significant health problems, the River Keeper said.

TCE and other contaminants of significant concern known to be present at the site continue to migrate into the aquifer, stream and nearby residential area, according to the Riverkeeper Network. The site remains heavily contaminated decades after DEP discovered the releases, with no final or interim remediation plan from DEP or responsible parties.

For information on the Riverkeeper Network, go to www. delaware river keeper. org.

Additional meetings will be held at 7 p.m ., at Great Valley Middle School, on Wednesday, May 30 and Wednesday, June 13.