PECO receives state DEP environmental award

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has recognized PECO with the 2015 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for the company’s work to restore the site of a former manufactured gas plant in Norristown.

The award was presented during a ceremony at the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s annual dinner in Harrisburg on April 28.

“It is truly an honor to be recognized by the Commonwealth for a program that has such a far-reaching environmental impact,” said Ellen Cavanaugh, PECO vice president of Support Services. “This voluntary program solidifies the company’s role as an environmental stew- ard and breathes new life into industrial land, paving the way for future redevelopment.”

Between 2011 and 2014, PECO restored the former Norristown MGP, along the banks of the Schuylkill River. The restoration process included the removal of 103,000 tons of impacted soil and the treatment of more than 11 million gallons of impacted groundwater, which was treated and returned to the environment.

More than $12 million was invested in the remediation work to restore the site and all work was completed in accordance with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Land Recycling Program (Act 2), the company said.