Asbestos Release Location within Valley Forge National Park (managed by the National Park Service)
Valley Forge National Historical Park, a significant tourist destination in Pennsylvania, has been honoured with the 2020 Federal Facility Excellence in Site Reuse Award. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented this recognition to the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior for the successful cleanup and restoration of the Valley Forge Asbestos Release Site.
The journey towards this achievement began in 1997 when the National Park Service discovered buried asbestos-containing slurry during the installation of fiber optic lines. The slurry, a byproduct of the manufacturing process, had been disposed of by pumping it into quarries or directing it to a natural drainage swale that flowed into an unnamed tributary of the Schuylkill River.
In the late 1800s, the Ehret Magnesia Company, which later became the Keene Corporation, had purchased many limestone quarries in the area. They used magnesium carbonate extracted from the quarries to manufacture asbestos-containing insulation products. The Keene plant, which produced these products, closed in the early 1970s.
The U.S. Government and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reached an agreement in spring 2010 to dedicate funds for the site's cleanup to National Park Service standards. This collaboration, along with the initial response plan developed by the National Park Service in partnership with an unspecified organization, paved the way for the cleanup process.
The cleanup cost approximately $22 million, with 60% paid by the Commonwealth and 40% by the Federal Government's Judgment Fund. Previous National Park Service cost recovery efforts contributed an additional $500,000 to site cleanup costs.
Short-term activities included removing asbestos-contaminated materials, covering deeper areas of slurry with soil, and installing barriers to prevent public access. The cleanup also triggered the construction of Sullivan's Bridge, connecting two areas of Valley Forge split by the Schuylkill River.
By the late 1970s, the National Park Service and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had removed all visible signs of the former manufacturing facility. The reopening of the site has allowed for the development of historical and recreational opportunities, maintaining Valley Forge's significance as a tourist destination with a substantial positive impact on the local economy.
The site now offers various recreational activities such as hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, and wildlife watching. Notable landmarks within the park include the National Memorial Arch and the historical buildings, landscapes, memorials, and museums that preserve lands used by the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
This award recognizes the hard work and commitment of the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior, and the EPA in ensuring the safety and preservation of Valley Forge National Historical Park for future generations to enjoy. The virtual ceremony presenting the award took place on September 16, 2020.
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