The City of Reading will hold a public meeting to discuss options for cleanup of the 11.7-acre Nivison-Weiskopf site tomorrow at 7:30 PM at city hall.
In July, the city received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to remediate the site at 601 3rd Street, formerly used to manufacture glass bottles and corrugated boxes.
To implement the grant, the city has partnered with Hull & Associates, Inc. to produce an Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) document (PDF) outlining cleanup options for the site and how much each option would cost.
Between 2005 and 2006, the site underwent a Phase I environmental site assessment and update, a Phase II remedial investigation, and a limited Phase II property assessment.
Earlier this year, hazardous building residuals, asbestos, underground fuel tanks and some contaminated soils were removed.
The last of the buildings was removed in June.
The city is now looking to dispose of petroleum-contaminated soils, to remediate contaminants near monitoring well MW-7 (near a former rail loading dock and rail corridor), and to monitor groundwater from the site.
The ABCA proposes three alternatives:
- Dual-phase liquid extraction in the vicinity of MW-7, costing approximately $323,500 and possibly hindering future development due to long-term inspection requirements and engineering controls.
- Excavation/disposal of soils in the vicinity of MW-7, costing approximately $160,636. (Recommended)
- No further action, having no cost but leaving the property undevelopable.
The city will accept public comments on the ABCA through January 2.
The site is targeted for the expansion of the 59-acre Reading Life Science Complex, a research and technology park that already houses 1,000 jobs among the Genome Research Institute of the University of Cincinnati, Girindus America, and Patheon Pharmaceuticals.
Previous reading on BC:
All Nivison-Weiskopf buildings demolished (6/10/08)
Reading denied EPA grant for Nivison, still seeking funds (4/25/08)
Reading to accept bids for Nivison-Weiskopf demolition (11/7/07)
Reading: Demolition of the Nivison-Weiskopf factory (3/20/07)
