EPA, Army Corps Begin Removing Contaminated Slag From Philadelphia Superfund Site

EPA, Army Corps Begin Removing Contaminated Slag From Philadelphia Superfund Site

Cleanup moves beyond temporary containment to address 68,000 cubic yards of industrial waste in Port Richmond, with safeguards in place to protect nearby communities.

October 22, 2026

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Cleanup crews have begun excavating approximately 68,000 cubic yards - or about 20 Olympic swimming pools - of contaminated waste piled at the Franklin Slag Superfund site in Philadelphia's Port Richmond neighborhood, marking a major step in the long-running effort to remove pollution from the 4-acre property. The pile contains elevated concentrations of lead and other metals from industrial operations dating to the 1950s.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 (EPA Mid-Atlantic), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District (USACE), and Sevenson Environmental ServicesExit EPA's website (Contractor) gave a behind-the-scenes look Thursday at the operation and the safeguards in place to protect workers, nearby businesses, and residents.

"For more than 20 years, the priority was keeping this contaminated material contained. Now, we're taking the next step by removing it for good," said Andrew Haneiko, EPA Mid-Atlantic Remedial Project Manager. "This work is possible because of close coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, city officials, and the Port Richmond community."

During the tour, participants saw excavation equipment, material-processing areas, dust suppression systems, and perimeter air monitors. Crews will excavate the slag and contaminated soil, treat and stabilize the material on site to render it non-hazardous, then transport it to a permitted disposal facility.

"Our project team is focused on efficiently and safely remediating this site," said USACE Philadelphia District Commander Lt. Col. Ryan Baum. "There are a variety of logistical challenges as the site is tightly bounded by major traffic corridors, industrial activity, and the Delaware River. Teamwork and careful coordination have been essential to working through those challenges while ensuring we maintain all safeguards for our activities."

Andrew Haneiko, EPA Mid-Atlantic Remedial Project Manager, speaks to EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Amy Van Blarcom-Lackey (left) and USACE Philadelphia District Commander Lt. Col. Ryan Baum (center) during the site tour on Thursday. (EPA Region 3)

Monitoring and Safeguards

EPA, USACE, and the site Contractor are using multiple safeguards to protect workers and nearby residents throughout the cleanup.

Dust suppression equipment is helping to control airborne particles, and five air monitors collect real-time data around the clock, including near the closest residential property on Castor Avenue. To date, the monitors have not recorded any particulate exceedances from site operations.

The stabilization, or treatment, compound that is applied to the slag and soil is a liquid, which also helps to reduce dust generation during handling and processing. Erosion and sedimentation controls are also in place to help prevent material from migrating offsite.

Crews remove contaminated slag and soil from the Franklin Slag Superfund site as part of the long-term cleanup effort in Port Richmond, with a dust suppression fan and misting cannon helping control airborne particles during operations. (EPA Region 3) An air monitoring station near the Franklin Slag Superfund site continuously tracks airborne particles as cleanup work advances in Philadelphia's Port Richmond neighborhood. (EPA Region 3)

Site Background

From the 1950s until 1999, MDC Industries operated at the property, processing and selling copper smelting slag from the neighboring Franklin Smelting and Refining Corp. In 2000, EPA performed an emergency removal action and capped the exposed slag pile with a 60-millimeter-high-density polyethylene, or HDPE, plastic cover and fenced the property.

The capped slag pile at the Franklin Slag Superfund site was previously covered as a temporary containment measure before excavation began. (EPA Region 3)

EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in 2002 and selected the long-term cleanup remedy in 2020. Through an interagency agreement with EPA, USACE completed the remedial design and contractor procurement earlier this year. Remediation began in July 2026 and is expected to continue through 2029.

The remedial action is intended to eliminate future exposure to contaminated material and make the property suitable for future redevelopment. Verification sampling will confirm that the remaining soil meets established cleanup standards after excavation is completed.

EPA has held six public meetings and distributed fact sheets and postcards to keep neighbors informed. The next virtual public meeting for the site is scheduled for Nov. 18, 2026, from noon to 1 p.m. Residents can find construction updates, cleanup information, and public outreach materials at www.epa.gov/superfund/franklinslagExit EPA's website⁠.

Two videos about the site were recently recorded and posted to EPA's social media page: Construction update at the Franklin Slag Superfund site in PhiladelphiaExit EPA's website (EPA Region 3 Facebook) and Franklin Slag Superfund site update in Philadelphia: EPA has protective measures in place during constructionExit EPA's website (EPA Region 3 Facebook).

About USACE

Established in 1866, the USACE Philadelphia District manages water resources of the Delaware River basin; builds facilities for the Army and Air Force; and provides engineering and environmental services for other agencies. We serve millions across portions of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. USACE has supported the EPA Superfund program for more than 40 years.

About EPA

EPA's Superfund program is responsible for cleaning up some of the nation's most contaminated land and responding to environmental emergencies, oil spills and natural disasters. The program works to protect public health and the environment while making a lasting difference in communities. For more information, visit EPA's Superfund websiteExit EPA's website⁠.

EPA Region 3 serves Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and 7 federally recognized tribes.

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