Hazardous Waste Site | Trainer, Pennsylvania | 1900 - Present

What Happened?

The Metro Container Superfund site in Trainer, Pennsylvania, lies southwest of Philadelphia along Stony Creek, a tidal tributary of the Delaware River. Added to the National Priorities List (NPL) on March 15, 2012, the site is adjacent to a petroleum refinery, an auto salvage operation, a metal scrap operation, and a rail yard.

Soil and groundwater at the site are contaminated due to past industrial activities, including oil and paraffin wax refining, carbon disulfide manufacturing, and steel drum reconditioning. These operations resulted in elevated levels of contamination from polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals.

From 2015 to 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversaw cleanup efforts targeting the removal of Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) waste, non-TSCA waste, scrap metal, asbestos containing material, and non-hazardous waste water.

Currently, the site-wide Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) is ongoing and expected to be completed Spring of 2027.

What Were the Impacts?

The NPL site consists of two adjacent properties totaling 10.4 acres at the southwest corner of 2nd and Price Streets. It borders Stony Creek, a tidal tributary of the Delaware River which lies approximately 1,000 feet south of the Metro Container Property.

The Delaware River, a riparian and mudflat habitat, is home to several NOAA trust resources, including habitat for Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon (respectively listed as threatened and endangered under the Endangered Species Act) and other diadromous (fish that migrate between salt water and fresh water to complete their life cycle) fish species. In addition, freshwater mussels occur along the New Jersey riverbank in the vicinity of the site. 

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has issued fish consumption advisories due to PCB contamination in the Delaware River and Delaware Estuary, cited specifically for Bucks, Philadelphia, and Delaware Counties. Trainor, PA is located in Delaware County.

What’s Happening Now?

The EPA is currently overseeing investigations at the site to determine the extent of contamination on and from the property. The investigations will also include studies to determine the feasibility of the remedial actions - this phase is commonly referred to as Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Studies (RI/FS) Phase. The RI/FS for one of the two operable units at the site, which is nearing completion, is being led by a group of potentially responsible parties to investigate soil and groundwater on and around the Metro property to determine the extent of contamination from the site.  

In 2021, NOAA formed a trustee council with the Department of Interior through the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Fish and Boat Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection. The trustees completed a Pre-Assessment Screen (PAS) and signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) in 2022. 

On May 5, the Trustees released a Draft Damage Assessment Plan (PDF, 36 pages) now available for public comment. This plan is available online and physical copies are available at the Trainer Borough Municipal Building. The 30-day public comment period is open until June 4, 2025. Comments can be submitted to the USFWS to Carrie Blakeslee either electronically to carrie_blakeslee@fws.gov or by mail at:

Carrie Blakeslee
US Fish and Wildlife Service
110 Radnor Rd., Suite 101
State College, PA 16801