The landfill accepted large quantities of sewage sludges, industrial waste, and PVC manufacturing wastes. In 1983, DEP shut down the landfill after repeated environmental violations. The landfill was placed on the EPA's Superfund list of most-contaminated sites in March 1989 because of hazardous waste there. Under the Superfund law, the parties responsible for creating contaminated sites are also responsible for site cleanups. According to the EPA, the settling parties are liable because they are former owners or operators of the landfill.
Work is ongoing.
The settlement is the government's second recovery of costs for the Strasburg cleanup. For more information, contact the EPA Region III Press Office at 215 814-5542.