Alliance 51st Street Property & Bartram’s Garden Mile Trail
This page was last updated on October 9, 2024
Site Facts
Area of Concern: Schuylkill Banks/Bartram’s Mile Trail (currently closed)
Former 51st Street Terminal Location: 1630 - 1646 South 51st Street, Philadelphia PA
Historical Uses of the Property:
1923: Lumber Storage
1923-1945: Cardboard Container Manufacturing
1951-2021: Fuel Oil Terminal
Previous Property Owners and Operators: 51st Street Terminal, PBF Logistics Products Terminal, Plains Products Terminals, Allied Oil Company, Hess Oil & Chemical Corporation
Current Property Owner: Alliance 51st St LLC (Alliance) purchased the property in December 2021.
Primary Contaminant of Concern: Hexavalent Chromium (Chromium VI)
What Happened?
- On
April 5, 2024 (PDF), the National Response Center notified DEP of a complaint near the Bartram’s Mile Trail. The caller reported greenish looking water leaching from the site of the former refinery.
-
DEP was one of 28 local, state, and federal agencies that received the notice from the National Response Center.
Can people still use the Bartram’s Mile Trail?
- The section of the trail impacted by these chemicals is currently closed. Please reach out to the City of Philadelphia or visit the
Bartram’s Garden website for additional information about the trail.
- Visitors walking, running, or riding a bike on the trail through the area are at very low risk for exposure. Children should avoid playing in soil contaminated with chromium. Again, this section of the trail is closed so people should continue to stay away from the closed area in an abundance of caution.
What is Chromium?
- Chromium is a naturally occurring element and can be found in several forms. A known carcinogen, its toxicity depends on the type of chromium (0, III, and VI). Hexavalent chromium (VI) and trivalent chromium (III) are two variations of this element. Chromium is used in many industries, including metal production, welding, steel foundries, cement production, and more.
- Chromium exposure can occur by breathing in contaminated air or dust. Inhalation is the greatest concern in terms of exposure to chromium. You can also be exposed to chromium by skin contact with contaminated soil or water, unintentional ingestion (eating) of contaminated soil, or eating food or drinking water containing chromium.
- Long-term inhalation exposure (many years) to hexavalent chromium has been linked to lung cancer. This is most common among workers who are exposed to high levels of chromium on a regular basis for many years. It is unlikely that short term exposure to chromium at low/moderate levels found in the environment will result in cancer or other severe health effects.
Should I be concerned about my health?
- The PA Department of Health (DOH) reviewed DEP’s sampling data from July 2024 and determined that
there was no health hazard associated with short-term exposure (less than a year) to Hexavalent Chromium from ingestion or contact with soil.
What is being done at the site?
- DEP is committed to performing bi-weekly inspections and post-severe weather inspections to ensure adequacy of stormwater control measures at the site. DEP has also agreed to participate in regular update calls with stakeholders from the City of Philadelphia, and will keep this web page updated with the most current data to keep Pennsylvanians informed about progress at the site.
- As soon as DEP was notified of the complaint, DEP immediately coordinated with the Philadelphia Water Department, which collected material at the site for lab analysis.
- DEP inspected the site several times and directed the owner of the property to find the source of the chemical discharge. During their investigation, the property owner found two types of chromium on site – trivalent and hexavalent chromium. DEP received those test results on June 10 and directed the property owner to come up with a plan to remediate the chemicals.
- On July 22, 2024, DEP collected 11 soil samples from along the bike path and riverbank and subsequently found that four of the samples exceeded standardized levels of hexavalent chromium. DEP also tested four surface water samples from the Schuylkill River – none exceeded water quality standards and hexavalent chromium was not detected in any of those samples.
- On August 13, 2024, DEP collected ten soil samples from along the bike path and found that two samples exceeded standardized levels of hexavalent chromium. Two surface water samples collected on the same date from standing water located within the drainage ditch on the Alliance property exceeded the human health criteria for hexavalent chromium. At the time of the soil and surface water sample collection, no surface water was observed on or migrating toward the Bartram's Mile Trail.
- DEP is continuing to work with the property owner to address the impacts of chromium and remediate the site through the Act 2 Land Recycling Program. The goal of that Program is to have private property owners clean up contaminated and/or vacant properties and put them to productive use again.
- Every Pennsylvanian has a Constitutional right to clean air, pure water, and a healthy environment – and DEP is going to do its part to ensure the contamination on the site is properly remediated and any remaining offsite contamination caused by discharges from the site is addressed.
Report an Environmental Health Concern
Philadelphia residents with an environmental health concern are encouraged to report it to the
Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
Pennsylvanians living outside of the City of Philadelphia that have environmental health related questions can contact the PA Department of Health (PA DOH), where they will be evaluated and referred to an appropriate program area for potential investigation and follow-up. Please indicate in your message that your concern is related to Bartram’s Garden.
Community Outreach and Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ)
- DEP has long worked with communities around Pennsylvania to further environmental justice in line with the statutes and authorities administered by the Department and will continue to reach out to communities living in EJ areas when they are facing an environmental crisis or dealing with a newly permitted facility.
- In an effort to build long-lasting relationships with EJ communities outside of individual projects or emergencies, the Shapiro Administration has directed DEP to increase proactive outreach and engagement. OEJ’s goal is to increase strategic community education, outreach, engagement, and capacity building through intentional action.
- DEP responds to hundreds of non-emergency incidents, like the one reported on April 5th, where it is determined that there is no immediate threat to the public.
- On July 31, 2024, DEP participated in a virtual townhall hosted by State Representative Young. View DEP's presentation here:
- On August 5, 2024, DEP received the City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s request for a
Public Involvement Plan (PDF).
Community Updates
To subscribe to updates, please send an email to:
RA-EP-SEROECB@pa.gov.
Please indicate in the subject line or text of the email that you’d like to receive updates related to Bartram’s Gardens.