Committee hearing examines remediation of Philadelphia oil refinery

On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee hosted a hearing to discuss ongoing remediation of the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery.

The second hearing since an blast in the early morning hours of June 21, 2019 shuttered the 1,300-acre crude oil facility. The new owners of the property, Hilco Redevelopment Partners, have said they plan to overhaul the complex into a commercial site, in hopes of bringing some 10,000 permanent jobs to South Philadelphia.

But, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protections (DEP) to the Senate committee that clean up and rehabilitation of the complex will continue through 2030 as the department assists Evergreen Resources Management Operations in addressing issues surrounding soil and groundwater contamination. DEP Deputy Secretary for Field Operations Joseph Adams said the remediation has come far over the past two years.

Other witnesses at the hearing, including representatives of environmental groups, community activists and medical experts, said public participation in the remediation process required under DEP’s Land Recycling Program, had been lacking. The witnesses urged the committee to consider updating the program to better facilitate community input and to recognize the negative health impacts the refinery had on surrounding neighborhoods for more than a century.

“I thank all of the participants for their valuable testimony on the enormous challenge the remediation of this site poses,” Sen. Yaw said. “As chairman, it’s important to me that we remain committed to ensuring the safe and efficient clean-up of this site in a manner that respects and enhances the quality of life for the surrounding community.”