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Investigating for Possible Contamination in Norwood, Pennsylvania

  • December 9, 2021 Meeting Recording Now Available

    The December 9, 2021 meeting recording is now available for viewing.

  • Video Recap of Norwood Landfill Site Investigation

    Community Involvement Coordinator, Gina Soscia,  provides a recap of the work on EPA’s Norwood Landfill Site Investigation, from February 2017 to current status. Length of Video: 10 minutes, 16 seconds. A text transcript of the video is also available.

  • 2020 Sampling Completed

    Sampling for the ongoing Norwood site investigation was completed in Fall 2020. The full text of the findings can be found in this October 2021 Expanded Site Investigation Report.

  • In the Moment with EPA

    Community Involvement Coordinator Katie Page and Site Assessment Manager Joe Vitello talk briefly about residential soil sampling in Norwood in two In the Moment videos filmed on site. 

Background

The site of the former Norwood Landfill is located in a suburban residential neighborhood in lower Norwood, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The site is bordered by the Norwood Borough Park to the northeast; wooded areas and Muckinipattis Creek to the east; and wooded areas and Darby Creek to the south. In September 2016, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) informed the EPA that community members near the site were concerned with possible contamination and health impacts from the historic unregulated waste disposal practices in the area.

The EPA began a site investigation in February 2017 through the Superfund Program (see figure below) after residents reported that there may be contaminated dirt underneath the homes in a portion of the Norwood residences. In 2020, the EPA continued the site investigation to identify a more geographically representative dataset to better understand next steps in the Superfund process. Ultimately, the results of the site investigation concluded that the Norwood Landfill would not be added to the National Priorities List. 

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Superfund Remedial Process Timeline
This timeline shows the Superfund Remedial Process. It begins by assessing, or investigating, the site for possible contaminants, then once it is listed on the National Priorities List (Superfund), the site is further studied to see which remedy is most feasible in the Characterization stage. In the Selection of Remedy, a plan is decided on and the process moves on into the Cleanup stage. When the cleanup is completed, the process is in the Post-Construction stage where there is regular maintenance of the remedy and thorough reviews conducted by the EPA every five years.  At every stage, community involvement and planning are integrated into the process to ensure that the end result is aligned with community values and input. 
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 17, 2025
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