The permanent closure of the South Philadelphia refinery following a catastrophic explosion in 2019 marked the end of the city’s most significant air pollution source, a development celebrated by many residents and environmentalists. This 1,300-acre site, located three miles south of City Hall, had long been blamed for elevated asthma and cancer rates in nearby communities, despite ongoing groundwater contamination from historical petroleum leaks.
However, pollution persists from other sources in the area. A terminal with benzene contamination in soil and groundwater remains active. Plans for a municipal natural gas storage plant and an expansion of a tank facility by a fossil fuel company are also in motion, raising environmental concerns due to potential flooding risks from climate change.
“South and Southwest Philly still house many polluting industrial facilities despite the refinery’s closure,” noted Russell Zerbo from the Clean Air Council, an environmental nonprofit advocating for stricter regulation.
Zerbo and fellow activists express concerns about future vehicular pollution from the site, now being redeveloped by HRP Group into a massive logistics center with 12 million square feet of warehouses and a life-sciences park. “Hilco’s redevelopment could match the former refinery’s pollution levels due to increased vehicle traffic,” Zerbo said.
HRP reports removing millions of gallons of petroleum waste and pipelines from the site, opting to cap and contain some contaminants. The company plans to encourage electric vehicle use and install solar panels on the new facilities. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has granted HRP five permits under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, aiming to cut regulatory delays through a new “fast-track” program by Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration.
Recently, Clean Air Council opposed a proposed liquefied natural gas storage plant by Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) near a residential area with historically poor air quality. The group highlighted concerns about persistent air pollution in a community already burdened by environmental injustices. PGW declined to comment on the matter.
Activists are also urging the cleanup of benzene at Belmont Terminal, a former refinery site. “Increased rainfall and storms due to climate change could spread contaminants to sewage systems and nearby waterways,” Clean Air Council warned. Energy Transfer, the terminal’s owner, has installed a new remediation system and submitted a cleanup plan to regulators, expecting to report further progress in 2025.
At Marcus Hook on the Delaware River, Energy Transfer plans to cap and contain a site with acid sludge, a legacy contaminant. The company did not comment on this plan.
PBF Logistics Products intends to build a 90,000-gallon butane blending tank in a flood-prone area by the Schuylkill River, raising additional environmental concerns. PBF did not respond to requests for comments.
Air Monitoring Services has not cited air violations for the PGW site, Belmont Terminal, or PBF’s facility since January 2022, though existing permits allow specific pollution levels.
Mark Clincy, a West Passyunk resident and board member of Philly Thrive, cited refinery fumes for several local deaths. He advocates for a comprehensive cleanup of the site, criticizing current efforts to cap rather than remove toxic materials. Clincy calls for the complete removal of contaminants, emphasizing that “the toxic ground prevents anything from growing and needs a thorough cleanup.”
While Philly Thrive focuses on the refinery, other local plants also likely impact air quality, Clincy added, noting his desire to see them shut down as well.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org