Dear Friend, The Evonik Corporation in Chester, PA is a silica manufacturing facility that discharges industrial wastewater directly into the Delaware River. Silica, or silicon dioxide, is commonly found in nature. However, exposure to silica dust can lead to serious health issues. Additionally, Evonik produces silica by mixing sodium silicate with sulfuric acid, and then the generated wastewater is discharged into the Delaware River. Unfortunately, Evonik does not test its discharged wastewater for sulfuric acid which is extremely corrosive and damages anything it comes into contact with. Local air monitoring conducted by Johns Hopkins University has also detected high levels of formaldehyde from the Evonik facility which also increases the likelihood that there could be formaldehyde in Evonik’s water discharges. Evonik does not test its discharged water for sulfuric acid or formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is classified as a probable human carcinogen from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Additionally, the vast majority of this facility is located within the 100-year floodplain. A chemical manufacturing facility using sulfuric acid in the 100-year floodplain is a massive threat to the Delaware River and the surrounding Environmental Justice (EJ) community. Further concerning, in August of 2023, Evonik received violations from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for failing to follow storage tank containment requirements and for failing to prevent tanks from corroding. Evonik has also reported discharges of lead in water that are close to DEP’s standards for lead in drinking water. DEP’s actionable level of lead in drinking water is .015 milligrams per liter (mg/l) and Evonik reported water discharges with .012 mg/l of lead in its water discharge permit renewal application. The EPA has concluded that there is no safe level of lead consumption because lead can damage the nervous system, kidney function, immune system, reproductive and developmental systems and the cardiovascular system. In order to protect local public health, DEP must require Evonik to test its discharged wastewater for sulfuric acid and formaldehyde and establish a discharge limit for lead pollution in Evonik’s discharged water. Comments are due today. Please click here to submit an official comment to DEP.  Sincerely, Russell Zerbo, rzerbo@cleanair.org, 215-567-4004 x130 |
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