|
1980 - 1989
|
| 1980s |
Manufactured gas disappears from Great Britain. |
| 1980 |
Accidental discovery of first high-profile FMGP tar contamination in U.S., Stroudsburg, PA; Sparks EPA to its first coal-tar remedial action. |
| 1981 |
Britain provides the first documentary guidance for FMPGs (Problems Arising from the Development of Gas Works and Similar Sites; AERE, Harwell, for Dept. of The Environment. American coke industry crippled by air pollution control regulations. |
| 1982 |
Two FMGPs are among the first 115 CERCLA SUPERFUND NPL (National Priority List) sites; Burlington, VT and Stroudsburg, PA. Development of practical method of removal of benzol in coke-works waste waters by trickling filter and reversed air flow (Leopold Company). |
| 1983 |
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response (OSWER) becomes fully aware of threats of former manufactured gas plants (FMGPs) through the 1970s coke-oven air emissions studies. Proactive utilities begin to evaluate the nature and degree of contamination at FMGPs. Northeast Utilities, Hartford, CT, pioneers use of engineering geophysics to delimit hot spots of off-site disposal of gas-making tar residuals. USEPA tabulates most data-accessible manufactured gas plants (Draft); Publishes in 1985. |
| 1984 |
|
| 1985 |
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) becomes first State Agency to develop FMGP remediation program. American utility industry forms Manufactured Gas Plant Task Force under Edison Electric Inst. Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. releases its experience with FMGP DNAPL site Contamination. |
| 1986 |
Illinois EPA launches major campaign for FMGP site remediation. American insurance companies receive first utility claims for recovery against on basis of "accidental" discharge over historic environmental damage from coal-tar residuals. |
| 1987 |
Turning point for U.S. coke plants; Marginal operations rapidly closing under air-pollution control requirements. Illinois EPA creates first U.S. Voluntary Cleanup Program, Based on FMGPs; Becomes model for Federal EPA program of 1993. Soil-gas vapor analysis perfected for detection of subsurface VOCs, SVOCs, and PAHs. North American FMGP remedial attention awakes to and focuses on DNAPL fate and transport. |
| 1988 |
USEPA proposes to list six coal-tar sites on SUPERFUND National Priority List (NPL). |
| 1989 |
USEPA raises SUPERFUND NPL FMGP sites to eight. USEPA proposes reactivity tests for cyanide and sulfide compounds. |
e