'This Is Heartbreaking': Frustration Mounts Over Toxic Spill In Chester Co. Creek

WEST CHESTER, PA — The cause of the industrial leak of a toxic substance into Goose Creek in West Chester remains unknown, state environmental officials told Patch Tuesday, as the investigation into incident remains ongoing.

The Department of Environmental Protection says they are "involved with" the investigation being conducted by Atmos Technologies, where the leak occurred on Feb. 28.

Atmos has not responded to multiple Patch requests for more information.

Local environmental groups say that the Toxic Control Substances Act means that companies do not need to make the full chemical makeup of their products available. In the case of the substance which spilled in Goose Creek, long duration foam AC-645, very limited information is available, according to Goose Creek Alliance chief scientist, Megan Fork.

"Regardless of its contents, this spill should never have reached Goose Creek," Fork said. "Property owners who store industrial chemicals have a clear responsibility to prevent spills from reaching our water. This includes implementing, testing, and regularly maintaining secondary containment systems that reliably capture leaks before they reach soil or waterways. If these safeguards are ignored or allowed to deteriorate, our shared ecosystems suffer the consequences. Ensuring that chemicals stored on one’s land do not pollute the community is something we should expect and require of our neighbors."

The state said that Atmos told them that some 4,000 gallons of chlorinated water were released to what's been called a "containment area." There, it mixed in with one of their industrial products, long duration foam AC-645.

The toxic substance was then released out of an outfall pipe near Henderson High School, and flowed directly into Goose Creek.

"This is heartbreaking to witness," Delco Manning Trout Unlimited, a local conservation group, shared in a statement. "Your eyes, on the ground, are essential in detecting a contaminant/hazard in our creeks. The earlier we have this information, the more quickly resources can be deployed to mitigate the issue and reduce the impact felt by downstream communities."

Most of this accounting emerged within days of the spill, but in the 17 days that have passed, questions that were once curiosities of the moment have become pressing concerns the longer they go unaddressed. It is not known why an outfall pipe with connections to the flow of industrial products would lead directly into a public waterway. Nor is it known why such an outfall is located so close to public school property.

Conservation groups, fishermen, activists, and residents around the area say that there has not been nearly enough transparency from the state or Atmos.

"What is the exact composition, the amount released, and the environmental impacts we can expect?" Delco Manning Trout Unlimited asked. "What regulatory actions and penalties will be enforced? What remediation is possible and mandated for this pollution?"

Indeed circumstances remain as opaque as the "milky white" substance that eventually clouded the waters of the creek, led to a widespread fish kill, and caused local government officials to urge residents and pets to stay out of the water.

Long duration foam AC-645 is used as a barrier to control odors and dust from landfills or hazardous waste sites. It's not toxic when applied to land, but can cause significant harm to aquatic environments.

DEP investigators said they performed seven inspections of Goose Creek from Feb. 28 to March 9, and that no further fish kill had been reported downstream.

Surface water samples collected on March 4 showed a decrease in the level of toxic substances, including detergents and foaming agents, from samples on Feb. 28. Rainfall on March 9 cleared foam away from all locations DEP investigated, a spokesperson said Tuesday.

"DEP’s stream inspections and oversight of the cleanup efforts are now complete," they added, though the Atmos investigation, overseen by the state, continues.

The Chester-Ridley-Crum Watershed Alliance will hold its 28th annual cleanup event on March 21, and the event will include efforts on Goose Creek. Details here.