Ambler Asbestos Piles
Ambler, PA

The Ambler Asbestos Piles site is made up of three asbestos-containing waste piles and a series of filter bed lagoons. The total volume of asbestos-contaminated waste in the piles is estimated to exceed 1½ million cubic yards.

The site is located in Ambler, Pennsylvania (13th Congressional District) and is surrounded by a mixed commercial/residential area. Approximately 6,000 people live within ½-mile of the site.

The nearest residence is within 200 feet of one of the piles; about 40 residences are located within 1/4-mile. Wissahickon Creek and its flood plain border the site.

The Piles were constructed with the deposition of both solid asbestos wastes that were dumped on the surface and waste slurries that were pumped into cinder berms constructed on the piles to contain the slurries allowing them to dry.

Dumping of asbestos-containing waste on the site apparently began in the early 1930's and continued until 1974. The EPA-approved final cleanup of the Ambler Asbestos Piles Site was completed on August 30, 1993.