ALLIANCE 51ST STREET
Former Petroleum Product Terminal
1630 – 1646 SOUTH 51ST STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS RELATED TO THE PROJECT MAY BE SUBMITTED TO:
or
Project Information
The Former Petroleum Product Terminal property is in Philadelphia County, in the City of Philadelphia. Alliance 51st Street LLC acquired the property from PBF Logistics Terminals LLC (PBF Logistics) in December 2021. The site primarily operated as a petroleum product terminal (from approximately 1951 to 2021). Historically, the property also was used for lumber storage (in 1923 prior to development), and as a cardboard container manufacturer (from approximately 1923 to 1945). Fifteen aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) were constructed at the property between 1951 and 1975 and contained petroleum products. The ASTs, loading racks, and associated piping were removed as part of the AST closure activities and the tank foundations, concrete and soil containment berms, and miscellaneous buildings have been removed as part of the redevelopment activities. During redevelopment activities, some of the mounded onsite soil was spread across the property as part of the grading of site.
Organic compounds and lead are present in site media, primarily associated with the former use of the property as a fuel oil terminal. Soil borings in the former AST and piping area identified exceedances of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) soil Medium Specific Concentrations (MSCs) for volatile organic compounds, semivolatile organic compounds, and lead. Groundwater samples from permanent monitoring wells have exceedances of groundwater MSCs for benzene and lead associated with the former terminal operations.
​In April 2024, the Philadelphia Water Department responded to a report of yellow-colored water leaving the site, near the Bartram’s Garden Mile Trail. Upon further investigation it was determined that the water contained chromium and hexavalent chromium. From a review of historical materials, the presence of chromium onsite is due to the historical placement of fill across a portion of the site in the early 1900s. Alliance has taken measures to eliminate any chromium from leaving the site. Further, as determined by sampling by Alliance and PADEP sampling and analysis, chromium and hexavalent chromium are present offsite in soils at locations not related to or impacted by the site, indicating historical filling beyond the limits of the site.
Important Dates
MAY 4, 2025
Last day of 30-day Public Comment Period on Remedial Investigation Report and Cleanup Plan.*
*Note that comments related to the project may be submitted at any time. The 30-day comment period refers to a specific report’s review period.
MAY 21, 2025
Last day of 30-day Public Comment Period on Human Health Risk Assessment of Offsite Soil Area.*
*Note that comments related to the project may be submitted at any time. The 30-day comment period refers to a specific report’s review period.
Public Meetings
Upcoming
MAY 22, 2025
Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School
2601 58th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19143
6:30pm EST
Project Documents
Act 2 Documents and Reports
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Summary of Alliance 51St Street Remedial Investigation Report and Cleanup Plan - English​
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Resumen del Informe de investigación de remediación y del Plan de limpieza - Espanol
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Resume du Rapport D'enquete Corrective et du Plan de Nettoyage - French
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Summary of Alliance 51St Street Remedial Investigation Report and Cleanup Plan - Arabic
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Alliance 51St Street - Revised Public Involvement Plan 03-19-2025
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Act 2 RIR-Cleanup Plan_Alliance 51st Street_Philadelphia PA_2025 02 14_March Amendment
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Summary of Alliance 51St Street Offsite Soils Area Human Health Risk Assessment - 2025 04 21 English
Hard copies of project documents will be available at:
Bartram’s Garden
5400 Lindbergh Blvd
Philadelphia, PA
Visit their website or call for the latest hours.​