Key Takeaways
- The BoRit Asbestos Superfund Site is a 32-acre area in Ambler, PA — approximately 20 miles north of Center City Philadelphia — where a nearby asbestos production plant dumped asbestos waste, products, and by-products from the early to mid-20th century.
- The site contained a pile of asbestos waste and by-products, a reservoir with walls built from soil and asbestos shingles, and an abandoned playground and park area — all left unregulated for decades after asbestos production slowed.
- The site was not addressed until 2009, when the EPA placed it on the National Priority List, triggering federal funding and action to protect local residents.
- Rather than removing the asbestos entirely (deemed too expensive), the EPA opted to cap the site with geotextile — a minimum two-foot layer of soil, vegetation, and topsoil designed to contain the asbestos and prevent fibers from becoming airborne.
- The EPA requires quarterly inspections, post-storm check-ins after extreme weather, and comprehensive five-year reviews that include air, water, sediment, and soil sampling to ensure the community remains protected.
- Due to the site’s proximity to three local creeks, stream stabilization and revitalization efforts were also part of the cleanup to address waterway contamination.
Preparing for geotextile insertion. Taken from https://www.epa.gov/ambler/borit-asbestos-superfund-site-photos
History of the Site
Ambler, Pennsylvania is located approximately 20 miles north of Center City, Philadelphia.
A nearby asbestos production plant–which was active from the early to mid 20th century–used a
32 acre site located next within Ambler. They dumped asbestos, asbestos products, and
by-products of asbestos production within the parameters of the site. The site contained a pile of
waste and by-products, a reservoir (whose walls were constructed with soil and asbestos
shingles), and an abandoned playground/park area. When production of asbestos slowed due to
more stringent government regulations, the site was abandoned; however, there were no
measures taken to mitigate asbestos exposure for the residents of Ambler. Because of both the
amount of asbestos (and consequent risk of it becoming airborne) and its proximity to three local
creeks, local residents were justifiably concerned about the site.
EPA Intervention
In 2009, the BoRit Ambler site was deemed a candidate for the “National Priority List,” meaning
that the government funneled action, attention, and extra money to the area. The EPA deliberated
about a solution: it needed to be as cost effective as possible while adequately protecting local
residents. The EPA decided to cover the asbestos with “geotextile,” or a combination of soil,
vegetation, and topsoil. The minimum density of this layer of geotextile was to be no less than
two feet. In addition to geotextile capping, there were efforts to revitalize and stabilize the local
streams that were previously contaminated by the BoRit site.
The rationale for the geotextile cover was the sheer amount of asbestos and waste in the area: it
would be more difficult to remove or repurpose. Other options included removing the waste
entirely or melting it down and reshaping it (to be smaller/fit closer together). These options
were deemed either too expensive or too extreme.
Future Outlook
As a part of the EPA intervention, the agency also requires regular check-ins and maintenance.
There are mandated quarterly check-ins to ensure the standing of the site. (Is there a minimum of
two feet of geotextile? Are the banks of the creek still stable? Is the vegetation still stable?) In
addition to quarterly check-ins, the EPA requires check-ins after extreme weather events to
ensure that the site is still stable and that the asbestos is still covered. Lastly, there are five-year
reviews in place to ensure the feasible longevity of the site. Besides the more “mechanical”
check-ins of soil and vegetation integrity, these five-year reviews take a more micro approach.
Scientists collect air, water, sediment, and soil samples to ensure the EPA’s measures are keeping
the community healthy and safe.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, please call
(800)-505-6000 for legal help. For more information, fill out the form on our Homepage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BoRit Asbestos Superfund Site?
The BoRit site is a 32-acre area in Ambler, Pennsylvania where a nearby asbestos production plant dumped asbestos, asbestos products, and manufacturing by-products during the early to mid-20th century. The site included a massive waste pile, a reservoir with walls constructed from soil and asbestos shingles, and an abandoned playground and park — all located within a suburban community approximately 20 miles north of Center City Philadelphia.
Why was the BoRit site dangerous to the Ambler community?
The site posed multiple risks to the surrounding community. The large concentration of exposed asbestos waste meant that fibers could become airborne and be inhaled by nearby residents — especially during dry or windy conditions. The site’s proximity to three local creeks also raised concerns about waterway contamination. Adding to the danger, an abandoned playground was located within the site’s boundaries, and after asbestos production ended, no measures were taken to contain the waste or protect residents until the EPA intervened decades later.
When did the EPA get involved with the BoRit site?
The EPA placed the BoRit site on the National Priority List in 2009 — decades after asbestos production at the nearby plant had slowed and the site was abandoned. Being placed on the National Priority List meant that the site received federal attention, funding, and a mandated cleanup plan. Before 2009, the site sat unregulated with no measures in place to protect the community from asbestos exposure.
How did the EPA clean up the BoRit site?
The EPA chose to cap the asbestos with geotextile — a combination of soil, vegetation, and topsoil laid at a minimum depth of two feet over the contaminated area. This approach was selected because the sheer volume of asbestos waste made full removal impractical and prohibitively expensive. Other options considered included removing the waste entirely or melting it down and compacting it — both were rejected as either too expensive or too extreme. In addition to the capping, the EPA undertook stream stabilization and revitalization efforts to address contamination of the nearby creeks.
Is the BoRit site still being monitored?
Yes. The EPA requires ongoing monitoring at multiple levels:
- Quarterly inspections — checking that the geotextile cap maintains a minimum two-foot depth, creek banks remain stable, and vegetation is intact
- Post-storm check-ins — after extreme weather events, inspectors verify that the cap hasn’t been eroded or disturbed and that asbestos remains covered
- Five-year comprehensive reviews — scientists collect air, water, sediment, and soil samples to confirm that the EPA’s containment measures are working and the community remains safe
Is the asbestos at the BoRit site fully contained?
The asbestos was not removed — it was capped in place. The geotextile layer is designed to prevent asbestos fibers from becoming airborne and to keep contamination from reaching nearby waterways. However, because the asbestos remains beneath the surface, the site requires ongoing maintenance and monitoring to ensure the integrity of the cap over time. Extreme weather, erosion, or future development in the area could potentially disturb the containment if not properly managed.
What is the connection between the BoRit site and mesothelioma in Montgomery County?
Ambler and the surrounding areas of Montgomery County have a well-documented history of asbestos exposure — dating back to the late 1800s when the area became home to America’s first asbestos textile plant. The BoRit site is one piece of that larger legacy. A Pennsylvania Department of Health cancer evaluation found that the mesothelioma rate in Ambler’s ZIP code (19002) is 3.1 times higher than the statewide average. The decades of uncontained asbestos waste at the BoRit site — combined with the broader industrial operations in Ambler — contributed to both occupational and environmental asbestos exposure for the local community.
What should I do if I lived near the BoRit site and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease?
If you or a loved one lived in Ambler, Whitpain Township, or the surrounding areas of Montgomery County and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, your proximity to the BoRit site and the broader asbestos operations in the area may be central to your case. Call (800) 505-6000 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
