SPS Technologies in Jenkintown, which was engulfed in a four-alarm blaze Monday night, is known to state and federal environmental regulators as a large generator of chemical waste, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported today.
According to the story, some of their waste is categorized as “ignitable” and the 117-year-old 32-acre site has a history of using toxic chemicals since the company’s founding.
In 2023, SPS Technologies generated and disposed of 177 tons of chemicals, according to the EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory. A DEP inspector found large storage containers had been improperly labeled “Hazardous Waste,” “Toxic,” and “Corrosive”. Workers said they were unsure of what was inside, The Inquirer said.
The same year, the company reached an agreement with the EPA to pay $109,000 for storing chemicals without a permit.
From the EPA’s 2015 Statement of Basis:
The chemical treatment, storage, and disposal facility “generates electroplating solutions and sludges as part of its operations,” The Inquirer said. “At the site, SPS Technologies makes precision metal fasteners and special machined parts, primarily for the aviation and aerospace industries, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”
The company is routinely inspected and monitored and handles large volumes of potentially toxic chemicals including trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, and 1-2 dichloroethane. Officials told The Inquirer they had no information as of today that anyone had been exposed to toxic amounts of chemicals.
Dr. Robert Laumbach of Rutgers University’s School of Public Health, told The Inquirer that “some of the solvents that could be present at the factory can be toxic if inhaled in sufficient quantities” but there’s “too much uncertainty to know whether chemical compounds were exposed to high heat and, if so, how much.”
In 2020, the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency visited SPS Technologies “to strengthen partnerships and gain insight into IH’s industrial base.”
From their news release:
Troop Support Commander Army Brig. Gen. Gavin Lawrence, alongside IH Director Air Force Col. Adrian Crowley and members of his team, toured SPS Technologies, a trusted industry partner, Crowley said. The group toured the 64,000 square foot facility that designs, manufactures and tests hardware items the company has under contract with Troop Support, other federal agencies and commercial customers.
“It was a great tour,” Lawrence said. “I have a much greater appreciation for the technology, know-how and hard work that goes into what you do [at SPS], as well as an appreciation for the pride I noticed [SPS] employees have in what they do.”
Joseph DiGiacomo, Sales Manager for SPS’ Jenkintown facility, cited that the 117-year-old company has a long history of support to the Warfighter dating back to World War II, and its staff knows the importance of what they do.
“Every single part we make here holds something important together – it has to perform,” DiGiacomo said.
During the tour, Lawrence and DiGiacomo shared their mutual appreciation for the joint willingness to make time for engagements such as this to improve the understanding of each other’s roles in the government logistics and acquisitions process.
“We appreciate your partnership as we support our Warfighters,” Lawrence said.
Abington Township’s 8:00pm update is below:
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Photos: DLA, Google