The Philadelphia Refinery

The Philadelphia Refinery is a 1300-acre site located in South Philadelphia. Formerly known as the Sunoco Philadelphia Refinery (sold in 2012) and then the Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refining and Marketing LLC Complex (shut down in 2019), the site was previously used to store and process petroleum (an oil commonly used to make gasoline and diesel oil). The site, now known as the Bellwether District, is currently being developed for future use as a commercial facility after being purchased by Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP) in 2020.

Environmental Remediation (Cleanup)

Environmental investigations and cleanup activities have occurred at the facility at least back to the 1980s and before by Sunoco during their ownership, then subsequently by Evergreen as a Sunoco subsidiary.  Additional investigations and cleanup activities proceeded pursuant to a Consent Order and Agreement (CO&A) with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) beginning in 1993.  In 2003, a new Consent Order and Agreement between Sunoco and the PADEP replaced the 1993 agreement and expanded the scope of work.

The facility was entered into Pennsylvania’s Act 2 Land Recycling Program  (Act 2) in 2006, when Sunoco submitted a Notice of Intent to Remediate (NIR). The Program provides a framework for cleanup and reuse of contaminated sites and sets cleanup standards that are based on risk and are protective of human health and the environment and which consider future use. In 2011, Sunoco entered the facility into the One Cleanup Program, which provides uniform cleanup through both PADEP’s Act 2 and the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) programs.

The facility was sold to Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) in 2012.  Since December 30, 2013, Philadelphia Refinery Operations, a series of Evergreen Resources Group, LLC (which is an affiliate of Sunoco) has managed the subsurface investigation and remediation at the Refinery (continuing Sunoco’s prior work).  In 2019, the facility stopped operating as a refinery and in June 2020, Hilco Redevelopment Partners purchased the site in order to redevelop the property for commercial use.  Evergreen remains responsible for cleaning up contamination that existed at the property up until the 2012 sale (referred to as legacy contamination or legacy remediation).

Information provided on this website also includes the Belmont Terminal located at the corner of Passyunk Avenue and 26th St.  This separate property was not part of the refinery purchase by HRP in 2020 but had historically been included in environmental investigation and reporting activities for the refinery.  Evergreen also retains the liability for subsurface investigation and remediation activities at this separate Act 2 Site (separate NIR).

A Video on the Basics of the Legacy Remediation Program

(Note: Video created September 2021 and some information may have been updated since that time)

An Opportunity for Public Comment

Cleaning up the refinery and ensuring public health go hand in hand. In order to be successful, this process must include meaningful and transparent opportunities for the public to get involved, to be heard and to understand the project. The Act 2 requirements include providing public notification of Act 2 reports and an opportunity for public comment.  All reports can be accessed through a general file review request sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) or a more formal Right-To-Know Law (RTKL) request.

• For more information, please visit the PADEP website.
• Alternatively, in an effort to make all of the Act 2 reports readily accessible to the public, they are available on this website.
• Copies of each report posted on this website are also available at two branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia: Thomas F. Donatucci, Sr. Library at 1935 Shunk St. and Eastwick Library at 2851 Island Avenue. Following is a link to the Philadelphia Free Library online catalogue.

Visit the “Public Involvement” page to learn about ways you can stay involved.